Issue 150

Irish Garden Society Newsletter September 2020 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020

Welcome Contents Back in the early days of spring none For me, two themes from that of us could possibly have imagined earlier issue stood out. One was Page 3 Welcome how our lives would change over the celebration of the of our Page 4 Meet our Contributors the following months. Hopefully our heritage coupled with much wringing Page 5 A Note from the Chair by Billy McCone gardens will have provided a haven, of hands about the precarious nature a safe outdoor space and a of the Society’s efforts to conserve Page 6 A Touch of Africa in Ireland by consuming interest. Now as the and promote them. The second was Nicola & Peter Milligan seasons change we are enjoying the recognition of the importance Page 12 Home Thoughts from the the plants which signal autumn. of the knowledge, camaraderie Welsh Marches by Caro Skyrme Crocosmias are one of the best and enjoyable events associated Page 15 Grow an Irish Plant by Maeve Bell, families of plants for autumn colour with membership. Both are equally Stephen Butler and Brendan Sayers but did you know that many of the relevant today. best have Irish origins and are often Page 18 Eat Your Greens by Stephen Butler associated with some of our leading In his editorial Paddy wrote: ‘... Page 20 Betula ‘Trinity College’ by Pat & Anne Coffey gardens? Peter and Nicola Milligan neither books nor strategies will keep and Brendan Sayers write about several lovely cultivars our plant heritage safe — it comes Page 22 Plant Hunting IGPS Style by Michael Kelleher and recommend that you grow at down to us as members to ensure least one of them. the survival of this treasure.’ And he Page 24 Glasnevin’s Sarracenia by Brendan Sayers continued: ‘Propagate your plants Page 27 The Flowering of Victoria ‘Longwood This is Issue 150 of the Newsletter, of Irish interest, bring them to the Variety’ by Adrian Walsh quite a milestone. A quick re-read plant sales, give them to friends and of issue 100, which came out in tell them of their connections. To the Page 29 Kilmacurragh Re-united by Seamus O’Brien 2006 while Paddy Tobin was Editor, keen gardener you will be giving a Page 31 The Promise of Seeds by Debbie Bailey showed the longevity of some of treasure which will be cared for and Page 32 Worth a Read by Paddy Tobin our hardy perennials who are still appreciated for life.’ contributing – Stephen Butler, Page 34 Society Snippets Seamus O’Brien, Brendan Sayers, Next year, 2021, is the Society’s 40th Page 36 Around the Regions and Paddy himself of course, anniversary. How about making it Page 39 Advice for Contributors while in our July issue Mary Davies, the year you include a plant of Irish Carmel Duignan, Mary Forrest interest in your garden if you don’t Page 40 Contact Us and Rae McIntyre graced the already have one or searching for Copy for the January issue as soon as possible and pages. A special welcome to a and adding something scarce and by 20th November at the latest. new contributor — Caro Skyrme special if you do? who gardens in Shropshire — and welcome back to Michael Kelliher Stay safe, stay well Cover: The Rectory Garden at the Ulster Folk Museum. Photo courtesy of from Macroom. Very many thanks to and stay gardening. Carrie Mercer. Grateful thanks to our Horticultural Advisors, Stephen Butler and Brendan Sayers all our writers and photographers.

Maeve Bell 2 Editor 3 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020

Meet our Contributors A Note from the Chair Debbie Bailey is a horticultural therapist and also teaches flower arranging. With the gardening volunteers while I covered the Society’s She has co-ordinated the seed scheme since 2017. returned to both IGPS gardens at objectives (and very well as I thought Lismacloskey and Pogue’s Entry at the time!) I now know I missed Stephen Butler retired recently as Curator of Horticulture at Dublin Zoo. and carefully managed garden visits so much of what the Society is He takes the lead in all matters to do with Irish Heritage Plants. being hosted, we have cause to about — the unstated ethos of the Anne and Pat Coffey are keen members, regular participants at the AGM be optimistic. We even managed IGPS, nothing that you will find in weekend and garden on the wind-swept shores of Ballinskelligs Bay. a click and collect plant sale. Initial our constitution. I speak of the social concerns about a low turnout were character and the camaraderie Michael Kelliher lives and gardens in Macroom, Co Cork and is a member quickly dispelled when all events that Maeve refers to. Perhaps that of many years standing. were booked out within days: great dimension of the Society denied work by the regional organisers and to us over the past months has Drs Nicola and Peter Milligan, now retired, garden at Mount Stewart on the volunteers and many thanks to the accentuated the importance of our shores of Strangford Lough in Co Down. Both are past members of the IGPS members who gave their support, events, the need to meet friends and Northern Committee and Peter was Chair of the committee about 10 years ago. greatly encouraging. Incidentally, fellow gardeners, and enjoy gardens Seamus O’Brien manages the National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh, both the Folk Museum and the together. It’s the horticultural therapy Co. Wicklow. A past committee member of the IGPS, he is Irish Branch Lismacloskey or Rectory Garden that Debbie Bailey wrote about in the Chairman of the RHS Rhododendron Camellia Magnolia Group and are now open to the public. July issue, a wide concept that we a corresponding member of its Woody Plant Committee. all need and benefit from in varying In her editorial Maeve, quoting degrees. In the same issue Claire Brendan Sayers is Glasshouse Foreman at the National Botanic Gardens and Paddy Tobin, speaks of propagating Peacocke talked about the tangible has spent almost 30 years working there; he specialises in orchids, both native and sharing plants. We are seeking difficulties her group encountered and tropical, and maintains his interests in Heritage Irish plants and botanical art. members to join special interest during the lockdown which had, groups for various plants. Nothing I suspect, a severe impact on their Caro Skyrme grew up in the north of Ireland; she and her husband are passionate about opening their garden, Broadward Hall, in Shropshire too involved, just a keen interest in daily lives. Have we been taking for the National Gardens Scheme. a helping us gather and distribute gardening pleasures for granted? various Irish Heritage plants. We Or is it just me? Probably me. Paddy Tobin, a former Chairman of the Society and Editor of the Newsletter, are particularly interested in forming lives in Waterford and is in charge of the Society’s website and Facebook page. a small group to source Irish-bred Best wishes everyone roses but if you have any other Adrian Walsh is treasurer of the Northern Committee and Chair of the Friends favourite plant that includes of Belfast Botanic Gardens. He opens his garden by appointment. Irish Heritage plants and you would like to be part of a group, we would Patricia Kernohan and Mary Montaut are members of the Society. like to hear from you. Please Billy Photos are by kind permission of the author unless otherwise attributed. email me or Stephen Butler and let us know. McCone Chairman While every effort is made to ensure that content is correct at the time of printing, views expressed in the articles are those of the author(s) and may not reflect those of the Society. A few years back I was asked to give Any factual errors will be corrected as soon as possible. talks on the IGPS, one to a student group and the other to a housing association. On reflection, 4 5 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020

