On Thursday May 3rd I did a garden talk and demonstration at the very wonderful Huntstown Community Centre.

I’ve noted previously just how brilliant and amazing everyone is and was in Huntstown C.C. and I’m smiling now at the fact that three of the many [also smiling] lovely folks I met on the night Sharon, Síle and Bernie are pictured with me above and now noted in the annals of my weblog.

Image courtesy Blanchardstown Gazette and you can find more info on Huntstown Commuity Centre by contacting Manager Bernie Kennefick. I highly recommend you do

• Address: Huntstown, Dublin 15
• Web: huntstowncc.org
• email: bernie@Huntstowncc.org

Enquiries for garden talks, garden speaking and/ or gardening demonstrations ?

• email info@doneganlandscaping.com
• call 087-6594688
• Facebook.com/DoneganLandscaping

A lovely image of my home-made barbecue to go with the audio.

listen to ‘Plants and watering. In this heat ’ on Audioboo

Whilst the audio above discusses emergency water inducing measures. That aside and of note, there are some points to watch for. The first, silly as it may sound is compost drying.

Compost is in short generally peat based, mixed with lime to raise the pH, a wetting agent and some plant feed. When it gets really dry, its colour changes from a wet black to a light woody brown ~ point of note numero uno.

More than that, the peat based product gels itself together and retracts away from the pot [see above]. You may need to ruffle the top of the growing medium [compost] before you soak it in water, but and as noted in the audio, by capillary action is the most efficient watering method.

The semi- alternate to this is to be smart with your existing or new planting layout. The image above is from the courtyard garden I created some time ago now at Ché Max, Baggot Street. Plant choice decisions of note here, include the use of taller plants with a thin stem but a large bract/ head to create shading for the younger plants below. This therefore reduces the amount of light getting through to the soils surface and slowing evaporation. More than that it also reduces transpiration from the younger plants below.

On a slight side note, in the last few extreme heat [for us pale and freckly Paddy's] days I’ve noticed the phototropic effects on my younger plants in particular, that is the turning towards the stronger light just that little bit quicker than usual. Something I should note that might only happen if you left a plant in your north facing pantry.

If you do have window boxes, hanging baskets or the like, the best thing one can do is drop ‘em straight into a large container of water and allow ‘em to soak up exactly what they need water volume wise. Far, far better I think you’ll find that the water running down your arm and ruining that new frock you just bought. With that in mind, I did these window boxes for the wonderful folks at The Chilli Banana restaurant and I’m wondering how they are managing their watering, especially with customers walking by underneath.

My advice, in a world gone all water conservation conversation, get two or three water butts and use the half wheelie bin approach. Keep an eye out for wilted plants. Super saturate your plants before planting, plant plan smart-er and make life a little less complex by allowing your planters soak it all up from below; all the while of course you being a lot greener. Water usage aside, it also leaves you with far more time to enjoy your space outdoors.

Any thoughts or comments ? Hit me on facebook, leave a comment below or pop me an email and I’ll note it this Friday on the garden radio show. In the meantime, enjoy the sunshine

• email: info@doneganlandscaping.com
• or facebook.com/DoneganLandscaping

Dublin’s Only Garden Radio Show. The SodShow – with Peter Donegan & Brian Greene – Every Friday @ 3pm.

On This Weeks Garden Radio:

….we meet with Gary Graham the brains behind Ireland’s premier garden show, Bloom In The Park. With a little under a week to go and set to take take place in The Phoenix Park this June Bank Holiday weekend May 31st – 4th June 2012, we get an insight into the behind the scenes of show garden building, just what you can expect to see and Gary’s advice on the best way to see this years garden festival. All this and so much more on Dublin’s only garden radio show.

The SodShow is brought to you by GreenSax, The compostable bags for home and garden.

