Peter Donegan landscaping Weblog

House wrecked as man kills weeds with flame thrower

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:33:44 +0000

It’s Monday. And whilst I wouldn’t wish to laugh at someone else’s misfortune I just couldn’t keep my hands off this story…. House wrecked as man kills weeds with flame thrower Fri Jul 3, 8:08 am ET BERLIN (AFP) – A German gardener’s house was left a smouldering wreck on Friday after he set it on fire while trying to [...]

get twitter updates from your houseplants… ?

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:33:56 +0000

If you are unsure of what Twitter is - click here My friend Donna in Canada sent me this piece. It was in the Province Newspaper today [2nd February '09] in Vancouver - Taken from Jill Rosen at the Baltimore Sun, and titled “Get Twitter Updates from your Houseplant”. The technology that enables humans and houseplants [...]

john brookes… the career of [book]

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:14:24 +0000

I like this book. A little more expensive than my last book review at €44.70 - but well worth it. I had about three of Johns book in library up until recently… but very unfortunately they [and a large amount of others] grew legs and decided to go walkies To put in context how good [...]

small gardens [more] ideas

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:58:22 +0000

I had a route through the statistics on the web-blog recently and it seems that for the most part one of the greatest interests is in that of small gardens and getting some ideas…. With that in mind I rumaged through the archives to find some images that may help you a little better along the [...]

plane in near miss with lawnmower….?!!

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:46:39 +0000

yes it’s true read the full story here courtesy of The Irish Times I really like this quote the best: …the DAA will continue to work closely with the Irish Aviation Authority [thats for the airplane...] and the Department of Transport [is this on behalf of the lawnmower...?!!] *the words in brackets are not part of the quote. Here’s my [...]

Father Collins Park

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:02:52 +0000

I was talking to a friend of mine, Aidan, gate miester extraordinaire and part time garden enthusiast…. he was telling me about this [now] park that used to be a field where he and his Father used to hunt when he was younger… Peter, you just got to go & see this park… it is out [...]

silicon republic… technology for a gardener #9

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:47:40 +0000

The entire list of companies for ‘technology for a gardener’ is/will be here. This is piece #9. This is Silicon Republic. Silicon republic in my eyes like a who’s who sort of what’s what online publication of anything technical related. It is the Reuters of the techie industry so to speak. If there was ever anything I [...]

building your own bar-b-q

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:02:04 +0000

paeonia [peony rose]

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:55:00 +0000

I love the peony roses. They were one of my Grandmothers favourites. But they came with so many ‘how and what not’ fables attached it’s infallable…. When my Nan passed away my Mam brought one of these from her garden and planted it in ours. It ‘died off’ shortly after she planted it… but came [...]

lawn problems….?

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:27:31 +0000

Last year from around the middle of May through June Bank Holiday weekend climates and weather almost mirrored that of what we are having now. With reference to lawns here are the articles that I wrote then: The green green grass of home have you ever seen the rain **images 4 & 5 are a patch of grass [...]

supporting plants…

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:58:28 +0000

looking for a little alternative other than the sheet of trellice that keeps rotting away behind that overgrown climber? maybe a more presentable way to support that new tree you just bought? maybe a new way to divide that strip between you and the neighbours….. ? Take a look and see what you think….

dubh linn garden

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:20:01 +0000

Nestled in behind Dublin Castle, just off Dame Street [palace st. to be exact] is one of the finest gardens I have ever entered in my life. You know when you just get that ‘feeling groovy’ kind of a nice feel….? That’s exactly what I got… Only one problem…. there is little to zero information available [...]

how to grow your own - from seed

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:26:46 +0000

the brainiacs guide to strawberries…

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:51:05 +0000

Strawberries - the info that may prove useful in a pub quiz better know in botanical terms as the Fragaria, commonly known as the strawberry plant. Surprisingly, [or confusing-ly] it is a member of the Rosaceae or rose family. Here’s the possibly boring bit fancy-speak bit and where this article may prove beneficial. They are a genus [...]

can you recommend a plant… ?