A Touch of Africa in Ireland Crocosmia ‘Bressingham Flare’. by Nicola Milligan & Peter Milligan Ireland, both north and south, has not been slow to add to this plant family. Turning to Dr. Nelson’s ever useful texts, Daisy Hill Nursery Newry (Nelson and Grills, NIHGC, 1998) and Glory of Donard A History of the Slieve Donard Nursery (Nelson and Deane, NIHGC, 1993), we find that Daisy Hill Nursery listed three crocosmia cultivars in its catalogues; two of them — C. ‘Daisy Hill’ described as a large orange- yellow flower with a dark zone and C. ‘Newry Seedling’ described as a rich yellow with a dark ring round the centre — were raised at the nursery. The Donard lists only one Crocosmias give excellent autumn colour crocosmia, namely Crocosmia x Crocosmia ‘Castle Ward Late’ crocosmiiflora ‘James Coey’ which It may seem a long way from South Crocosmia ‘George Davison’ is to was raised in Norfolk at Earlham Hall Africa but the distance has not be found in most garden centres. in 1744 by Alexander Stewart. The and named for James Coey who stopped a native South African Davison, now thought of as the estate has remained in the family became the owner of The Donard in from putting down roots in Ireland, father of British crocosmia breeding, ever since, the gardens becoming 1912. Dr Nelson’s other excellent text Britain and elsewhere in Europe. went on to develop another eleven prominent under the care of Edith, A Heritage of Beauty lists another The crocosmia, originally referred cultivars. Norfolk seems to have Marchioness of Londonderry. fifteen crocosmias which were to as montbretia, became a very been a centre for crocosmia breeders Subsequently, the gardens were introduced from other sources. popular garden plant. Between such as J.E. Fitt in the period 1910 offered to the National Trust which 1880 and 1900 Victor Lemoine, - 1930, George Henley in the period accepted them in 1957. C. ‘Mount The gardens of the great and good a nurseryman based at Nancy in 1910 - 1920, and during the 1960s Stewart 1’ and C. ‘Mount Stewart — members of the Irish aristocracy France, raised over forty crocosmia and 1970s Alan Bloom, owner of 2’ come from the gardens of the and well-to-do families — provided cultivars. In England a number of the famous Bressingham Gardens in Londonderry family. gardeners, typically those working Norfolk, all of whom bred a number such sources. C. ‘Castle Ward Late’ (Crocosmia paniculata x C. aurea) in large private gardens, produced of good cultivars. One of these, Other Irish gardens gave rise to yet comes from one of the family homes numerous cultivars too. Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ raised by Alan more crocosmias. Covering some 40 in Co Down of Lord and Lady Bangor. Bloom, puts in a regular appearance acres overlooking Dublin Bay, Fernhill On the eastern shore of Strangford In 1895, George Davison, head at most garden centres today. Alan’s was established by Mr Justice Darley Lough we find Mount Stewart. gardener at Westwick Hall in grandson, Jason, who runs the family and his descendants. The property Originally called Mount Pleasant, Norfolk, named his first crocosmia nursery at Bressingham introduced came to the Walker family in the mid- cultivar after himself and to this day another superb cultivar this year, the demesne land was purchased