• Bloom in the Park

Listen to The SodShow Live @ 3pm:

• Tune in: 103.2fm on your radio dial if you are in the Dublin area
• Listen live online: every Friday 3pm via TuneIn.com – on your phone or desktop

Listen Later:

• As Podcast: on the garden blog – in the podcast category
• in iTunes: Hit The Sodshow Page

Make Contact with The SodShow:

• use the hashtag #SodShow
• email – info@DoneganLandscaping.com
• twitter – @DoneganGardens
• Facebook.com/DoneganLandscaping
• and Brian is on twitter as @BrianGreene

Talking today with Gary Graham for The SodShow, the garden radio show, conversation naturally led to show gardens and the question as to the ‘would I make a return to show gardening’ ? Gary is, in short for those who are not aware, the brains behind Bloom in the Park. Ireland’s premier garden show.

Personally, I’ve a lot of time for Gary. I’ve a lot of time for Bloom. Like it or not, Bloom is good for Ireland; it’s also great for Irish gardening and in that context alone, Bord Bia have done a real sterling job. One which deserves ovation standing, as versus applause.

We nattered back and forth and chatted ourselves into the easily led to conclusion that I missed, sincerely, the controlled pressure that came with the creation of show gardens.

For those who aren’t aware, I’ve done two Bloom show gardens:

• No Rubber Soul in 2007 and
• Pour L’amour de Juex in 2008

After 2008, I took a pause. I was busy. I needed to be. I had showy gardens to create, but they simply weren’t gardens that were awarded medals at the end of it, though they did come with good PR.

The reality is show gardeners, to qualify a show garden submission need three strings to their bow. A proven ability to build show gardens, a great design and last, but by no means least, a sponsor. For two years running, I was missing the latter.

Would I make a return to Bloom for 2013 ?

Yes, I would. Were this post going live now has relevance is that the work would be much easier less complex if it were to start within the next six weeks. So soon you might believe, but design submission begins around September/ October and whilst I have already the concepts, I like my designs QED ~ ie. without question, on time, fitting its budget [yours or/ and mine], show timing complete before schedule and with all of the ingredients in place ~ pre planned.

Don’t get me wrong, I can create a fine garden within a very short space of time, designs, submitted and accepted. No problem. But if show garden is to be about the, as Gary put it, the showmanship, then a little more homework/ light reading is far better.

As a by the way, The SodShow, A Bloom in The Park 2012 special, an interview with Gary Graham will air this Friday at 3pm and will be available a little later in the evening as podcast.

If I’m to do it and do it rightly and though I’ve always been blessed in that department I’m proud to admit, I’ll need the right people by my side. For now, I guess, I’ve a little thinking to do and for this bank holiday weekend I’ll happily settle for making daisy chains with my daughter, most probably in The Phoenix Park.

Thoughts on the matter/ Fancy a cuppa ?

• Email: info@DoneganLandscaping.com
• Phone: 087-6594688
• Facebook.com/DoneganLandscaping

Dublin’s Only Garden Radio Show. The SodShow – with Peter Donegan & Brian Greene – Every Friday 3pm.

On This Weeks Garden Radio:

I speak with Donal of Harry’s Restaurant as he and the team prepare for this years Inish Food Festival taking place from 18-20th May. A skills sharing & tasting w/e centred on Irish food & drink’s heritage & future. This, top garden man Donal Carey, walled gardens and their restoration and so much more….

• Inishowen food fest line up
• Visit Inishowen map and details
• Harrys Restaurant

Listen to The SodShow Live @ 3pm:

• Tune in: 103.2fm on your radio dial if you are in the Dublin area
• Listen live online: every Friday 3pm via TuneIn.com – on your phone or desktop

Listen Later:

• As Podcast: on the garden blog – in the podcast category
• in iTunes: Hit The Sodshow Page

Make Contact with The SodShow:

• use the hashtag #SodShow
• email – info@DoneganLandscaping.com
• twitter – @DoneganGardens
• Facebook.com/DoneganLandscaping
• and Brian is on twitter as @BrianGreene

A little note of huge and gigantic thanks to the very lovely and wonderful staff of New Ireland Assurance where this evening I gave a ‘Grow Your Own – In Confined Spaces’ talk/ demonstration.

People that make a place in mind, everyone sincerely was just absolutely lovely and as gigs go, I should admit I really enjoyed that one.

