NURSERIES

One of the joys at this time of year is getting out and about to the garden centres and nurseries to see what goodies are available. I must confess I am not a great customer when it comes to parting with money for plants. Like a lot of gardeners I tend to rummage about in the reject pile or opt to grow things from cuttings or seed. The thought of forking out loads of euro for something you could grow yourself seems a bit daft. Much the same way that say, an accountant would ask someone else to do their books for them. Or a plumber would get someone in to fix their pipes. You know what I mean. Occasionally though we do need to buy plants in bulk if we need them straight away or there is a planting job that needs more mature plants, or like me you are without a greenhouse. This is where nurseries come in handy. The plants are generally of a very high standard and you can get them in bulk, which is ideal for large planting schemes. Of course nurseries are great as well if you just need a specimen plant or some bedding plants to start off the summer pots. I was down at Mac’s Landscaping Nursery in Ballymagan on the Illies road the other day and that is just what John, the proprietor is stocking. He has a vast range of high quality, hardy shrubs and some young annuals for sale. He is also starting to make up containers and filling baskets with colour too. Just up from the Big House pub, John has put in a lot of time and energy to create a very accessible retail outlet. He has also just had delivery of great quality perennials in pots for us to choose from. Pop down there to see his stock, you won’t be disappointed. John is a busy man landscaping the far reaches of Donegal so if you want to catch him in phone 0863907072.

Horticultural.

A STROLL IN THE GARDEN - CLAIRE NELSON

This week we are in the garden of Claire Nelson from Buncrana. Claire has a keen interest in the garden and over the years has included some lovely features like a fountain and a real thatch sun canopy. Her garden incorporates a barbeque area as well as loads of places for the children to play. The planting has been chosen to withstand the rigours of footballs!

How long have you been working on the garden?
About nine or ten years. It was just a field when we moved in.

What is your favourite plant?
I have a few but I love the Pieris ‘forest flame’ and the Acer, Japanese maple trees.

What is your favourite feature in the garden?
The girls would say the trampoline, but I love the swing seat with the clematis Montana hanging over the trellis above. It is so calming on hot days.

What is your favourite season and why?
Wintertime! It sounds daft but it gives us time to have a rest and hopefully catch the mid-week movie!

What work gives you the most pleasure in the garden?
Probably weeding believe it or not. Getting the place tidied up is very rewarding and it feels great when it’s done.

Any irritations in the garden. How do you cope?
Snails. Everyone’s pet hate! I can’t bring myself to destroy them so I usually just pick them up and take them to a nice green patch, as far away from the garden as possible

What is your best gardening tool?
A good hose. It takes half the time to water all of the plants on a summers evening.

Top Tip for spring?
Take time to enjoy the garden.

Any plans for the future?
If I only knew! We will continue to enjoy the pleasures we have ….Que,sera,sera!


Horticultural.

ME AND MY MOTOR-COLM MCLAUGHLIN

Name: Colm McLaughlin

Address: Colm is from Derry but the car is stored in Newtowncunningham.

Car: 1928 Ford model A. (The car that supersedes the Model T)

Colm is an active member of the Donegal Vintage and Classic Car Club

How long have you had the car?
I have owned it for about seven years now. The last owner before me was the actor Robbie Coltrane.

How long have you been interested in vintage cars?
Well over eighteen years now.

What got you interested in old cars?
I read every type of vintage car book and magazine for years before I finally decided to buy the real thing.

Did you restore the car yourself?
It was in really good condition when I got it and I have maintained it ever since.

Is it reliable?
Yes. The 3.2 litre engine just keeps on going.

Any plans to change?
Yes. I am always changing my cars. This car is up for sale too! (Anyone interested can contact Colm on 04871 264650)

Are parts easy to source?
Very, there are over 100,000 of the Model A’s still on the roads in America. You can get most parts for the car easily on next day delivery, and they don’t cost the earth.

Best thing about the car?
The open air!

How often do you wash it?
Only occasionally. I just give it a quick rub down with a sponge.

If you were Minister for Finance what would you do to help motorists?
Reduce the tax on petrol and give more of the money to petrol retailers!

What would you really like to be driving around in?
I am always driving around in my ideal car!

SILAGE PLASIC

Photo's : Silage wrap for recycling around Inishowen.

NEWSPAPER MULCH

Ian
I was told that in order to keep down weeds in the herbaceous border in an environmentally way, first cover the ground with a thick layer of newspaper, and then cover with bark chippings. I would like to try this, but I have a number of clusters of both snowdrops and daffodils in the border, do you think that this layer of newspapers and chippings would keep them from coming up in the spring. Joyce by e- mail


Reply
I have heard of daffodils growing through asphalt before so you would think that a few sheets of newspaper wouldn't be a problem. I have found that putting a mulch down like this will stop annual weeds but the docks and other perennials will keep pushing through (spuds too).
Paper loses its strength when it is wet so the stronger plants push through. The paper will probably be nearly rotten by the time the spring comes too and the worms will eat through it. That is why it is a good idea to put a thick layer of paper down, as the weeds will come through in no time otherwise. I think what I mean to say is that you could put a really thick layer of paper in areas you know there are no bulbs and in the area where the bulbs are cut the layers down to the thickness of a daily paper. There will probably be a few weeds come up but they will pull up no bother. I have found that unless weed block webbing is put on the ground you will probably have to do a bit of weeding every year and add more bark mulch too. Best of luck and remember not to use coloured magazines!

Horticultural.

OLDEST GARDENER?

STILL GOING STRONG AT 103

A 103-year-old Dorset gardener reckons he is Britain's oldest worker. Jim Webber started working on the land aged 12 and has clocked up 91 years since. And in all that time the great-grandad has never had a holiday. Widower Jim turns out in all weathers to tend a half-acre garden at his local New Inn pub in Stoke Abbott. Jim, who still has a full driving licence, arrives on his Ferguson tractor carrying all his tools - including a chainsaw. He refuses to charge more than €5 euro an hour and, when asked when he's going to retire he jokes: "When I get old." Jim, who ran a farm until 1975, said: "I tried stopping work but I was bored and miserable. If I feel tired a drop of whisky soon puts me right." Mary Ward, 47, who runs the New Inn with husband Richard, said: "Jim's amazing. He's always mowing, digging up tree roots or pruning and tidying." Jim's daughter Kathy, 68, said: "Father has barely stayed in bed past 4am for 100 years. He just loves his work and can't sit still for a minute."

Horticultural.