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1930s and C. ‘Fernhill’ — sometimes written ‘Fern Hill’ — comes from this Not to be outdone, the gardens It appears that this cultivar is in old garden. This cultivar is described at Rowallane just outside Saintfield circulation under various varietal as a form of C. masoniorum with in Co Down produced three fine names — C. ‘Comet’, ‘Malahide’, orange flowers with a yellow eye. crocosmias. This garden was created ‘Malahide Castle’, ‘Fred Knutty’s’ in 1860 by the Reverend John Moore (note the misspelling of Nutty), and and further developed by his nephew ‘Jim Reynold’s’. Hunting for it (listed Hugh Armitage Moore, a famous as C. ‘Comet’ or ‘Knutty’) will be plantsman, who took over the garden problematic. The RHS Plant Finder in 1903. At least one of the Rowallane lists seven suppliers, but only three crocosmias, C. ‘Rowallane Yellow’ offer mail order and of these none is well known and widely available have the plant listed in their current in the horticultural trade and catalogues. It is worth keeping an ‘Rowallane Orange’ can be found Crocosmia ‘Malahide’ eye on Elmlea Plants at Old Minnigaff in certain select nurseries. The third in Newton Stewart in Dumfries and member of the family, ‘Rowallane Galloway (www.elmleaplants.co.uk) Apricot’ described as a soft One Irish cultivar has created an as they have this plant in stock apricot orange form with a long air of ‘mystery’ — perhaps ‘mystery’ sometimes; this is a favourite stop inflorescence, appears to have is too strong a term but read on and for us on our visits to Scotland resulted from a cross between see what you think. It appears that as they always have something C. ‘Rowallane Orange’ and C. the well-known Irish horticulturist good on offer. Crocosmia ‘Mount Usher’ ‘Rowallane Yellow’. This third Fred Nutty [Fred was elected an Rowallane cultivar will prove Honorary Member in 1997. Ed.] The good news is that the interest a challenge to hunters of Irish introduced this cultivar from his in breeding and introducing Mount Usher in Ashford, Co Wicklow cultivars but it is well worth the hunt. nursery at Malahide. It became crocosmia cultivars did not stop was developed by the Walpole family mis-identified as C. ‘Comet’ and but continues to this day in Ireland. from the mid-1880’s onwards coming this name has been retained If ever a star had to be awarded for into the possession of the Jay family by some. We obtained our first introducing them in Ireland, it must in 1980. The gardens contain many specimen from Alan Bloom while go to Gary Dunlop of Ballyrogan wonderful collections but our interest staying with Alan in the 1990’s. Nursery in Co Down who, to the best is focused on C. ‘Mount Usher’, Alan had this labelled as C. of my knowledge, bred and named a beautiful crocosmia with small, ‘Malahide’ and we were given to over forty. Rather than try to list pale yellow flowers. We obtained understand that he had obtained and describe all of Gary’s plants our initial specimen of C. ‘Mount it from Milo Talbot of Malahide in this article, seek out a copy of Usher’ during a visit to the gardens Castle during one of his trips to the book Gary co-authored and when we were given some corms Ireland. Subsequently we obtained enjoy reading about crocosmias by a member of staff. a second specimen labelled as C. in all their glory (Crocosmia and ‘Malahide Castle’ from Michael Chasmanthe, Goldblatt, Manning Wickenden of Cally Gardens. and Dunlop, RHS Plant Collector Crocosmia ‘Rowallane Yellow’ Guide, Timber Press, 2004).

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As mentioned above, Crocosmia ‘Kilmurry Orange’ can be bought from Kilmurry Nursery and they offer a mail order service (www. kilmurrynursery.com). Now that Gary Dunlop’s Ballyrogan Nursery Our Rectory Garden in has closed, some of Gary’s cultivars Co Down contains a (e.g. C. ‘Apricot Queen’, ‘St. small collection of Irish Clements’, ‘Tangerine Queen’, etc.) Crocosmia obtained can be bought from Holden Clough through the good offices of Nursery in Lancashire IGPS member, Ian Scroggy (www.holdencloughnursery.com); of Bali-Hai Nursery. They again this nursery offers a mail order include C. ‘Fugue’, ‘James Coey’, ‘Malahide’, ‘Mount Crocosmia ‘Lemon Spray’ Crocosmia ‘Raspberry Spray’ service as does Trecanna Nursery in Cornwall (www.trecanna.com) Usher’ and ‘Peach Sunrise’. which offers Gary Dunlop’s beautiful In 1999 another Irish horticulturist, into two very crude divisions: the C. ‘Ballyrogan Sundown’. Shelia Shelia Harding, introduced three clumpers and the runners. As the Harding’s plants, C. ‘Irish Dawn’ and cultivars all having the forename name suggests, clumpers tend to ‘Irish Flame’, can be found at ‘Irish’ – these are C. ‘Irish Dawn’, form clumps of increasing size which Holden Clough Nursery. ‘Irish Flame’, and ‘Irish Sunset’. can be lifted and divided every three We have grown two of these plants, or four years. C. ‘Jenny Bloom’ is ‘Irish Dawn’, and ‘Irish Flame, and a good example of a clumper – the found them to be handsome plants. last time I lifted and divided a clump Most recently Paul and Orla Woods I was able to pot up one dozen sets of Kilmurry, Co Wexford are raising of corms for distribution and to have and introducing a fine range of Irish three good sized clumps left for plants including C. ‘Kilmurry Orange’. replanting in the garden. C. ‘Lucifer’ In terms of cultivation we have found is a good example of a runner. Given these plants relatively easy to grow. its head it will spread out over time We grow ours in good garden soil and happily occupy a border. This or in large pots, in a sunny or partially expansion is controlled easily by shaded position. We feed them after the use of your spade to lift and flowering with a general purpose move corms to form new colonies fertilizer. We believe that some elsewhere. Alternatively plant some growers like to feed with a fruit and in a large pot and enjoy the wonderful Crocosmia ‘Irish Flame’ flower enhancing fertilizer once the red flowers that way. flower spikes start to show but Why not go out and buy some of the many fine Irish crocosmias, old and new, we have not tried this. In terms of Many of these crocosmias can and enjoy these wonderful plants in your gardens? growth we divide our crocosmias be found with relative ease.

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Home Thoughts from the Welsh Marches by Caro Skyrme

