Autumn Leaves by Mary Hackett

I’ve been proof-reading the GLDA’s autumn issue of Compass this week, and without jumping the gun, there’s a super article in there by Alex Slazanger about Powerscourt Gardens in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.

It reminded me of the beauty of Powerscourt in autumn. The avenue ankle-deep in gold and ochre beech leaves. The redwoods down by the Triton Lake. The rare Soledad pine Pinus torreyana standing proud in Tower Valley. Powerscourt Estate will host ‘Wonder of Trees – Samhain Tree Experience’, a two-day celebration of biodiversity, mythology and wellbeing on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd November
2025. There will be Tree and Biodiversity walks and a Sunday Keynote Panel led by Tony Kirkham, former Head of Arboretum at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He will be joined by Éanna Ní Lamhna, Seamus O’Brien of NBG Kilmacurragh and the ecologist Faith Wilson in a conversation facilitated by Catherine Cleary of Pocket Forest. For families there’s Samhain Storytelling. Limited tickets available on
www.powerscourt.com/wonderoftrees.

Some RHSI Partner gardens are still open to visitors and if there is a better way to celebrate our beautiful autumn skies and brilliant leaf fall than going for a garden walk, I have yet to find it.

Happy leaf-peeping to all!

Mary