A wee note of extra added thank you to my liaise Emma from the well-being committee for being an absolute lady and also to the gent that is Maurice who made sure I got there and back in one piece. Legendary status has just been granted

Measuring 100 x 50 x 50 centimetres, I made these garden planters last week. Long story short I had someone in mind who, I guess I wanted them to have something just a slight bit different/ unique to them. In the context of quality first, not off the shelf and made to measure, these proved quite a smart choice.

I like the fact that the timber is a little raw [?] and soft looking in appearance. They’ll need to be repainted/ treated in time to come and with that and as the garden evolves so too the colour can change as they age.

They were dropped in situ ready for a garden party over the weekend and that being the case I felt a fine collection of summer bedding/ instant colour would be the correct choice. Investment now made, the intention is that they will be used as kitchen garden planters after the summer season.

There were some questions about putting castors, handles and the like on them. a bit like the colour choice, in this case, it was felt for now, the plants would do the job just nicely. I’m inclined to agree.

Instant gardening, as far as the client is concerned.

More information:

• email Peter– info@DoneganLandscaping.com
• mobile: 0876594688
• Facebook.com/DoneganLandscaping

Laid well and chosen correctly sandstone can make one of the nicest outdoor spaces you’ve ever seen. There are however a few things that I chose to do on this project to make the finished garden look and the creating of just that little bit smarter.

Of note, you will find in sandstone that there are ruffles in its surface which do add character to its finish. Also you will find no matter which way you lay them, you will get some puddling of water within the slabs because of that; note again: no matter which way you lay them it will retain some water. That said it should also freely drain by the levels you set.

Aco Drain Channels – In reality I’d rather not have any drains but entirely necessary in this case I chose not to use the silver steel version but instead the matt black plastic just to fade it, as versus highlight. That said it does look quite smart.

The Sandstone Circle – was going to be 3 metre in diameter. A really smart call was made on this part way through to change to the 2 metre diameter. It comes as a set, so the only thing I really had to do was remove the outer third tier of the circle. We also made a smarter call to put it off centre ~ when it’s not a ye olde type formal garden, central rarely works out. Gardens for the long-term, good calls are very necessary. Great clients [I'd have preferred a friendlier word] really do help when it comes to things like this.

Fuge – was also used in between the joints of the paving. In the context of time cost/ man hour units versus a more expensive product [?] it was for more reasons a far better choice than the old days of filling mortar into the joints by hand. The video explains that a little bit more.

The mix of slab colour was also a good choice as versus going with the one colour theme and I personally find it almost changes colour as the light descends upon it. I also used an old timber edge as the surround. From a logic perspective, this will allow the pebble to be retained on the peripheral beds and from a design point of view the colours tie in quite well with the stone colours.

note: the garden was created 2nd week in April and in the paving images, the sand/ grit had literally just been brushed in.

 * all pics courtesy Donegan Landscaping

Speaking with Hector on 2fm a few weeks ago I noted that when I was 5 and into my gardening, 1981 really wasn’t a fashionable era to be seen as green fingered.

April 2012, my daughter Ella was 2 years old and I nearly fell off my stool when I spotted the lego one of her delightful aunties and Uncles got her came with flowers, picket fencing, carrots and rabbits. All I could think, was the sleepless nights she might have should that rabbit make it the far side of the paling. On a serious note, it is pretty much, for me and gardening, a more than welcome sign of the times.

In the Donegan household, we like a fine mix of simplistic and pretty. The balance is hugely important. To note, the following are a mix of pressies Ella received, garden stuff Dad picked up and a little of how we like to garden. Also important to note is that Ella has approximately 10 sets of wonderful Aunties and Uncles who are ever so kind to her. I’d have got her an Arsenal watering can…..

The Equipment

A gift for Ella’s birthday, I’ve observed Ella’s posture as she attempts to stand, as I wanted to when I was younger, like my/ her Dad. The wheel barrow garden kit above is really simplistic and with/ out the piggy stickers, it’s actually quite smart. The watering can works really well and aged 2 she now instinctively heads to the water butts when suggested…. d’ye follow We also put her seeds in there and some wee pots when we go gardening together. Personally, I like the yellow handles.