I grew up in Co Down where my and fuchsia, is an abiding memory parents had five acres of garden on of happy seaside holidays in the the outskirts of Belfast. My father was 1950s and early 1960s. Visits to the much involved in the local hunt so we garden at Mount Stewart which is had horses which provided a plentiful also on the Ards peninsula, though supply of good manure, rotting in more sheltered and protected than a great steaming heap in the dell Sandylands because of its location garden, as precious as gold dust on the shore of Strangford Lough, to gardeners. It is something I miss were inspirational. Along with other having in later life. My father also Irish coastal gardens, much was to loved sailing so he built a bungalow be learnt of the blessings of the kiss where we could spend weekends of the Gulf Stream. and part of our school holidays in Sandylands near Ballyhalbert on the From the rich conditions of an Ulster Mount Stewart: photo courtesy NT/Rowland White Ards peninsula, the most easterly garden, I carried as many Irish seeds point of Ireland. This allowed me to and cuttings as I could to a very experience some of the challenges different chalky, stony, Hampshire In the 1990s I spent a happy decade Eventually, on the death of my of a seaside garden which was often garden in the early 1980s. I found digging the rich and fertile soil on father-in-law twenty years ago, we beaten down by salty ‘breezes’ many of these would not thrive in the northern banks of the Firth of came to farm in the Welsh Marches. (putting it mildly); it was an early their new environment but, for fear Forth in Fife; here we opened our Another learning curve ensued, with lesson on choosing plants to suit of total loss, some of each were garden for the first time for the successes and failures, as gradually the location, whether soil or weather potted up and, when possible, Scottish National Garden Scheme. I got to grips with a much-neglected conditions, and the value of digging- further seed saved. When I read The ancient fortified dwelling was garden. Some curious patches of in organic material and manure in the IGPS Newsletter some time surrounded by garden on all sides thin, dry soil I discovered lay where along with chopped-up seaweed, ago that Narcissus ‘Countess of enclosed by high stone walls with ancient yews had once stood. While gleaned at low tide from the beach Annesley’ had been presumed already established old roses. I made digging, other areas revealed cobble only yards from our gate. I learnt a extinct, my heart sank. This daffodil, my first attempt at creating a wide, stones; paths and driveways lay not lot from these contrasting gardens, along with many other exquisite serpentine herbaceous border, filling far beneath the surface and were watching seaside gardeners struggle narcissi, grew in great profusion it with many of my beloved, old- revealed after weeks of hot, dry, with the elements and improve the in our garden at home. fashioned plants. Valuable lessons summer weather when the grass soil, gradually discovering the most I always remarked to the children were learnt as I soon discovered how turned yellow. Discovering the sympathetic things to grow in how its petals resembled a little the impressive Macleaya microcarpa varying types of soil over several each location. windmill, a successful ploy to spark ‘Coral Plume’ at the back of the bed acres took the first few years of trial their interest in the flowers around would spread if left unchecked. The and error. After two or three years Riding our ponies along winding them at an early age. Sadly, the area main joy of my Fife garden was how concentrating on the main garden bridlepaths paths edged with bright where it flourished is now beneath similar it was to ‘home’ in so much south of the hall, we began to restore whin bushes, Irish gorse Aiteann a block of flats! that anything I could grow in Ulster the long-derelict Victorian walled galida, intertwined with honeysuckle grew well in that part of Fife. garden, an effort still ongoing.

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Grow an Irish Plant There are long Irish connections to our Marches home which by Maeve Bell, Stephen Butler and Brendan Sayers resonate through the architecture Crinum moorei stems of late summer flowers. BS and the garden. As far back as the Dublin may have been the first home seventeenth century, the Baily outside its native habitat of South (later spelling their name Bailey) Africa for the Natal lily. Initially grown family came from Ireland and settled from seed, plants grew but did not here for over a hundred years. Their flourish indoors. They were eventually influence and presence can certainly moved outdoors and planted in still be felt in many romantic touches the bed that runs in front of the throughout the estate. I don’t know Curvilinear Range at the National what brought them to the Clun Valley Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. Here but often wonder whether they were they thrived and remained in situ attracted to this place because of the for more than 100 years when they resemblance to the rolling, green Irish had to be removed to facilitate the countryside? building’s magnificent restoration. Once it was complete, they returned to their original outdoor site and currently form a substantial clump Veronica spicata ‘Ulster Blue Dwarf’ where the Central Pavilion meets Crinum moorei the East Wing corridor. I regularly find myself trying to replicate the long-lost gardens of It is a stately plant with large, robust Epilobium canum ‘Dublin’ my Ulster youth. It is often a vain leaves, their rolled bases forming It is a plant name, both scientific attempt to grow such things as a stout stem. From these, in late and horticultural, that gives cause vast mountains of rhododendron summer emerge stems to 1.5 metres for confusion and consternation. where the soil proves unsuitable tall with large, slightly nodding pink When I first saw this plant in the bringing feelings of sentimental flowers. There are various forms in 1980s it had the wonderful name longing followed by disappointment. cultivation in shades of pink and also of Zauschneria californica, and the However, now we are in Shropshire, a pure white form. There are also clonal identifying name of Dublin. there seems to be a margin along the forms with variegated foliage. I learned more of its muddled history edge of the garden here overlooking from accounts in An Irish Flower the parkland where we have had Not a plant for every garden, Crinum Garden, An Irish Flower Garden some success and managed to moorei, as it was named in 1874 after Replanted and finally the entry establish several good specimens. the Glasnevin Director, David Moore, under Epilobium canum (its currently Whilst these may never be quite as is an investment in space. I have accepted name) in A Heritage of magnificent as they were ‘back at seen it growing in tight spaces and Beauty. Although there is confusion home’, with a wistful sigh, they do it may make a good candidate for a as to who found it and in which give some small consolation. large pot but it is best when given garden the plant originated, Dahlia ‘Café au Lait’ ample room to produce multiple it was most definitely Dublin.

