I woke up this morning and it is JULY!!!!
So June was pretty full this year with a couple of breaks as well as lots of Garden stuff. The Laois Garden Trail made a big push this year to raise our profile and encourage more people to visit our various gardens. Check out http://www.laoisgardens.ie for details of all the gardens. We joined forces with the very successful Buds & Blossoms in Spink near Abbeyleix to make the Laois Garden Festival a two day event this year. My contribution was to give demonstrations of Living Willow Fence-making at Gortnalee on Saturday 8th June.
Getting started 
Hands on .. 
Looking interesting
Sunday we were all at Buds & Blossoms talking to people about the Garden Trail and the new gardens included this year – but I also found time to do a bit of Retail Therapy! The people at Dove House had a lovely Fairy House representing the Garden Trail and Dermot O’Neill gave it his approval!
Retail Therapy 
Dove House display 
Approval from Dermot
This event is attracting the most interesting growers each year and is going from strength to strength – and it has a lovely friendly relaxed atmosphere and some interesting speakers too!
The following Sunday was my Open Day for Laois Hospice. The Weather Gods were not very kind but despite the poor day lots of people braved the weather to come and enjoy the garden and tea and cake in aid of a worthy cause! Some keen visitors viewed the garden under umbrellas, which is a sign of real dedication! But the sun did come out too so all was not lost!
Welcome 
Showery day 
Geum loves the rain 
Willow Arbour 
Really keen visitors 
Thanks
After all that excitement it was off to Barcelona for a well-earned rest and a lovely holiday with family.
What do you do when you get home from holidays? I go straight out to the garden to make sure it has survived my absence!!!! This time I arrived to find my first-ever Cauliflowers were ready for eating, the onions and garlic needed harvesting and the strawberries were still safe inside their cage!
So now I know where June went! And Monty Don is telling me to get cracking and cut back all the early summer stuff ….. I’m only home a few days and I need another holiday!!!!
Gortnalee Garden Blog 