Getting out into the Garden

It is supposed to be an absolute scorcher here in Ireland this weekend. It was quite humid yesterday and the kids, were sweltering in their school uniforms - completely unaccustomed to the change. My daughter must have eaten about 4 ice pops in the space of an hour getting out of school. Today she will be armed with a big jug of water as will I as I head into Limerick. Not that I'm complaining, we'll enjoy it while we can. Busy at a neighbours communion party tomorrow, I'm looking forward to Sunday to getting out in the garden.

I bought two new large established Lupines on Wednesday to add to the garden - my front garden was dug up two weeks ago to refresh the border and while it looks great, it needs some more plants to fill it out a bit. The back garden is finally getting more established but I want to invest in some more perennials so that the borders are overflowing with a variety of colours at different times during the summer.

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I've got to get out and take some photos of the front of the house because we are painting the front door and fence in a Farrow & Ball lichen green. I'm so excited as it will dramatically change the look and complement the colours of the garden and the paler green we have on our wall.

In addition, I finally found a metal garden archway at McGill's Garden Centre on the N7 heading into Limerick (just after Birdhill) so that will be the next investment - unfortunately it has been painted black but I think the Lichen Green will look fabulous on it as well and then I'm growing honeysuckle and climbing roses up it for a lush and slightly wild cottage garden look.

Hope you all have time to get out into your gardens - any suggestions for great perennials that are easy to care for and have huge impact - let me know!

All photos featured here are from the May 2010 issue of Country Living, UK. Photographs by Jason Ingram.