Community Gardening Update

Even though summer feels like it's coming to an end, there's still lots of harvesting (and deadheading to be done) with flowers, herbs, fruits and veggies still available and many plants thriving.

The community garden at Antrim Castle Gardens has looked well this year. We're a small group of volunteers who give a few hours each week to keep areas of the gardens 'under our care' looking good and productive.

This year our greenhouse contained several varieties of tomato, cucumber, and a grapevine - with our very first bunch of grapes! One of our volunteers made a sign, writing with chalk on a piece of slate, to help encourage donations from passer-bys in exchange for a plant. This has worked well as a way to raise some money for projects.

  

One of our members had an idea of a 'cut flower' bed so we developed this area earlier in the year, growing plants from seed. It has turned out to be an eye-catching area, which contains plants like sweet pea, cosmos, snapdragon, asters, and dahlia. 

Last year we noticed one of our flower beds was in a shadier section of the garden so this year we developed a 'Woodland' flower bed. Many of the plants were donated to our group from some of the plant nurseries that attended the Garden Show Ireland (Northern Ireland's largest gardening event). 

Above and below: The flower beds bring lots of colour throughout Spring, Summer and Autumn with their mix of perennials, herbaceous plants, bulbs and some annuals.

Above and below: This year we have also been fortunate to have obtained a polytunnel. This will allow us to grow more plants from seed, and soon it will be filled to the brim!

Our group never seems to rest and our current project is developing a Cottage-style planting scheme that will run across an area approx 30 feet by 10 feet. This well keep us busy over Autumn and into the New Year.

For more info on the volunteer gardening group, click here. 

Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.

Late Summer Flowers looking Fab

Lots of colour in the garden this month, and most things will look good right up until the first frost (which will hopefully be late - end of October would be nice). 

Most of the plants pictured are perennial and will die down in the winter and come back each year - great value.

Pictured is Echinacea Purpurea / Coneflower. It's looking fab with its fashionable pink flowers, and provides some height in the border without the need for staking.

Top left to right: Lobelia Fan Burgundy, Achillea 'Terracotta' is still going strong, Hydrangea is coming into full flower, and Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm'.

Top left to right: Cosmos grown from seed are only recently coming into flower; trailing lobelia (annual bedding plant); Echinacea Purpurea / Coneflower, and agapanthus coming into flower.

The roses may be covered in blackspot but they have been full of blooms from Spring through Summer, and will keep going through Autumn. Quite hardy plants.

It's been a coldish, but great summer. I'm definitely not ready for it to end!

Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.

Giant Sunflowers

Aren't sunflowers fab!  

I didn't grow sunflowers last year and I really missed them. This plant is definitely on my annual 'must grow list'.

I've tried various varieties like 'Teddy Bear' and the reddish 'Autumn Beauty' but the best sunflower (in my opinion) is 'Giant Single' Sunflower. They put on the best show, with their height and their giant, dinner plate-sized flower heads - very eye catching.

I started these from seed in April. They grew slowly but diligently all summer and now they're making a wonderful display. So cheerful!

I haven't measured these beauties, but they're on average 7 to 8 feet tall. A great plant for kids to grow too - who can grow the tallest!

Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.