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 05:50:19 +0000

If you are looking for that splash of colour… for that flower-less bed that just never seems to appear bright at all or you simply wish to have a ‘bash’ at creating your own bit of inspiration……. Then here are 18 little beauties that are guaranteed to bring a [greater] smile to your face. You need [...]

recycle a [red] satellite… ?

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:30:16 +0000

I wanted a bird bath for my ‘wild’ fruit garden area remember my very dead [& red] tree….? remember my long grass under the fruit trees….? I found a satellite and had some paint left over…. I also needed a bird bath… And I fancied a little ACDC…. It makes me smile in the morning Here’s how it [...]

interview with a blacksmith

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:00:15 +0000

Trekking through The Craft Council of Irelands section within Bloom this year I met blacksmiths Michael Budd and Stephen Quinn. I did do a live stream interview but it didn’t work out as well as I thought. Still blown away by the old techniques that [still] exist… I returned the following day. I’m so glad I took [...]

have you ever met someone who invents plants…?

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:13:58 +0000

The 2nd last video in a series of interviews… I met with Pat Fitzgerald of MyPlant.ie a plant ‘inventor’ based in Kilkenny. Talk about a nice guy….. this is the ultimate gentleman What Pat didn’t say on camera was that he supplies his staff with the land and facilities to have their own allotment [...]

osnabruck botanical gardens [botanischer garten]

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:57:22 +0000

In 1984 The Botanical Gardens of Osnabruck were born. To celebrate the gardens 25th anniversary I met with Curator Dr Nikolai Friesen [saturday 6th June] to find out a little more about this young yet amazing horticultural gem of north Germany Opened in 1984 the 8.6 hectare site includes 5.6 of which were formerly a quarry. [...]

3 minute wonder…

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:35:01 +0000

taxus bacata

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 06:15:06 +0000

the yew, taxaceae is of a genus of 5-10 species and one of those that reminds me firmly and almost immediately of the ‘ye olde’ type style gardens. In fact I’ve yet to meet one without. Most commonly famed for its use in hedging or topiary, they are evergreen, berry producing plants that are listed [...]

solanum crispum glasnevin

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 05:53:22 +0000

there are about 1,400 members to the solanum family. I particularly like this one climber mainly for its blue and yellow dotted trailing flowers. A member of the potatoe family… for that reason I believe] I find this beauty always does well in Irish soils given half a chance. The crispum members of the solanum family [...]

the garden of remembrance

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:24:09 +0000

I was waiting for a bus a few weeks ago. Checked the bus timetable… and with an hour an a bit to spare [coffee flask in hand] I took t a stroll up O’Connell Street towards Parnell Square and into The Garden of Remembrance. My Auntie Bridie [God bless her ] used to take [...]

how [and not] to allotment garden…

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 05:36:36 +0000

you’d like to have an allotment? ….you’re thinking about it….? seen all the tv programmes? green is the way to go. but is it for you…? Over the bank holiday weekend I got a brief chance to meet with Thomas the brains behind Irishallotments.net. In this interview he tells me the what and what not’s to [...]

beekeeping or simply attracting bees…

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 06:16:29 +0000

When I was in bloom I got to meet some people you may never get a chance to nab a quick interview with… In this interview I meet with Graham Hall of The Irish Bee Keepers Association…. before you watch it…. he was perched on the higher part of the tree base and I on the [...]

how to look green…. doing very little

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:02:48 +0000

***the video works, the screen just appears funny - press play & enjoy I was sitting in my back garden having coffee with Thomas from Irish Allotments I had been showing him the video that Dave from 98fm did for me. Dave and I got talking last week and I was asking how does one make [...]

they think it’s all over…. bloom ‘08

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:09:39 +0000

remember the pink boat travelling across the M50 [click here] the video that was made by genius Colin from Irish Video’s….. You would have thought that was the end of of it… yesterday evening I arrive home and check the emailage…. this video was in there… Have a look and let me know what you think…. Personally, [...]

the bloom in the park ‘09 experience

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:36:22 +0000

The sun is splitting the skies, the Phoenix Park looks spectacluar…. you simply can’t imagine what a show Bloom in the Park has turned out to be. To only mention the gardens is, maybe, what I should be doing…. but, as a garden builder and designer at Bloom - they are all [seriously] amazing and I [...]