The tools in this pack are actually quite handy and the quality surprisingly good. So much sow, the trowel almost came to work with me this morning. Not a joke. Back to home lands, we used the trowel to put seeds on when we sowed the Homebase bunny tails Grow Your Own Kit. That aside, I think all gardeners tools should be this colourful.

Things To Do

I picked these up at The Garden Fair at Huntstown community Centre – tip: watch out for your local one and turn up late for the bargains and early for the best kit. I think I paid about 50 pence a packet which is really good value. We planted the Natures Haven, attracts bees packet out by the washing line [away from the house]. I like pretty flowers on our kitchen table and I feel it important for Ella to understand that bees don’t eat vegetables.

Understanding the life cycle of the caterpillar, the butterfly packet was sown away from the vegetable pots in some hanging baskets and a planter that Dad made. Like sowing lettuce, fill a pot and just scatter the seeds roughly across the top. It is that simple.

These were also picked up at The Garden Fair. Ella likes their faces. When we don’t water them their hair wilts like some sort of Spandau Ballet no hair spray hair-do. We’ll trim them soon and they won’t last forever, I know. In context, it’s the eating, trimming and taking part that counts. I like the fact that perfecting the art of being gentle [when pruning] will allow for wee mishaps here. These two also make me smile. We gave one to Grandad. Giving is good. It also made Grandad smile. We might make our own next year with some old socks and our own seeds…

I made 6 of these last week for work and kept one for home. Very much a blog post for another day, our hen-house is really a 6 x 4 shed painted very girlie pink and white. I was thinking I might paint this planter pink and white for Ella, to match. What should be by far much better fun is that we paint it white together. Let it dry. And then let her go a bit doolally, under some form of supervision of course, with a pot of pink paint. The sunflower seeds will look perfectly in here I think.

These came as a gift from another of Ella’s Uncles and Aunties ~ you can see where this is going…. The pot is really cool, and it looks good without the seeds germinated. It also matches her hat. And like the Unwins bee/ butterfly mixes, just fill a container with compost and scatter the seeds on top. I think this took us about an hour. Totally unnecessary timing levels I can assure you. But again, that’s not the point….

I noted the Homebase Grow my Own kit on the blog last week. You can of course make your own with a jam jar and a handful of compost. We did this with some Chilli and Basil seeds in an old tin can. I think we may decorate them on a random rainy day with some wallpaper; Another blog post for another day maybe…

Seed kits and junior gardening paraphernalia aside I like the fact that Ella will have parts in the garden that she was involved in creating, as versus elements I wanted her to appreciate that were handed to her. That, the infrastructure I will note [double underline] is also good and hugely important. But there is a difference between a house and a home, if you get me.

Don’t get me wrong gardening for me as a child was always about being outside in the rain with my raincoat on, feeling the rain on my tongue, the figuring out why my hair went wavy in high humidity, questioning the ‘rule books’ and doing the opposite of what they said just to see what would happen if….

Far, far more important than that though, is the memories I have with my Dad and Grandad helping me in the garden [or the other way round if you like]. And in hindsight, I realise that the gardening was very simply the bit that had us spending time together. I don’t have any major ambitions for Ella to be a big horticulture brain.  That’s for her own wee little head to figure out as she grows up. What I do  know and hope is that she too has memories, happy ones of time spent together.

Audio courtesy The SodShow

Dublin’s Only Garden Radio Show. The SodShow – with Peter Donegan & Brian Greene – Every Friday 3pm.

On This Weeks Garden Radio:

We talk children’s gardening. From 40 something never before gardenened Brian Greene who grew his first bulb this week to 4 year old Mia Goldbach interviewed by her Dad Bernie Topgold Goldbach and all the way back up to 11 year old Eli.  All this and so much more on Dublin’s only garden radio show, The SodShow.

Listen to The SodShow Live @ 3pm:

• Tune in: 103.2fm on your radio dial if you are in the Dublin area
• Listen live online: every Friday 3pm via TuneIn.com – on your phone or desktop

Listen Later:

• As Podcast: on the garden blog – in the podcast category
• in iTunes: Hit The Sodshow Page

Make Contact with The SodShow:

• use the hashtag #SodShow
• email – info@DoneganLandscaping.com
• twitter – @DoneganGardens
• Facebook.com/DoneganLandscaping
• and Brian is on twitter as @BrianGreene

What on whoever you might worships earth has this got to do with landscaping, you may ask. More than you might think Mary Lou is my response.