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The lesson in the tale is that among by the previous owner at an IGPS distributed. The blue flowers are great gardeners a forgetfulness plant sale in the 1980s when such highlighted by the yellow anthers, can set in and tales are told that specialties occasionally became an eye-catching combination, may or may not be absolutely true. available and, if you were very lucky, and one instantly recognisable What is true is that this willowherb you were allowed to buy one. as belonging to the potato family. is a real stunner. It forms a plant of Flowering can start in March, most approximately 40cm tall and can At the start of the 20th century Lord will be in early summer but some spread to the same amount by and Lady Ardilaun lived at St Anne’s blooms will persist into autumn. With means of rhizomes. In late summer in Clontarf and the rose was found mild winters there may even be some the spikes of fiery-red flowers cannot there by her head gardener as a sport all winter in sheltered spots. It is a be ignored. It enjoys a sheltered, well of Rosa ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’. very vigorous grower, with shoots to drained site and gets its name from As so often, we are dependent on the several metres each year, a challenge part of its native distribution, the publications of Dr Charles Nelson for maybe to keep under control but California fuchsia. Testament to its the back story. It seems that Lady wonderful if allowed to fill a space; calibre is an Award of Merit from Ardilaun was very possessive of her Rosa ‘Souvenir de St Anne’s’: it tolerates a heavy prune in late the RHS. BS rose and gave cuttings to just a few photo courtesy of Peter Beales Roses winter if need be. It is still very trusted friends who had to promise popular, grown widely and easily not to pass it on. One of the friends Solanum crispum ‘Glasnevin’ available. was Phylis Moore, the wife of Sir Solanaceae, what a useful plant Frederick Moore of the National family: potatoes, aubergines, One last benefit, it is not eaten by Botanic Gardens, who cherished tomatoes, chillies and peppers the normally very destructive Squirrel it for decades before giving it to of many kinds, but also one with Monkeys as I found out when trying the noted rosarian, Graham Stuart many poisonous plants including to find a screen for their surrounds Thomas, then working at Hilling’s mandrake Mandrogora, and tobacco at the Zoo. Both the animal and Nursery in England, who propagated Nicotiana. Ornamentally, not so the plant are from South America. it and made it available. useful? But think of Brugmansia Interesting. SB or Cestrum. Surely though, the It is an excellent rose with an member of the family one sees exceptionally long flowering period most frequently is the climbing and exquisite semi-double shell-pink potato, Solanum crispum ‘Glasnevin’. blooms, darker in bud, which open Common names though can be to give a flat flower with a gentle very misleading; you will get Epilobium canum ‘Dublin’ fragrance. If you can’t find it locally, much pleasure, but no spuds, it is listed online as being available from this lovely plant. from at least two well-known rose Rosa ‘Souvenir de St Anne’s’ suppliers. I think it’s time she made This cultivar, a chance seedling I was fortunate to find this rose in a return to my garden. MB probably, was noticed before the garden when we moved here 25 1882 at the then Royal, now National, years ago but unfortunate in that it Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, as being lost out to some building works a more vigorous and having larger, few years later. It had been acquired better coloured, flowers, and was Solanum crispum ‘Glasnevin’: photo courtesy of Paula McIntyre 16 17 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020

salicylic acid, and an even better Pterocarya fraxinifolia, the Caucasian Eat your greens…but perhaps not source was found in meadow sweet, Wingnut, is in the Juglans (walnut) by Stephen Butler Filipendula ulmaria. Reading up on family, with very many toxins; not willows, I found a note that rabbits much grows under a walnut tree, flag and the hairs are then not stiff. never eat Salix purpurea as it has even the roots give out toxins to Hairy leaves may deter while thorns the highest levels of salicylic acid in reduce competition. But Pterocarya are there to reduce animals nibbling the . That’s why it was planted is not listed as poisonous…so try it. Some physical defences are not in the new gorilla habitat, to see if it some…maybe throw some in with visible. Another early lesson had was eaten and, if eaten, that it wasn’t the goats...they literally ran away been Cistus ladanifer not being eaten poisonous. The first day in the new once they sniffed it. Grand so, throw by peafowl. Its leaves are sticky with habitat plants were pulled up, leaves some into the gorillas…left alone resin, the source of labdanum, used stuffed into mouths only to be spat too. So, I planted some on their new as incense. Would you still eat lettuce out seconds later and left alone from habitat 10 years ago, and they are if it was sticky? then on until, a few springs later, still there. Many years ago, when first both gorilla and mangabeys were working at Dublin Zoo, being tired Many plants in the Iris family spotted eating the young growth. Working with plants is always a of members of the animal team have crystals of calcium oxalate, Only through binoculars could it be pleasure, and maybe not just in demanding plant material for food not poisonous but probably not seen that in fact they were eating our heads but because a soil-living for their charges, I planted some agreeable. That’s why all those only the catkins, no young leaves. bacteria, Mycobacterium vaccae, comfrey to see if any animals would Libertia I planted in the zoo were not Once flowering finished, it was left gives us a gentle natural serotonin take it. Sean McKeown (who’s now eaten by geese, or indeed anything alone again. dose of happiness. How many of us Director at Fota Wildlife Park) tried else, until we were asked for a screen feel better once we get our hands some with the Siamang gibbons. He for young oryx. A few old clumps of dirty? I wonder if this works for any gave a few leaves to a mother with Libertia worked perfectly – until the other primates? a young baby. The mother reached parent oryx nibbled them. Now think out, grabbed a leaf and tucked in. on that: oryx come from an area with The baby copied her, thought it was limited plant growth. Maybe they are awful, and spat it out. Mum took less picky? Or more adapted another leaf, so baby, with a look of to tough plants? horror on its face, took another and carried on munching. Many plants produce chemicals that either make them bitter, so not Which got me thinking: what makes palatable, or poisonous, so eaten a plant tasty or, more usefully from only once! One good example a zoo gardening point of view, of bitterness is aspirin. Go back not tasty? Plants can be edible, to the old Doctrine of Signatures whether they are palatable or not, where a plant was deemed useful or downright toxic. This question if it resembled a bodily organ or a gave me many reasons to research symptom of a disease. Willow, with plants and try again. Comfrey has its shivering leaves, was considered very hairy leaves, which would put good for fevers and so, by luck, it off most animals until the leaves proved. The chemical involved is

