Gardens of Ireland - Part 4

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After leaving Mount Usher, we headed south to spend our last two nights in Cork. The next morning we drove to Glengarriff and the short boat trip to Garinish Island. Annan Bryce, an MP, bought the island from the War Office a century ago and set about creating a garden there. The soil was thin and poor so more was brought over from the mainland by rowing boat!

The day was showery but it did mean other visitors didn’t linger when you were trying to take a photo.

Later we visited Kilravock, a private garden created on a sloping site over the past fifteen years by the two owners. It promised a Mediterranean garden, woodland area and many southern hemisphere plants.

Among the unsual plants were the shrub clerodendrum tricotomum

And the tender climber sollya heterophylla, growing outside against a sheltered wall

This water feature raised a smile

Sadly, we had heavy rain on the last day for viewing the last two gardens. Lakemount belongs to two plantsmen and I could quite happily have spent three hours there.

This plant is now on my ‘wants’ list. It is acanthus sennii which is borderline hardy, needs a dry spot and carries red flowers in October (if you’re lucky). Great foliage though

Our final stop was at Poulacurry, a garden belonging to a Georgian house. The hydrangeas liked the wet weather

But the roses didn’t

While this path looks attractive, it’s a nightmare to walk on in wet weather or if you have walking difficulties

In all, we saw twelve gardens, all quite different, and three of which I could quite happily have lived with at home. Lots of ideas, lots of inspirational plants and plant combination and a long shopping list!

Which is your favourite garden?

• 4 Sep, 2012
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