Last week Ella was 2 years old and one of her loverly Aunties and Uncles got her a Homebase Grow My Own Fluffy Tails Kit. For her birthday present. Moving on…

If you’ve never seen one before, it’s a bit like a Pot Noodle. Microwave gardening as I like to call it. I don’t know how much they cost. Never mind that, far more momentous than that and more to the point, it was and always will be the first seeds Ella, my daughter planted. As a by the way, my first were radish, they were with my Pop and I was 5.

Back to it, journeys, the best ones, especially in gardening matters are always about people and how you got there, together. In context, the thought crossed my mind that I should spend time with my daughter doing what my horticultural brain knows could take 2 minutes. Much more illogic and happy-er in your nappy however is to do it over a full hour singing along to a musical tea pot.

I’m sure there’s some disclaimer saying that these things are for a certain age and that people with nut allergies shouldn’t eat compost or words to that effect. In reality, if you’ve never sown seeds before, irrespective of age, these kits make it so very simple. It even comes with instructions.

Compost firmed, I chose not to cover the seeds at all and also to fill the outer pot about half way up with water [see: capillary action] before placing the black liner pot inside. With the lid on top and a bright kitchen window, we had seeds germination more than evident after 8 days [see below pic].

Being that Ella is only 2 and the scattering of seeds evenly is not a forté of hers as yet, I used the wee trowel that came with her gift [sold seperately] to place the seeds on first and then let Ella push them in. She We knocked it all over a few times and the place did look like a compost convention for some of the afternoon, but it still made us both smile ~ and that is always a good thing.

Note: The seeds are that of the Lagurus ovatus, commonly known as Bunny Tails. Quite an easy plant to grow, it will grow far taller than 50cm in height ~ it’s a bit like a miniature pampas grass [Cortaderia selloana] if you’ve never seen it before. That in mind, you will need to seperate the clump they will form and transplant them outside once they get going… my next thing to do with my daughter. And then I’ll revamp the entire of my own garden again so that there’s a spot ready for the very first plant that Ella grew – and that’s what this post has to do with landscaping.

After that I’ll have to go and plant some in Grandad and Grandmams garden, that is some of that first plant that Ella ever grew. And then it will make them smile too and that’s nice. And that’s more landscaping than maybe you thought when you started to read this post.

Happiness. Perspective. Love it

Pub Quiz Answer: water travelling against gravity. Ever seen rainfall go upwards ? If you’ve ever siphoned liquid [note: liquid plus tubes] from one place to another, you’re half way there.

Horticulturally serious: I’ll need this post to refer back to in a while and on a slight side note, maybe more than I realise, it is one of the most beneficial understandings in what might be considered one of the basic principles of horticulture. Many varying definitions out there to be found, this very shortened definition [as versus my own] should suffice.

Capillary action is the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without the assistance of, and in opposition to external forces like gravity.

In relation to gardening, this becomes again important when we consider:

In hydrology, capillary action describes the attraction of water molecules to soil particles.

I never entirely understood [I do] why capillary action as a definition got to be [of sorts] borrowed, because when broken down really by meaning, it cannot refer to water movement in anything other than a xylem [a plants water carrying internal pipes] or a tube of some format. A discussion for another day over a glass of Midleton I hear you say.

If you are actually interested in joining me for that chat, you’ll most probably find this photograph below extremely humorous. Oh the giggles we shall have

Disclaimer: there’ll be no drinks. It’s just definitions can get quite cucumbersome and often need some mild humour to brighten them up.

Also, now every time I mention capillary action I can link to my own meaning/ explanation – as versus someone elses

Note: I may update this post further. For now and because I write this when it suits/ I have the time/ I’m not in your garden ~ the basic understanding/ theory is there.