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Production and Pride (Plate 125) is one of many interesting Betula ‘Trinity College’ Betula utilis subsp jacquemontii and potentially valuable examples.’ by Anne & Pat Coffey and Brendan Sayers ‘Trinity College’ was raised at the College’s Botanic Garden at While Tony Schilling championed From Blarney to Ballinskelligs Ballinskelligs via Killarney. Ballsbridge from seed sent by Sir cultivars of Betula utilis, we have We were thrilled to win the beautiful Joseph Hooker in the 1880s and John Joe Costin as our Irish cultivar birch, Betula jacquemontii ‘Trinity We love our Jacquie. She is now is noted for the purity of its white advocate. One of the best ways College’, in the raffle at the AGM in over 12’ tall, dances with the flow bark. Its history is well documented of keeping cultivars alive is for Blarney in 2016. We were remaining of winds from every direction, and starting with the Journal of the Royal their value as garden plants to in Cork for a few days after the AGM was untouched by severe gusts Horticultural Society as early as 1901 be accepted and for them to be so we carted our beautiful prize, last autumn. There is an interesting and more recently in An Irish Flower available in the horticultural trade. already over 6 feet tall at that stage, connection too as Trinity College was Garden, An Irish Flower Garden In Horticulture and Landscape in our Honda Civic from Blarney to the landlord in this area many moons Replanted and A Heritage of Beauty. Ireland John Joe Costin highlighted Douglas, back seat folded down, pot ago. We hope to plant more birches In the last, there is a note that in the two Irish Betula cultivars and in the boot with the delicate tip of the here in Ballinskelligs later this year. 1998 the tree was not commercially promoted their value as exceptional tree almost touching the gear stick. That’s part of her story. P & AC available; however this does not plants well able to hold their own We had large plastic bags, damp tea reflect an article in The Irish Times among other selected clones. towels and our rain jackets wrapped in 1996 by the late Fred Nutty of as carefully as we could around it. Malahide Nurseries, who did much And that is what we do too when We couldn’t leave it in the car for to reintroduce it, that approximately members grow and write about three days so we asked the reception 2,500 trees had been distributed their Irish cultivars. It is unfortunate staff at the hotel where it could go. in recent years. that on the World Wide Web Betula The only solution was to bring it to ‘Trinity College’ is described as either our room. The receptionist said that The value of these cultivars with a ‘new selection’ or a ‘new variety’. she had many requests over the exceptional coloured bark is noted After all it is a venerable elder of years to bring various objects to by Tony Schilling of the Royal more than 130 years. BS the rooms but this was a first time Botanic Gardens, Kew when, in his she had a request for a tree! Curtis’s Botanical Magazine article, he illustrates the thinking behind the Our ‘Trinity College’ sojourned in inclusion of selected clones when the en-suite although it took a bit of developing the birch collections at manoeuvring to place it safely and Wakehurst Place: ‘Cultivars and comfortably in situ. While Pat went hybrids would also be included in the for a swim, I gave it tepid water and collection in order to better illustrate it drank pints. We worried about the the variety within and between room being too warm and the air species. Wherever possible good being too dry so I sprinkled it with clones (selected for characters such water as regularly as I could. A splint as bark excellence and strong apical was put in place to save a small dominance) should be evaluated and branch. After three days it was back promoted for their horticultural or into the car again with all of our own silvicultural merits. Betula utilis var. paraphernalia and we headed for jacquemontii ‘Grayswood Ghost’

20 21 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020

and ‘Nickity’. I must take more care the world: yacon, oca, Jerusalem Planting Hunting IGPS Style of this lot. Again, my advice is to be artichokes, and some potatoes by Michael Kelleher careful as it is so easy to get hooked including Mayan Gold and on these beauties. Shetland Black. Over the years I have acquired a and everyone who sees it hopes wonderful range of plants at a variety for a cutting. It may be difficult to of IGPS events, whether lectures, source; my plant was unnamed but plants sales or visits during AGM I think it must be Abutilon x suntense weekends. Some of the very best ‘Jermyns’. I discovered the hard way and my favourites are as follows. that if this plant is rocked around by wind, you can say goodbye to it; Hoya carnosa luckily I had given a baby to a friend, This is an indoor tropical plant often so when I lost mine, I was able to get called the Wax Plant which I bought a slip back from her. Now I always at a plant sale, possibly in 2005. It try to take slips so that I continue is a climbing or trailing perennial of to have it growing in my garden. the dogbane and milkweed family Lesson learned: the way to keep a and the only one that can be grown plant is to give it away. I could not in a porch or unheated greenhouse. live without it. This is a real classy plant to grow Courgette and it creates beautiful, porcelain- Auriculas and Primulas like fragrant flower clusters which in Much more recently in February 2018 Mayan Gold warm weather can drip clear nectar; I attended a lecture by Paul Smith; Vegetables, Gardens and the Soul the tight rounded umbels of wax- Paul is from Co Carlow and works In March of this year, despite the like flowers have to be seen to be as head propagator at Crûg Farm impending doom and gloom because believed. Another unusual feature is Plants in North Wales. The plant of global warming, the hole in the that new flowers are produced on the sale which followed the lecture gave ozone layer, the adverse effects of same flowering spurs year after year. me a second chance opportunity climate change, and just before we A must-have plant. to acquire some auricalas as I had were all locked up because of the lost a small collection way back Covid-19 pandemic, a very large Abutilon x suntense in 1999 due to some misfortune. number of us were privileged to I acquired this at a garden visit as I had received the original plants be present at a lecture by Klaus part of the AGM weekend in Limerick from Brenda Hyatt — they included Laitenberger, Vegetables, Gardens in 2007. This is a choice member Primula auricula ‘Argus’, ‘Cortina’, and the Soul. I must say it was a of the mallow family which is not ‘Lovebird’, ‘Prague’, ‘Rolts’, most enjoyable, uplifting, informative, totally frost hardy. It is a fast growing ‘Hawkwood’, and ‘Fleminghouse’; intelligent and charming lecture but reasonably short-lived, semi- the loss still almost makes me cry. that instilled in us the pure joy and deciduous shrub. In spring and late Anyway, one can always start again. benefits of growing one’s own summer it produces a profusion This time I walked away with six vegetables, how to do so in our own of long-stalked, pendant, saucer- plants under my arm: P. ‘Old Irish climate, and what varieties do best shaped, violet blue flowers. In full Yellow’, ‘Old Yellow Dusty Miller’, here in Ireland . Again I walked away Shetland Black flower this is an absolute head-turner ‘Googie’, ‘Tim’, ‘Duke of Edinburgh’ with some loot, some plants to save

