A Visit to Southern Ireland
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48 A Visit To Southern Ireland JOHN TOOBY, United Kingdom Visite en Irlande du Sud Una visita al sur de Irlanda Une visita in Irlanda del sud Besuch in Suedirland The 1989 Garden Thur arranged by the DooI. Thgether with a small farm and British and Channel Island Directors and nursery, the property extends to 120 acres Members ofthe I.C.S. was set in Southern (48 ha.) ofwhich the garden accounts for Ireland and lasted a week, April 20th. to perhaps half. His laid out on a large scale 26th., instead ofthe usual four days. The on a moderately acid soil (pH .5.6) on a abiding memories of the tour are of a sloping site running down to the River series of splendid gardens, each one of Suir, part of it in woodland under a them different, but each delightful in its canopy of oak trees. Since 1965, Mr. own way; ofelegant 18th. and 19th. cen Congreve has carried out replanting on tury houses where our hosts dispensed a grand scale with Buddlejas, Cleroden generous hospitality; and between the drons, Hebes and Hydrangeas following gardens, miles ofemerald green country on for summer effect, but Rhododen side enlivened by large patches ofrichly drons and Camellias stand out, and in fragrant golden gorse. deed the Camellia collection is one ofthe Unfortunately for us, the winter had best in the British Isles. Of those still been unusually mild and many camellias flowering, 'Elizabeth Rothschild' was still had finished flowering or were practical doing well with single pale pink flowers; ly over. However we saw enough to 'Elegans' had a few blooms and 'Freedom realise that the Irish have soils and Bell' lived up to its name with a fme show climate very suitable for Camellias and of red flowers. A group of 'Mattie Cole' we saw many fine plants. still held some of its lovely single pink About 40 ofus, including a couple from flowers, with flared stamens, Higo The Netherlands and another from New fashion. 'Bowen Bryant', 'Charles Colbert' Zealand, started from Waterford, where and 'Alexander Hunter' were still looking some looked in at the home ofWaterford good while 'Elsie Jury' and 'R. L. Crystal, whose beautiful hand-crafted Wheeler' still retained a few good models are still made in the traditional flowers. way. After a superb lunch in the house, we The whole of Friday was spent .at were welcomed by Mr. Congreve, who Mount Congreve; this has been described had flown in from London to meet us. as one ofthe three best gardens in Europe Then, refreshed, we returned to the - and who am I to disagree? Our host, Mr. garden to see more fine plants. 'Inspira Ambrose Congreve, has given the proper tion' - the best ofall for the garden and ty to the Irish nation, subject to his use for cutting, we were told - and 'Don during his lifetime. He was unable to be ckelaeri' were admired, as was~oshua with us until lunchtime so we were taken Youtz' with some nice white flowers, round by the Director ofthe Garden, Mr. though others were somewhat marked. 49 Nearby 'Crinkles' was looking good near Camellias. Amongst them we noticed a a plant ofthe excellent South American plant of C. tsaii about 8 ft. (2.5 m.) high Myrtus lechleriana, so much more ftee and several forms ofC. saluenensis in dif flowering than M. luma and apparently ferent shades ofpink but all standing up hardier too. Further on, 'Royalty' was well to the weather. Most Camellias were coming to the end of its season but still over but 'Brigadoon', 'Jupiter', 'Donation' making a good show; 'Joseph Pfingstl' and 'St. Ewe' all looked good, and a young was near the end too, but had some fine plant of 'Anticipation' held several perfect formal double flowers; the Irish summers flowers. are cool and a number of camellias pro After tea in the house, we returned to duce flowers with a different form to the hotel, where we learned that the what they do even in England. In central flowers - mainly camellias ofcourse - had and northern Ireland, as also in Scotland, been arranged by members ofthe Water few forms ofC. japonica produce enough ford Flower Club which includes both flower buds to be worth growing, while Protestants and Roman Catholics; they many hybrids flower freely. One such is were going on to arrange a Flower 'Leonard Messel', with very large flowers Festival at the Protestant Church with the of a good, almost salmon pink, which proceeds to be divided between the two was doing well at Mount Congreve. denominations. It was nice to know that On Saturday morning we went to the religious harmony is possible in Ireland. John F. Kennedy