On Thursday 3rd May I gave a talk at the first ever Garden Fair at Huntstown Community Centre, Blanchardstown. It wasn’t supposed to be a big event, when I first got the call. It was supposed to be a cup of tea maybe, and a garden talk to 30 or so members of The Ladies Club of the Community Centre.

Within weeks 3 of the ladies, Sharon Farrell, Sheila and Bernie took it upon themselves to create a real event, for the community. What it became was a live on stage garden talk/ demonstration with gardeners Q & A session after. Around that was organised the plant and garden paraphernalia fair where I did happily spend a small fortune.

At work on the evening, far far bigger than myself was a real community. Big smiles, nothing too much to ask for or do and genuinely fine hearted people. In context, it was the first ever talk I have done where I was greeted with a real big hug. A Quality I’m proud to note I encourage in my wee daughter Ella.

To everyone that I met, it was a real honour, sincerely. To Sharon, Sheila and Bernie I’m looking forward to our next cuppa already. To Huntstown community for the gift and to The Ladies for the beautiful card and the so very much appreciated gifts, from the bottom of my heart, thank you so very much. Take a bow, you are simply wonderful.

More info:

• Bernie Kennefick, Huntstown Community Centre,
• Address: Huntstown, Dublin 15
• Web: huntstowncc.org
• email: bernie@Huntstowncc.org

Dublin’s Only Garden Radio Show. The SodShow – with Peter Donegan & Brian Greene – Every Friday 3pm.

On This Weeks Garden Radio:

Fresh out of The Dragons Den, I speak with Noel Joyce of Breezy Gardening who on Sunday 29th April 2012, secured a €33,000 investment for 33% of his company with Sean of Sullivan of SOS Ventures. The angle on this may be slightly different coming in, but what a corker of a garden radio show it is this week. Interesting story. Interesting product. That, an absolute gentleman, a great Irish gardening product and a nice success story.

A note of thanks to Krishna De for this one

More info on Breezy Gardening:

• Twitter: @breezygardening
• Web: www.breezygardening.com

Listen to The SodShow Live @ 3pm:

• Tune in: 103.2fm on your radio dial if you are in the Dublin area
• Listen live online: every Friday 3pm via TuneIn.com – on your phone or desktop

Listen Later:

• As Podcast: on the garden blog – in the podcast category
• in iTunes: Hit The Sodshow Page

Make Contact with The SodShow:

• use the hashtag #SodShow
• email – info@DoneganLandscaping.com
• twitter – @DoneganGardens
• Facebook.com/DoneganLandscaping
• and Brian is on twitter as @BrianGreene

The video above came in via Simon Kenny who, for those that are not aware is a farmer based in Kildare. We’d been chatting about trees some time ago and this is his update.

I replied with this video.

I should note, that I am not in any way being critical of Simon and how he does his trees, domestic versus farmland, I personally wouldn’t have used any straps or stakes. I simply think that in my garden [domestic scenarios] they look better and neater when first planted

Simon is @FarmerSimonK on twitter if you wanna ask him a little bit more about his woodland.

After more than 11 years working for myself and a lifetime [minus 5 years of age] working and studying gardens and horticulture, I’ve come to the very logic conclusion that there is very little if anything I can do that does not make me think of horticulture in some or any format.

May bank holiday weekend on the horizon in mind, this is where I found myself on the last one…. ?

Dublin’s Only Garden Radio Show. The SodShow – with Peter Donegan & Brian Greene – Every Friday 3pm.

Listen to The SodShow Live @ 3pm:

• Tune in: 103.2fm on your radio dial if you are in the Dublin area
• Listen live online: every Friday 3pm via TuneIn.com – on your phone or desktop

Listen Later:

• As Podcast: on the garden blog – in the podcast category
• in iTunes: Hit The Sodshow Page

On The Show This Week:

On this weeks show it’s all the garden advice you need to see you through the month of May.

From tools and chores outdoors, to growing your own and from looking after the garden to getting that lawn back in shape. All the garden advice you could ever need, dates for your diary, mentions of note and so much more….. it’s all in this Dublin’s only garden radio show, The SodShow.