22 23 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020

Glasnevin, Sarracenia ‘Rosamond patterns and form. The criteria used Sarracenia – Our Cultivars Pollock’. The parentage involves to judge was colour and venation, by Brendan Sayers three species: S. leucophylla, height and proportion, form of lid, S. flava and S. purpurea. Sarracenia mouth and pitcher, along with quality, The North American pitcher plants Moore, introduced to the world at ‘Rosamond Pollock’ is probably vigour, stability and number (Sarracenia) form a distinct, well the International Botanical Congress no longer in cultivation but there of pitchers. disputed and investigated group of and Horticultural Exhibition in are other cultivars that hold the carnivorous plants that have fallen Florence, Italy in 1874 and promoted same parentage such as Sarracenia in and out of fashion with gardeners through the pages of the Gardener’s ‘Kiyohime’, S. ‘Daniel Rudd’ and through the years but have always Chronicle. Some years later the S. ‘Evendine’. held a core group of fans throughout hybrid was recognised in its native the world. The disputed topics are the habitat in North America where Sarracenia are variable species and exact species count and the names the two parental species grew many of the old hybrids have been and status in which their forms and side by side. remade using different clones of varieties fall under. To dwell too much the species. This results in plants on the various species count and with striking differences but which correct names is not for the pages still hold the same hybrid name. We of this newsletter. To this end I will can take Sarracenia × moorei as an keep to what are the most modern example. One parent, Sarracenia and widely accepted names of the flava, is probably the most variable species and varieties. pitcher plant species with varieties or forms quite distinct from one The National Botanic Gardens, another. The variety selected for Glasnevin grew Sarracenia from seed breeding will contribute its own as early as 1850 and was a leader distinct morphological traits to the in hybridisation of the genus on this offspring. Sarracenia leucophylla is variable to a lesser degree. To date side of the Atlantic Ocean. Under the A selection of leaves from guardianship of David and Frederick I can find reference to 33 registered S. x moorei Moore, a large and complex breeding or described cultivars of Sarracenia programme was created while the × moorei. Of the 33, most are growth of seedlings and development artificially created but occasionally In 2016 I purchased seed from Les of the programme was overseen by one arrives from native habitat such Burdett of three Sarracenia × moorei the Conservatories Foremen, David as the remarkable Sarracenia ‘Leah crosses. These are fully accessioned Orr and William Pope. Although Wilkerson’ with leaves 130cm tall. to and cultivated at the National hundreds of hybrids were created Sarracenia flava Trials of Sarracenia have recently Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. The at Glasnevin, I will discuss three been undertaken by the Royal germinated seed batches produced here. The most noted of the three The second of note is Sarracenia × Horticultural Society in order to 13, 16 and 33 seedlings. In 2018 is Sarracenia × moorei, the first popei with S. flava again as a parent assess candidates for culture on staff and horticultural students were artificially produced hybrid pitcher and S. rubra as the other, named for indoor windowsills or similar settings. invited to select their favourite five plant, a cross between S. flava the aforementioned William Pope. They were selecting for ease of cultivars and to comment as to and S. leucophylla. It was named The third is named for a lady culture, attractiveness throughout the why they made their choice. The for the Director of the time, David gardener/technical assistant at year with leaves of interesting colour, comments reflected the criteria

24 25 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020 used by the RHS and the selected the selection process next year and Flowering of Victoria ‘Longwood Hybrid’ seedlings for trial were whittled hope to have a cultivar or two worthy down to 19, nine were selected by of naming in commemoration of the by Adrian Walsh staff and students and another five history of Sarracenia breeding here each selected by myself and Peter at the National Botanic Gardens, Downes who cares for the collection. Glasnevin and those who cared for We hope to involve more people in the collections over the years.

In the night of 22nd or early morning Ferguson’s achievement cannot be of 23rd June this summer, a giant overestimated and a contemporary water lily, Victoria ‘Longwood report in the Devizes and Wiltshire Hybrid’, flowered in the recently Gazette recorded the event: restored Tropical Ravine in ‘The Victoria Regia Lily has recently Belfast Botanic Gardens. bloomed for the first time in Ireland, in the Royal Botanic Gardens at Belfast. In 1853 Daniel Ferguson, Curator The possession of such an ornament of the Royal Belfast Botanic Garden, there is due to Mr Ferguson, the was the first person in Ireland to curator, at whose expense the plant successfully produce flowers on the and the house for it have been giant waterlily Victoria amazonica, in provided: they will become the a specially constructed house (which property of the Gardens if the amount he initially self-funded) in the Garden. is paid to him. To show the buoyancy Glasnevin did not succeed in getting and strength of the magnificent the plant to flower until 1855, one leaves of the lily, it is mentioned that year after they had constructed a one bore a child of six years without Victoria Waterlily House in 1854. sinking below the water.’ Four plants from the current trial