how to bloom in the park 2009

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:05:00 +0000

**bloom in the park 2009 - to read my review - click here Show times and dates: thursday 28th May 11am - 6pm friday 29th May 10am - 6pm saturday 30th May 10am - 6pm sunday 31st May 10am - 6pm monday 1st June 10am - 6pm Recommended to do and see: 27 show gardens don’t forget the engaging spaces gardens recreation of US First [...]

behind the scenes of a bloom show garden

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Wed, 27 May 2009 07:14:23 +0000

related posts: my bloom in the park ‘09 reviewed how to bloom in the park show gardening - behind the scenes looking back on bloom 2008 looking back on bloom 2007 The slogan that runs under the bloom logo is ‘celebrate garden life’. This year more than ever I hope we as a nation do just that. To quote my good [...]

looking back… bloom 2008

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Tue, 26 May 2009 06:30:00 +0000

this week is bloom in the park week. This being my ‘year off’…. [?] this week, I’m gonna take a look back and a little look forward…. yesterday was of course my entry for bloom 2007 Pour L’amour de Jeux. my Garden for Bloom 2008. Once again… I had no sponsor and I was advised not [...]

looking back…. bloom 2007

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Sun, 24 May 2009 19:32:24 +0000

this week is bloom in the park week. This being my ‘year off’…. [?] this week, I’m gonna take a look back and a little look forward…. No Rubber Soul. My Garden for Bloom 2007. I love this garden. I really do. I had no sponsor. I was advised not to do it. Nobody knew what Bloom [...]

i’ll do anything for charity #1

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:58:19 +0000

i’m trying to get to south africa with the Niall Mellon Township for the 3rd year in a row. [to see all posts click here] I need to raise €5,000. Sounds like a lot but it’s not when you get lots of small amounts… I’ve a couple of ideas in the pipeline…. My first is this. It’ll [...]

bloom ‘09 caption competition winner….

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Fri, 22 May 2009 07:50:23 +0000

To see the competition - click here. To hear the winner announced…… watch the video! A huge thanks to Dublins 98 fm Dave for picking the winner for me [disclaimer: *all complaints should be directed to Dublins 98fm's Dave Moore click here to read his blog terms and conditions and apply no Dj's were harmed in the [...]

laburnum

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Fri, 22 May 2009 07:10:12 +0000

all over Dublin at this moment in time, the Laburnum is in full flower draping over the park rails of Dublin City Centre. The yellow long draping clusters that you see are those of the often called ‘golden rain’ tree - the laburnum. Of the leguminosae [the legume or the pea family]/ papilionaceae family. The funny [...]

IIA net visionary awards…

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Thu, 21 May 2009 17:14:09 +0000

Tonight the Irish Internet Association Net Visionary Awards 2009 take place. I have been shortlisted. For me that is huge. In fact when I first heard, this is what I thought [click here]. But… I am a horticuluralist. And this is why I blog. *Anything* that comes after that is an added bonus If it where [...]

the war memorial park

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Thu, 21 May 2009 08:10:52 +0000

I don’t think I’ve been to this park since I was about 18 years old. For no apparent reason. [It is where I was once employed.] But it has to be said, if there is a park comparable to poetry…. This *is* it! I’ve missed it… The history, the story, the layout, in it’s entirety… I [...]

dear richard corrigan and rte…

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:33:09 +0000

I really feel so angry with RTE over this…. and Richard Corrigan even after all you have done so far. This time you are Sir a bufoon. I watched your programme last night where an axe [or a hatchet] was use to kill a chicken…. [chop off its head on a timber block] I also listened [...]

win 2 tickets to bloom 2009

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:50:06 +0000

related posts: my bloom in the park ‘09 reviewed how to bloom in the park show gardening - behind the scenes looking back on bloom 2008 looking back on bloom 2007 ****************To see the winner announced - click here*********** This is now 4 tickets…… btw. It’s next weekend. It’s the entire weekend. It’s in the Phoenix Park. And no this year [...]

the farmers market, portmarnock

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Tue, 19 May 2009 06:34:17 +0000

On Sunday[17th May '09] I took a trip out to my folks home town. I had heard about this new one… but I was unsure. I have this image in my head that there’s a lady who goes out on a Friday, takes a few turnips from the garden, pops ‘em into a tweed satchel [...]

where are all the jobs gone….?

