building a garden in south africa [part 2]

south africa...

south africa...

 Most of you know my trip to South Africa is taking place this Thursday. Since my last post Dominic Loughran came as my guest to the ALCI awards and gave a fine, appropriate and very rousing speech. I was very proud to sit with him.

I also roped in genius my good pal freelance photographer Maura Hickey [applause!] to travel with me. Maura, like so many of us, has sponsored herself and given up her very valuable time to document & work as part of the garden build. I also gave Maura three weeks notice!?

Most of you know the company sponsored me so if you are donating or sponsoring me the money will go straight to the trust & will be most appreciated. To those of you who work with me, on any level, without you Peter Donegan Landscaping would not have been able to sponsor me, a representative of the company to go. You have already helped so much and again I applaud you. You should be very proud. As best as possible I’ll keep everyone up to date here.

By |October 29th, 2007|All Posts, Smile|0 Comments
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provisional license holders – save the planet?!!

This week – the irish government copped on with regard to provisional liscense holders in banning almost 450,000 from our roads – good thing – drastic – but good – then sort of changed their mind – until June 2008?!!

Typically irish, but we elected and pay them. This indymedia article probably explains the muppets decision better. Well, me & my mate George [pictured above] found a solution for you Minister Dempsey.

No tax, no insurance, no license, no carbon emissions & even trevor & my friend George have one. One might laugh, but there is a lot more logic in a bicycle. Next up – wind power… hmmm? or have we had enough of that for one week?

By |October 28th, 2007|All Posts, People, Business|0 Comments
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galway & landscaping.. not in my home[r]

I’ve just returned from Galway where the week truly could’ve only got better. When I visited in August what I found was nothing short of criminal.

The ‘contractor’ had removed the foundations of the retaining wall leaving it falling away into the garden with the driveway. He also took up the trees & drainage pipes but left all the rubb[ish]le, county council road cones & his tools in the middle of the garden. He also took €2500 euro from a mature lady and never returned.

As a favour to the bullying persuasive Fernandes sisters [humour?!!], I went with three of Donegan Landscapings finest to undo some of the disgraceful disaster inflicted upon their Mother.

What I don’t understand is how Ireland can support the rogues of this Country in the belief that they are saving a few quid [sorry Mam] or that there is a better deal out there? To be honest it’s an ethos I don’t subscribe to, never have and so I can’t explain why it continues to happen. To put it in context, the original €2500 plus a new wall, the rubbish removal, the new soil, the drainage… has left a rotten after-taste costing at present over €15,000 to rectify. I’d personally like this guy to be imprisoned, but it would cost the state too much money – which indirectly I’d have to pay anyway.

A landscape programme has yet to be implemented but for now, the retaining walls are brand new [thanks adrian], the soil like gold dust [thanks peter eile], the weather gave a mild sun tan and the lads, well they done as they always do, perfection. Thank you all sincerely.

For those of you with horror stories speak loud and prevent more of it. For those of you about to embark on a landscape project chose carefully, know what you want, pay for it to be done once and enjoy. If you want a good laugh watch The Simpsons on screen, not in your garden.

By |October 27th, 2007|All Posts, Garden Advice|0 Comments
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Judges Comments On The Garden Maintenance Award

herbaceous borders

I received the Judges comments on the recent award winning garden today.

They said for exemplary standard of landscaping the judges’ commented on the Private Garden Landscaping [award of merit] & the Private Garden Maintenance [overall winning garden]

the work illustrates a consisted commitment to horticultural excellence in a restoration project that requires a keen understanding of the client’s requirements. The herbaceous beds in particular deserve special acclamation for their restrained but inventive interplay between colour and foliage texture.

Commenting further on Brackenstown House Estate the judges’ noted the award goes to this project because the judges…

…believe it demonstrates a discernible excellence in maintenance.

donegan gardens

By |October 23rd, 2007|All Posts, Donegan Gardens and Services|3 Comments
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Two Landscaping Awards For Brackenstown House

brackenstown-house-and-award-winning-gardens donegan gardens sculpt-by-patrick-campbell gardens-of-brackenstown-house-14 gardens-of-brackenstown-house gardens-of-brackenstown-house gardens-of-brackenstown-house gardens-of-brackenstown-house gardens-of-brackenstown-house- gardens-of-brackenstown-house gardens-of-brackenstown-house gardens-of-brackenstown-house-13

October 18th 2007 saw Peter Donegan Landscaping Ltd win two  national landscaping awards as both designer and contractor.

Donegan Landscaping won the award of Merit in the best private garden category and the overall award for best private garden maintenance, whilst  Peter Donegan received award as designer of Veronica and Paddy Campbells 27 acre 17th Century estate.

Speaking after receiving the award Peter noted that ‘the awards forBrackenstown will remain one of the the highlights of my career for personal reasons as well as horticultural.’ He continued, ‘I described it recently to a friend of mine as 16th century poetry and as it’s being read to you, you amost feel the poets breath in your ear as he speaks words from his heart…. Some people feel it. I know I did and I loved every minute. Of all the gardens I ever visited, this is one I acually visit to escape my mind. Also until now the landscape was never completed and at 31 years old my design and The Donegan Landscaping team are the first to be acknowledged and awarded for this. It is an amazing place and for me one that will remain close to my heart.’

The judges noted that:

the work illustrates a consisted commitment to horticultural excellence in a restoration project that requires a keen understanding of the client’s requirements. The herbaceous beds in particular deserve special acclamation for their restrained but inventive interplay between colour and foliage texture.

And that the award goes to this project because the judges believe it:

demonstrates a discernible excellence in maintenance.

peter donegan with veronica campbell

By |October 19th, 2007|All Posts, Donegan Gardens and Services|14 Comments
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