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Plants to compliment water features

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GARDENING

Following last week’s article about creating a water feature, I received many enquiries about planting it up and related bog gardens.

A bog garden is easily constructed as part of the pond. A continuous liner from the pond under the bog garden will serve as an overflow as well as ensuring the level of moisture required for bog plants. A layer of gravel underneath the soil gives some drainage, and stones hiding a fine mesh, or even weed suppressant, will prevent soil falling into your pond and muddying the water. Bog gardens can also become part of the filtration system of your pond, if they are supplied with slow running water the roots of water plants will have an antibacterial effect. Bog gardens can also be independent from the pond, at its most basic it is a hole in the ground lined with polythene or pond liner and back filled with soil and peat. The minimum depth should be 30cm as it can dry out very quickly in warm weather, and when it does it tends to be even drier than the surrounding ground. Access to a hose is handy!

When planting up water features and ponds, it is extremely important to bear in mind the size of your feature. Many water plants grow very quickly and become invasive, especially reeds and grasses! There are three zones to a pond which you will notice on the labels of water plants. Zone one is shallow, up to 30cm deep, zone two is up to 60cm deep, and zone three is anything deeper. Always plant at the recommended depth or they will not grow successfully.

WATER LILIES

Generally, we tend to think first of water lilies when it comes to pond plants, and, indeed, they are probably the most spectacular. Water lilies, or Nymphea, are available in different sizes, which enables almost anyone to grow at least one. As a general rule of thumb, they tend to grow about 1.5 times the width of their depth, so a lily planted at a depth of 60cm, will spread about 90cm on the surface of your pond. N. Attraction is ideal for a large pond, growing to a width 1.5m with deep red flowers. A smaller red lily to try is N. Froebelii, growing to 50cm wide. Laydekeri lilies are ideal for a small pond, they will happily grow in only 30cm of water. I have several in different colours, but really it is their leaves which are quite unusual, being striped green and maroon.

IRIS

Iris are also a beautiful marginal plant. In my garden the Iris laevigata varieties grow best. These are a true aquatic plant which will grow in shallow water. Available in blues, pinks and a pure white, they are worth adding to your pond. Iris pseudocorus is the typical ‘flag’ we see in many ditches, but is better used as a bog plant, as in the winter its crown prefers to be dry.

In the case of both lilies and iris, it can be quite difficult to find specific varieties, and unfortunately we often have to make do with what the local garden centre has to offer! Unfortunately, I have had the experience of ordering them on the Internet go horribly wrong – once I had to pay damage costs as water leaked out from the package, and another time the plants arrived rotten. So, be warned if you are tempted!

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Killarney couples renew vows at St Mary’s Cathedral

Several couples celebrating significant wedding anniversaries gathered last Saturday at St Mary’s Cathedral to renew their vows. The annual event, organised by Killarney Parish Administrator Fr Kieran O’Brien, is a […]

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Several couples celebrating significant wedding anniversaries gathered last Saturday at St Mary’s Cathedral to renew their vows. The annual event, organised by Killarney Parish Administrator Fr Kieran O’Brien, is a local tradition for those marking significant milestones and anniversaries.
Fr O’Brien was assisted by Fr Vitalis Barasa.
Following the ceremony, the couples, along with family and friends, moved to St Brendan’s College for refreshments. Attendees exchanged stories, and reminisced about their wedding days.
Couples Celebrating Anniversaries:

25th Wedding Anniversary

Andy and Norma McHugh, Carhoonahane, Beaufort
Mike and Sheila Daly, Glean Tober, Gortdromakerry, Muckross
Cathal and Mairead Dunphy, Lyranes Lower, Glencar
Michael and Susan Keane, Aughacasla, Castlegregory

30th Wedding Anniversary

Bernadette Randles and Vincent Casey, Muckross Road
Paul and Deirdre McEnteggart, Ashgrove, Firies
Tony and Teresa O’Gorman, Glosha, Cromane, Killorglin
Seamus and Ella Clifford, Ardaneanig
Hillary and Moira Fleming, Whitebridge
Donal and Caroline McCarthy, Countess Road

35th Wedding Anniversary

Paudie and Joan Mangan, Riverhaven, Coolcorcoran
Michael and Marian Lucey, Knockeenduff
Liam and Marie Courtney, Minish East

40th Wedding Anniversary

Joe and Caroline Hurley, Whitebridge Manor
Michael and Cliona O’Sullivan, Knocknasartnett
Sean and Margaret McCarthy, Kenmare Road, Muckross
Noel and Rita Curtin, Pinewood Estate
Tim and Catherine Moriarty, Gortagullane, Muckross
Neilly and Bridie O’Mahony, Knockeragh
Donal and Linda O’Donoghue, Knockeenduve
Padraig and Mary Kissane, Minish

45th Wedding Anniversary

Tony and Marie Nolan, Whitebridge Manor
Jerry and Lena Kelleher, Islanderagh, Rathmore, Co. Kerry
Liam and Helen O’Brien, Rookery Road

50th Wedding Anniversary

James and Margaret Arthur, St Brendan’s Place
John and Chris Mannix, Flesk Lodge, Muckross Road
Patrick and Breda Moriarty, Gortagullane, Muckross
Batt and Nora Healy, Upper Lissivigeen
John and Margaret Mc Carthy, Muckross Grove
Sean and Mary Kavanagh, “Tiriúil”, Muckross Road
Frank and Siobhán Lewis, Gortagullane, Muckross
Bernie and Katherine Cronin, Knopogue, Aghadoe
Ted and Phil Ahern, Faha
Michael and Kathleen Doyle, Carhoonahone, Beaufort
Joe and Breeda Lyons, Kilbrack, Oakpark, Demesne, Tralee
Eckhart and Patricia Gogsch, Demense, Ross Road
Will and Teresa Burke, Muckross Grove

55th Wedding Anniversary

Paddy and Mary Casey, Gortacoosh, Glenflesk
Pat and Alice O’Sullivan, Minish
Michael and Noreen Marshall, Muckross Grove
60th Wedding Anniversary
Marie and Sean O’Brien, New Road
Jimmy and Myra O’Gorman, Dunrine, Tralee Road
Pat and Joan Cahill, Flesk Bridge, Muckross Road
William and Maura O’Neill, Park Drive

63rd Wedding Anniversary

Sean and Breege O’Donoghue, Flesk Castle, Mill Road

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Trainee chef wins two medals at Chef Ireland Competition

Iryna Kravchenko, a chef trainee from Killarney studying on the City & Guilds Diploma in Food Production and Cooking Programme, has won two medals at the Chef Ireland Competition. The […]

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Iryna Kravchenko, a chef trainee from Killarney studying on the City & Guilds Diploma in Food Production and Cooking Programme, has won two medals at the Chef Ireland Competition.

The competition, held at the RDS last month and hosted by The Panel of Chefs of Ireland, saw Kravchenko receive a gold medal for the Hand-Crafted Chocolates Competition and a Silver medal for the Hot Pudding Souffle Competition.
“We are immensely proud of our students and their dedication and hard work earned them their awards,” said Frances Griffin, Catering Instructor at the National Learning Network in Tralee.

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