[New] GARDEN FELIX - Showcase Natal Lily-Forest Lily

It has stocky stems that are topped with large, rounded heads of colourful flowers, from late winter to spring.

Foliage is architectural and attractive year round, with wide, dark green, strap-shaped evergreen leaves that grow from a swollen, fleshy root.

Flowerheads are made up of eight to 10 bell-shaped blooms, usually in shades of orange;yellow-and red-flowered varieties are sometimes available.

They can live for many years and will grow to around 45cm high and 40cm wide.

Position in good bright light, out of direct sunlight.Water regularly in summer, moderately, so compost stays damp but not wet.

something to that one!)

Anyway, so as that we don’t rely entirely on plagiarism to fill the space I get paid for, let us throw in a few ‘Old Comaskey’ predictions.

Kerry will retain the Sam Maguire with David Clifford cementing his claim to be the greatest all-round Gaelic footballer of all time. Limerick, the hottest of favourites to retain the Liam McCarthy, will be shocked by a team wearing maroon. Galway will be crowned champions for the first time in six years.

Camogie and ladies football will continue to grow in popularity, after providing some of the best sports entertainment of the year. Westmeath hurlers and footballers will be noted with ‘favourable mention’, give their fans a few great outings – but fall short of landing any silverware.

Despite all the hype and their number 1 ranking; Ireland’s rugby team will have a disappointing six-nations; but all will come good in October when they reach the World Cup Final.

February will be one of the mildest on record, but then the ‘sucker’s punch’; a ‘beast from the east’ will strike suddenly in March. We will witness the first concerted movement of people away from flood-risk houses in Ireland. Irish people will talk about the weather!

Sharon Ni Bheolain will have her hair cropped so she may use both eyes when reading the news. The RTE 9 o’clock TV news will surprise everybody by being shown at 9 o’clock some Saturday night. Liam Brady will suffer a fit of the giggles on the soccer panel.

Modesty prevents me from predicting the nominees for ‘Husband of the Year’. Stay safe ….

Water sparingly from November to March when the plant is resting, which is key to getting your clivia to flower every year. When the flower spike becomes visible, feed once a week with a general plant fertiliser, and continue until the end of summer.

Cut off the faded head and stem once flowering has finished and they are really easy to propagate from offsets in spring. If grown in pots you can re-pot in spring, but, only when absolutely essential, as clivia really dislikes being disturbed. Replace the top 5-8cm of compost with fresh potting compost, annually in early spring.

Clivia is mildly toxic;the sap may cause skin irritations.Eating any part of the plant can cause mild stomach upset.