I did do a review of this gardeners year for 2011. But it’s onwards and upwards and as we head into 2013… here’s a look back on the last 12 months and more unique points that made up the year that was Peter Donegan’s 2012.
*If I missed or forgot something or someone – just hollar and I will amend as soon as. In this review I try to include the bits that are not garden making….. if you get what I mean. Also when it gets really [really, really] busy…. well gardens come first. It is where I am at my happiest.
- January saw the year kick off with a first tour of my local hedgerow walks as Peter Donegan Landscaping Ltd began its 12th year in business.
- And as we stepped into February the [Peter Donegan Landscaping Weblog] garden group visited Rathbeggan Lakes and I hit the tele visual on RTE’s Ear to the Ground talking Ugly Veg. It was recorded in Movember, hence the moustache.
- An Extremely busy March and April making gardens left little room for other outside the box type news. That said Dublin’s only garden radio show did turn one year old. Who said gardening wasn’t fun
- April saw your hard earned cash chipped it together raise enough to send me off to Inis Mór for the Temple Street Half Marathon and in other news I had a chat with Hector on 2FM about gardening.
- Whilst the making of beautiful gardens continued, the month of May saw me take centre stage with a garden talk at Huntstown community Centre and a private garden class for the staff of New Ireland Assurance.
- And as another busy month landscaping followed with a little less room for other news, the months headlines were definitely that Greensax had become headline sponsors of The Sodshow.
- July was a bumper summer month for more gardens to be created, but I did manage to get in another garden group outing, on this occasion with Trevor Sargeant as our guide as we made our way to Sonairte Ecology Centre.
- August allowed me take a wee break from the great outdoors. Well, not really. I went camping by Lough Derravarragh and took in Tullynally Castle Gardens. Enjoyed that one.
- In September I spoke at my first ever music festival, The Spirit of Folk music festival – about gardens ! In between that and more garden creating, this wee garden blog was shortlisted for The Best Blog of an SME award.
- October saw my Garden Group visit Corkagh Park, I ran a garden course on how to grow your own trees and The Sodshow won the award for Best Irish Podcast 2012.
- November was again a little unique and saw me become a Strictly Come Dancing charity guest judge. That was good fun.
- December however was all gardens. Maybe not as entertaining for you reading this…. but it is what I do, for my living. The entire of December ? Yup. And I love[d] every minute of it.
“Whilst I flicked through my diary and realised just how much I actually had done outside of making and creating gardens… it should be noted that none of this would make any sense without someone to share the stories, the laughter and equally the tears with. I am forever greatful to the so many great friends and people I have met along this years road. From my heart, thank you.
Did I enjoy it? Every second. Don’t get me wrong… no road is an easy one especially when I work in an industry that is so weather dependant and I am self employed. That is not a complaint…. more an additional reason to appreciate the people who stand tall by my side when times are a little tougher. You were there too when we laugh our socks off.”
Go raibh míle maith agaibh. Nollaig Shona duit agus na hathbhliana. Slán agus beannacht.
Thank you, again, for everything.
Peter
More information:
Contact Peter Donegan
Facebook.com/DoneganLandscaping
The Sodshow – garden radio and podcast
Source: Peter Donegan Landscaping – A Dublin Gardeners Look Back On 2012