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Mon, 18 May 2009 10:51:20 +0000

Have you got a good news, green if possible? If you’re getting window boxes for your office, you’ve moved to a greener place, you bought water butts, you recycle your coffee grinds…… you employed someone to cut the grass??! Let me know… Here’s why…. In The Sunday Business Post yesterday I spotted’ a tiny little paragraph [ [...]

who is the greenest of them all …?

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Sun, 17 May 2009 21:57:17 +0000

If you are gonna do the i’m green and i’m living the good life the good life gig then do it. One probably would assume the greenest of them all would be the green party …? It turns out their not…. This is how it’s really done [click here] by Independent Kathy Sinnott. well, the posters [...]

[show] garden s.o.s.

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:50:34 +0000

This is Rebecca Thorne. She is building a garden in Bloom in the Phoenix Park this June Bank Holiday weekend. Rebecca emailed me some weeks ago. Words of wisdom [hmmm?] were requested. A pot of tea, some apple tart and a drive to Ballyboughal later… Today I went to The war Memorial Gardens in Islandbridge. On my [...]

recycle a garden giveaway #2

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:10:51 +0000

The last time I did a garden giveaway…. this is what happened - click here This time its a little different… lettuce plants in plug trays about 15 cobble stones varying sizes and colours about 170 and i might even throw in some fresh eggs oh and i’ve got a draftsmans drawing table as well [not in video] to contact me…. [...]

10 [1 odd green + 9 green other ]odds and ends

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Fri, 15 May 2009 06:48:39 +0000

The Green Party call Irelands best loved entrepreneur call Bill Cullen names…. bad names… then they delete it… well they try to. This just after a bottom spanking for your truly.Young Cork Councillor Laura Mc Gonigle stands up for me. Thanks Laura! the farmers journal [where I used to write btw...] [...]

piaras kelly - pr thursday garden guest #10

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Thu, 14 May 2009 07:00:54 +0000

If you would like to know more about the thursday garden guest the pr sessions - click here. For the moment writer #10 is Paiars kelly of Edelman PR. ABOUT: Piaras Kelly is a Senior Account Manager with Edelman, a Dublin based PR firm. You can read more of his thoughts on PR, Marketing, Advertising and other [...]

richard corrigan - the aftermath …?

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Tue, 12 May 2009 21:54:11 +0000

It’s funny, in a way, but throughout the reporting of this issue, how various people have reacted. It seems…[?] Richard backed down and re-worded and rephrased. Bord Bia [I must say] and Aidan Cotter in particular conducted themselves in an exemplary manner. And here I have added some other press statements. Side stepping slightly, I was [...]

a struggling tree…?

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Tue, 12 May 2009 07:27:52 +0000

In a garden recently, this tree caught my attention. It looks fine..? It isn’t really… somewhere in the middle of all those bare leafed branches a problem exists. The suckers were coming up from the base, being that it’s a grafted tree and they were really starting to compete with the tree. Outside of that when they [...]

gm food? de burca? …the green party?

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Mon, 11 May 2009 01:03:30 +0000

Very recently I had to take this from the green party & also Deidre de Burca - click here. More recently The Green Party did something similar again - click here except this time they insulted Bill Cullen. On a seperate note: Richard Corrrigans story, well, was extremely confusing to say the least - click here [...]

richard corrigan [for the] silly farm… ?

Peter Donegan MI Hort — Fri, 08 May 2009 20:38:32 +0000

Richard Corrigan called a press conference today. All of the media who were invited to Richards restaurant were asked to sign a waiver as it was to be recorded for his television programme….. Corrigans city silly farm In a flawed variation of Jamie Olivers School Dinners taking on the Prime Minister, Corrigan has decided [...]