Arboretum at Campile. Next day, Sunday, we drove to Glount This has been developed as a memorial haune near Cork, our first call being at to the late President Kennedy. It extends Lismore Castle, the Irish home of the to 623 acres (252 ha.) and is sited about Duke ofDevonshire. As we approached, four miles (6 km.) from the Kennedy we saw a splendid Magnolia, perhaps 60 family's ancestral home. The first shelter ft. (18 m.) high, probably ofhybrid origin belts were planted in 1966 and the first and covered with ruby-red flowers. This trees two years later. The soils vary was in the Lower Garden, which is the somewhat, with the pH ranging from 6.2 spring garden and includes a good collec to 7. The site slopes gently towards the tion of camellias, mostly forms of C. x south so the main problem in growing williamsii, planted by the present Duke Camellias is providing shelter from wind. and which were doing well. In the A few plants ofC.japonica planted close absence of the Duke, we were taken to the buildings near the entrance were round by the Agent, Mr. Peter Barber. looking less well than the examples ofC. The soil of the Upper Garden is near cuspidata (a very tight-growing form), C. neutral so it has been developed as a sum~ saluenensis and C. reticulata lower down. mer garden devoted to herbaceous plants These were in an open site and the with a sprinkling ofshrubs. The far side C. reticulata seemed to dislike their is bounded by a high wall, part ofthe old exposure to wind. ramparts. From here we walked through After lunch in the Cafeteria we went the courtyard - with two fine trees ofthe on to Kilmokea, the garden of I.C.S. New Zealand Sophora tetraptera is full members Col. and Mrs. David Price; they flower - to the castle, where we enjoyed came to Ireland 40 years ago, when the coffee and light refreshments. The castle garden consisted of two apple trees and had been remodelled in the mid 19th cen half an acre of potatoes. After rehabili tury byJoseph Paxton for the 6th. Duke, tating the old garden they turned their and commands fine views over the valley attention to a boggy area in the corner of the River Suir. of a field just below, and found them After lunch at Ballyvolane House, selves excavating a 7th. or 8th. century which has been adapted for use as a mill-pond - which is now a feature- and delightful hotel and restaurant, we went below it flows a small stream which now on to the garden of Mr. and Mrs. Brian runs through a little valley with tribu Cross at Glanmire. In contrast to the taries fed from springs. All is now well others, this is a relatively young garden planted with a varied collection of trees with very varied planting and an em and shrubs - including some very nice phasis on alpine and rock-garden plants. 50 Ofthe Camellias, 'Donation' was looking several large bushes ofwhich were laden good, while a plant of 'Mary Phoebe with flowers and scenting the air for Thylor' about 4 ft. (1.3 m.) high held a few yards around. Several Camellias were still nice flowers; 'Margaret Davis', about the flowering here, 'Anticipation', 'ElsieJury' same height, was carrying one last love and 'Edith Linton' being outstanding as ly flower. jupiter', about 8 ft. (2.5 m.) had was a large bush labelled 'Anemoniflora a good display, but 'Inspiration' had near Alba'. A collection from Portugal was ly finished and 'Francie L? had no flowers planted in 1961, but the labels had been left. Mr. Cross, who took us round, had lost and the only one that we could iden been particularly helpful in making ar tify with anything like certainty was rangements for our visit as had our next 'Portuense' with variegated leaves. Our host, another I.C.S. member, his New Zealand friends were happy to neighbour Finbarr Dowdall who had recognise seyeral New Zealand trees, planted the sides of a dingle with which thrive here due to the mild camellias. These, too, had mostly finished climate. flowering after a good display earlier on. The weather held again on Thesday Rosemary Dowdall then invited us into when we went to Glengarriffat the head the house for a welcome cup of tea etc. of Bantry Bay, where we had coffee And so we came to Ashbourne House before embarking on the ferryboat to Hotel nearby, with camellias in the take us to Ilnacullin the fabulous Italian garden, including a tea-plant, C. sinensis. Garden on Garnish Island made in the That evening we visited one ofthe Cork early years ofthis century by Harold Peto schools to join the Cork Men's Flower for members of the Bryce family, and Club to hear an excellent lecture given by now the property ofthe Irish state.