Sunday, 15 February 2015

Mizzle, Plant Dividing, Holiday Planning And A New Path That Cost NothIng!



It's been a damp and Mizzle day here in South West Ireland.  We put the cattle out in one of the fields and then I set about dividing my Oesteospermums in the poly-tunnel.  We had some bad frosts a couple of years a go and it completely killed off most of them.  I had ten new plants in September.  Today we have twenty.  We also divided a fern up into new plants.  You know the gardeners mathematical equation:

"The old way to multiply is to divide." 

 Hey?



 New ferns.
 Garlic growing in the old tractor wheel trims.  The lavender cuttings all took in the little pots.  

 Calendula's still flowering.
My new path.  Made from the coping stones from the wall we demolished a few weeks a go. 
 Domino using the polytunnel door for a scratching post.
 Is it a garden path or a cat walk?
Domino inspecting the Japanese onions.  I placed the paving stone there for weeding purposes.  

 We have also finally decided that we are going to have a sun holiday this year.  Probably when we sell the cattle or something?  Cattle prices have gone mad at the moment.  Why didn't we buy some when they were cheap before Christmas?  Apparently it's because America is starting to buy Irish beef again.  Trouble is when we sell the cattle. We probably won't be able to replace them.  There's an old Irish saying:

 "The day you buy is the day you sell."  

 The Irish milk quotas end in April so Dairy farms will expand their stock.  So hopefully there will be glut of cheap heifer calves?

 Looks like we are going to Portugal again,  This time we are going to Lisbon and the seaside resorts near by.    Last time we went to Portugal, we went to the Algarve.  I love Portugal.  My ambition is to live there one day.   Where are you going on your holidays?


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16 comments:

  1. Anonymous15 February 2015 at 07:42

    Osteospermum's are one of my very favourite flowers. All daisy like flowers are just sooo happy. You cannot look at a daisy or a duck without smiling.
    We are hoping to have a few days along your beautiful coast and then into the mountains.

    ReplyDelete
  2. northsider 15 February 2015 at 07:51

    Hi Irene. Yes they are great aren't they? Lots of exotic plants survive here on the Gulf Stream. There are some great gardens to visit with a lot of great plant collections from overseas. Where abouts are you visting in Ireland?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous15 February 2015 at 09:11

    You tell me, have not made any booking yet, but are looking to come over next month.
    We are a bit spontaneous with hols.
    Will be looking at property while we are there.

    ReplyDelete
  4. northsider 15 February 2015 at 09:51

    Sea views are quite expensive Irene. But if you go inland a bit. There are some incredible bargains. Have a look at Daft.ie and see what you can find for your budget and then convert it back to Sterling. You will be amazed at how cheap some of the properties are compared to Blighty! Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16 February 2015 at 11:46

      Thanks for the advice Dave. We have Daft.ie in our bookmarks along with a few others. Our budget is tiny as we are still trying to sell our "très rustique* place in the Limousin, The market there is abysmal. Can live without sea views as long as I can get to them.

      Delete
  5. John15 February 2015 at 11:22

    Busy bee Dave.....divide to multiply I like that saying. Oh holiday this year? Not sure yet but Scotland may have to suffer us maybe Ireland though but short break in Cornwall is on the cards and we're off to the lakes for a couple of long weekends.

    ReplyDelete
  6. John15 February 2015 at 11:23

    Busy bee Dave.....divide to multiply I like that saying. Oh holiday this year? Not sure yet but Scotland may have to suffer us maybe Ireland though but short break in Cornwall is on the cards and we're off to the lakes for a couple of long weekends.

    ReplyDelete
  7. northsider 15 February 2015 at 11:56

    I love Cornwall John. Especially the Lost gardens of Heligan, pasties and St Michael's Mount. Scotland is great for it's malt whiskies and great bitter. Sounds like some great trips. Please write about your adventures on your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anne Wilson15 February 2015 at 12:39

    We will be staying put, so much of Ireland that we have never seen and most of it we can get there a back in a day. Neither of us like beach holidays, give us an old ruin to explore and we are happy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. northsider 16 February 2015 at 01:01

      Hi Anne. Yes there are lots of places to explore here in Ireland. I must find some more walled kitchen gardens to visit this spring. When we go on a sun holiday we spend a few hours on the beach and the rest of the exploring the area. We end up needing a rest when we come home.

      Delete
  9. Twiggy15 February 2015 at 12:56

    You have been busy Dave puts me to shame today :) Your hols sound lovely, we are hoping for Ireland this year but as long as there are good waves and decent beaches we'll be happy :)
    Twiggy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. northsider 16 February 2015 at 01:02

      I spent many a great family holiday in Scarborough, Twiggy. I am sure you will have a great time where ever you decide to go.

      Delete
  10. cumbrian15 February 2015 at 13:03

    Good to see all the up-cycled containers and materials, a load less to land-fill.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. northsider 16 February 2015 at 01:04

      Hi Cumbrian. Yes we try to make use of what's lying around the farm. We recycle what we can.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous15 February 2015 at 14:16

    I love the multiply and divide quote :o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. northsider 16 February 2015 at 01:07

      It's a Stefan Buczacki's gardening quote, CT.

      Delete

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