Aug 11 2012

Shine!

In one of those brief moments of sunshine a few of my own flowers came out in style.

Bug playing peek-a-boo

Aug 9 2012

Sunshine!!

Today was our British Summer 🙂 It’s now just 24 hours long!!

Michael invited me over to his place for a look around his trees and to give a little advice. This ended up being 5 hours of me working on his trees while he sat drinking Rum & Coke! [Well, just coke]

I love Michael’s garden he’s some fantastic plants hidden in his borders and I took a few snaps to show you, just don’t ask me what they are!

Michael’s bonsai are sited in three different areas in the garden and he’s plans to set up new benches. This is the main area that was recently redone and a few trees.

I was kept so busy by Michael that I didn’t get any pics of what we were up to, he did however lift my camera and take a few of me slaving away!

Thanks for a very enjoyable day Michael and especially to Alma who made a tasty lunch.

Jul 22 2012

Rose Show

I had the pleasure of judging the bonsai entries at the Rose Show in Belfast yesterday. I small local flower show held as part of the bigger Rose Week event at Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park.

The bonsai aspect was small, our club supports the Rose Society by always getting a few entries in to fill the space and add interest for the public. As far as bonsai go, it’s not what we aspire too in our own displays with the usual low tables and cramped space. For that reason and the poor photos that resulted from inside a marquee, I’ll not bombard you with poor quality photos. I will however share some photos taken from within the park itself showing both the roses and some nice trees.

First, photos from inside the flower show marquee during judging. The rest from within the park Rose Gardens and Japanese Garden. When I show the Rose name it’s because is a highly perfumes variety that my wife is determined to add to our garden.

Jul 17 2012

Satsuki Flowers

This is a satsuki azalea that I grew from a cutting. It was in my flower bed for about 6 years and was lifted last year. I just love the flowers, no idea of the variety. Any knowledgeable folk out there who know, please comment.

This is the trunk, early days but might be interesting in a few years.

Apr 8 2012

Happy Easter

Happy Easter, and as it’s Easter Sunday, I’m not taking my usual walk. However, here are a few from last weekend that I haven’t shared as yet.

I was just talking to Stephen on the walk about how you rarely see wild Primrose any more and about 100 yards later we see this 🙂

On Easter Sunday Scrabo Tower is a busy place to walk as many people attend a Sunrise service and in the afternoon many local children, mine included, roll their eggs down the hill.

Stephen snapping away

Gorse/Whinbushes covering the quarry face

Blackthorn in Flower

The next Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke , Fred Daly or Graeme McDowell.

Northern Ireland is the promised land for golf’s best players 🙂

This is Scrabo Golf Club. A tight course!

Some of Strangford Lough’s 365 Islands

Patchwork Quilt, County Down

Wild Flowers

Scrabo is famous for it’s bluebells. These are among the first to appear.

Blackthorn Hedge

Spring is Sprung

Doggie Dust Trails 🙂

Amazing trunk on an old Hazel

Apr 2 2012

Malus Coming Into Flower

Here are a few photos taken of 3 Malus that I have just coming into flower.

A few other Spring photos to enjoy too.

Mar 20 2012

Fuji Flowers

Grabbed a few photos of my Fuji Cherry today. Had to be today as this year sees it pushing leaves after the flower very quickly. It’ll need a trim after flowering but the vigour this year seems to be even stronger than previous years.

Mar 17 2012

Happy St Patrick’s Day

Happy St Paddy’s Day Folks

Beautiful sunny day here, snapped a few of the flowers in my Dad’s garden.

Dec 26 2011

Winter Bloom

A few photos taken around my parents home. My Dad’s a real plant lover and has the greenest fingers of anybody I’ve ever met. He could make a fence post shoot roots. 🙂 There’s always colour in the garden somewhere if you are willing to look.