• Garden Talk: Huntstown Community Centre Thursday May 3rd

Make Contact with The SodShow:

• use the hashtag #SodShow
• email – info@DoneganLandscaping.com
• twitter – @DoneganGardens
• Facebook.com/DoneganLandscaping
• and Brian is on twitter as @BrianGreene

Wednesday 25th April, that’s today, I’ll be on the radio chatting gardens with Hector.

The show kicks off from 7am and you can listen online via 2fm.rte.ie/hector or @ 90-92 on the FM (I must g00gle what that [fm] stands for).

I’ll tidy this post up a little better later and do the Oscar nomination thank you to a few folks who were just lovely. In the meantime, if you’re not already a fan, of the show, tune in and have a listen.

Update:

• Listen to the Podcast: Breakfast with Hector Podcast 25 April 2012
• Hectors Blog 25 April 2012

Big thanks to Alan Swan, Hector and the 2fm team. Also to Darragh Doyle, Pat O’Mahony, Eileen McCabe, Brian Greene, Odhran Ducie and Luke Giblin. This noting entitles you to a (singular) lovely cup of tea

Dublin’s Only Garden Radio Show. The SodShow – with Peter Donegan & Brian Greene – Every Friday 3pm.

On This Weeks Garden Radio:

Last weekend I visited the beautiful Island of Inis Mór. There to run the Aer Arann half Marathon for Temple Street, I took the time to speak with gardener Bartley Hernon of Claí Bán Guesthouse and gentleman Padraig O’ Ceadaigh of Aer Arann. From seaweed fertiliser to no snow and one week of frost since 1956… that and so very much more all on this weeks SodShow.

With an enormous thank you to the amazing staff of Aer Arann, the angels that make Temple Street Childrens Hospital, The wonderful people of Inis Mór and also Joey, Amy and Ella Faherty.

More info:

• The Temple Street Aer Arann Half Marathon 2012
• More of my Inis Mór 2012 images

Listen to The SodShow Live @ 3pm:

• Tune in: 103.2fm on your radio dial if you are in the Dublin area
• Listen live online: every Friday 3pm via TuneIn.com – on your phone or desktop

Listen Later:

• As Podcast: on the garden blog – in the podcast category
• in iTunes: Hit The Sodshow Page

Make Contact with The SodShow:

• use the hashtag #SodShow
• email – info@DoneganLandscaping.com
• twitter – @DoneganGardens
• Facebook.com/DoneganLandscaping
• and Brian is on twitter as @BrianGreene

• Speaker: Peter Donegan
• When: Thursday May 3rd 2012 @ 7.30pm
• Where: Huntstown Community Centre, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
• Admission: €2

The last garden talk I did, it was €6 in to hear me talk. Now, I’m an absolute bargain at just €2 entry. All for a great cause and what promises to be a great bit of craic

In case you are wondering, I didn’t make the poster noted. But, with a big smile, the story goes a little like so.

A few weeks ago I got a message in from Sharon Farrell of Huntstown Ladies Club:

Hi peter we are a group of 30 women in the huntstown area of dublin 15, and meet every thursday evening at 8pm till 10pm we would be very interested if by chance you could visit us in our local community center and give a talk and advice in relation to gardens and plants…..

Of course I had a wee chat with Sharon and a few days later this message arrived:

Hi peter, had a meeting with club and all is going well. we are having our night in the hall and decorating it, some garden centers have donated plants and flowers to us, we will have public coming too, and is it ok with you if photos are taken and….

Naturally [with another smile] I agreed. And then I got this message….

Its kind of heading into a big event peter, everyone very excited we will be doing some raffles too to raise some money for the local kids and elderly in the community, so we decided to call it the sod show event, hope you enjoy the easter

Got a garden, a window ledge or a balcony, pop on by and say hello. I’ll look forward to seeing you for what promises to be a cracking night and I’m happy to say a little bit more of an audience than the initially intended 30 ladies.

More information via Huntstown Community Centre.

• web: www.huntstowncc.org
• email: reception@huntstowncc.org
• tel: 01-8220847

Seperate-ish Update: I’ve been asked to note if any garden related companys wanna get involved and donate some plants or garden paraphernalia. Go on. Go on, go on, go on…… g’wan. Good causes and all that. You’ll feel much better for it