Hoping that you are still on your holidays this week, we’d like to tell you about our Partner Gardens in yet two more areas where by chance, many of the gardens are beautifully associated with ponds, rivers or waterfalls. Firstly in the west, where we really would love to have more Partner Gardens, and secondly in the south east.
If you are heading to Mayo along the N5 you can stop at the beautifully restored 6 acre Strokestown walled gardens and woodlands in Co Roscommon. Within the grounds your visit can also include the National Famine Museum or the restored Strokestown House. Perhaps you are heading to Galway and Connemara. If so, Woodville Walled Garden is close to Loughrea just off the M6. This is a restored romantic garden complete with herbaceous borders, roses, a dovecote and a reconstructed archway with its original 1750 keystone. Then right in the depths of Connemara near Letterfrack is Kylemore Abbey Victorian Walled Garden. This 6 acre garden is set on a sheltered south facing slope – an oasis of fertility and cultivation within a wilder landscape. Half is laid out as a typical Victorian pleasure garden and half is planted with an enormous variety of vegetables, herbs and fruits which supply the excellent abbey cafe.
If you are in the south west and heading to north Kerry, you could divert 15 mins off the N21 south of Limerick City at Patrickswell to Coolwater Garden at Fedamore. This small half acre garden is distinctly different without lawns or borders! A stunning Water Garden with superb aquatic wildlife, multiple alpine troughs, rare and exotic trees and shrubs making it a very well structured space. Or if you are in south Kerry in the Kenmare area, seeking a wonderful contemporary garden experience, a trip to Dawros Gallery & Garden is the answer. The 4 acre garden by the Dromoughty River waterfall blends extensive use of grasses and drifts of perennial planting into the beautiful surrounding native woodland.
Now away from the west and over to the rich lands of Kilkenny and Waterford! Rothe House & Garden is in Kilkenny City. This is the only known medieval garden left on the island, a long slim “burrage plot” now faithfully reconstructed as a 17th century garden with the same trees and plants as would have grown there originally. Some 17kms south of Kilkenny, a romantic landscape- Kilfane Glen and Waterfall -was developed in the 1790s within the demesne of Kilfane House. The very picturesque glen is made up of multiple paths through the ancient woods leading down to an artificial waterfall which plunges into a winding stream with little rustic bridges. The romantic idyll is completed by a restored cottage orné.
Some 45 mins further down, just southeast of Waterford City is Springhill garden. Above the River Suir, this lovely 6 acre garden within a 29 acre site is largely Robinsonian in style with a host of mature trees, wonderfully varied wildlife and vistas over the countryside. There is a maze and more formal planting complete with a pond closer to the house. Still in Co Waterford, but heading west towards Cork is Tourin House & Gardens on the banks of the River Blackwater near Cappoquin. The superb gardens first laid out in the 1840s cover over 15 acres including the main garden. A fine Broad Walk leads to the colourful more informal Pleasure Garden and thence to the walled garden with its ornamental and productive planting, and finally down to the banks of the Blackwater River.
Enjoy your visits- hopefully escaping the showers!
Free or reduced entry to RHSI members on presentation of current membership card.
It is essential to check with each garden by email/phone or their own website before
visiting. Some are by appointment only. Full information on these gardens is in the
Partner Garden section of the RHSI website. The full-size map is very useful to
visualise garden locations.
Website development: Neal Walsh Web Solutions