26 27 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020

It has been approximately 30 years out in the hope that seed will develop since a giant waterlily last flowered in to sow for next year. Kilmacurragh Re-united the Ravine. Ideally, the temperature of by Seamus O’Brien the water needs to be between 24˚C Kilmacurragh’s heyday effectively By the early 20th century, the various to 26˚C and cessation of flowering ended with the death of Thomas Acton Land Acts had seriously reduced the in recent decades was mainly due in 1908. Thomas and his sister Janet size of the estate. In 1908, following to the state of the old roof which (who predeceased him by two years) his uncle’s death, Captain Charles was leaking and affecting the water reigned though a golden era of plant Annesley Ball-Acton resigned his temperature. The Ravine closed to introduction, sweeping away much commission as a soldier in Myanmar the public in November 2014 and re- of the old Dutch Park and creating (Burma) after he inherited the opened again in April 2018 following the present wild Robinsonian garden. demesne. All of the Annesley Ball- a £3.8m restoration thanks to the Thomas financed the venture through Acton brothers were to die on the support of Belfast City Council, the the income of an estate that covered early 20th century battlefields: Vere in Heritage Lottery Fund and the Friends almost 5,500 acres and benefited the Boer War, Charles and Reginald of Belfast Botanic Gardens. Since the enormously through his friendship (Reggie) in the Great War. By the re-opening it has been a focus of the with garden advisors, Dr David Moore close of the Great War, no Acton heirs gardeners to re-establish the giant of the then Royal Botanic Gardens survived and Reggie’s widow, Isabel, waterlily in the lily pond. and his son, Sir Frederick Moore, inherited death duties that amounted who succeeded him. Lady Moore to 120% of the value of the estate. Victoria ‘Longwood Hybrid’ continued to visit the gardens long derives from a cross between the after the house was abandoned and In November 1958, R C Jenkinson two species, V. amazonica and V. the gardens and park grew wild, thus published an account of Kilmacurragh cruziana, and was bred in Longwood creating a link with the Moores of in The Journal of the Royal Gardens, Pennsylvania, USA where Glasnevin (and later Willbrook House, Horticultural Society. He had first it first flowered in 1961. Seed was Tropical Ravine Rathfarnham) that lasted over a visited with Sir Frederick and Lady sent from Longwood Gardens to century. Moore in 1932. His guide in May Belfast and was sown in January 1958, twenty six years later, was Lady 2020 by Derek Lockwood, one of Moore, who, as he stated, at that time the gardeners. With his skill and knowledge, the seed germinated and the young plant was transferred to the lily pond in April where it quickly became established. One school of thought is that the closure of the Ravine to visitors during lockdown may have helped flowering as the inside temperature was more stable due to doors not constantly opening and closing within the building. More flowers have since been produced and hand pollination has been carried

28 29 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020 knew the gardens better than any Regency-era walled garden, the early other living person. It was, after all, at 18th century Deer Park, woodlands, The Promise of Seeds Kilmacurragh where Sir Frederick had avenues and fields beyond from by Debbie Bailey proposed to her. Coillte which had occupied the site This year has been very different 4. Put the heads upside since the 1970s. in many ways with the effects and down in the bag. By then the house lay empty ‘… restrictions of Covid-19 and it seems 5. Leave to dry on a windowsill a shambles, a nesting home of we will continue to be restricted for or other dry warm spot. jackdaws and starlings …’ and the some time to come. 6. Clean the seedheads and pair waded through a collection of ‘... put into a clean paper rare, choice trees and crying I would love to think that there is a envelope. in the wilderness to be released from silver lining in this crisis for the IGPS 7. Ensure the envelope is rotting fallen trees and brambles.’ seed distribution scheme. With so labelled and send it in. Jenkinson had indeed a good guide. many of us spending a lot of extra He revelled in the garden’s many time in our gardens, how wonderful When I look at the lists of seeds we surviving rarities, like a 15 foot tall it would be if a lot more members have issued over the years, it is such Telopea speciosissima, the waratah would collect some seed and send it a pleasure to see a wide and varied from New South Wales, concluding to me for distribution in the new year. selection, some of which are hard that ‘This is a sketch of a tragedy, but if not impossible to come by. Many any enthusiast who girds up his loins Viburnum betulifolium In previous years we have relied on are treasures from gardens handed and takes shillelagh and bill-hook and the wonderful work of a small number down from previous generations or pays a visit to Kilmacurragh would be The purchase more than doubles the of seed collectors to ensure we had a given as slips on a garden visit or well-rewarded. He would be amazed existing area open to the public to varied and abundant seed list. If you from a fellow enthusiast. A plant at the will-to-live of all sorts — many 104 acres and plans are now afoot have never taken part before, please that seems commonplace in your more than I have mentioned — of to restore and re-develop these. think about collecting and sharing the garden could be an absolute trees and shrubs after over forty This includes extending the existing seed of even one or two of your own treasure for someone else. years of neglect.’ garden into the adjacent fields which garden plants. Please collect some will further allow expansion of the seeds and send them for inclusion Isabel Annesley Ball-Acton had long plant collection and the creation of in the distribution list. I am happy to hoped to see Kilmacurragh become new formal garden areas. The Deer receive them at any time up to the an official annexe of the National Park, which contains the burial place end of November. Seeds should be Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. Her of Thomas and Janet Acton, will see perfectly dry before being packaged efforts, sadly fruitless in her lifetime, ongoing restoration and it is hoped in paper, never plastic. began in the 1920s. It would take to open it to the public as early as My contact details are: a further century for Glasnevin next spring. It is planned to re-open 1. Use a paper bag or envelope. to acquire fully the bulk of the the vista to the great lime allées in 2. Write the name of the plant ornamental parts of the demesne. the Deer Park that were once aligned and variety on the bag/ Debbie Bailey Following the part purchase in 1996, to the vista leading from the drawing envelope. Clonguaire the historic estate was, happily, room of Kilmacurragh House, through 3. Cut off fully ripe heads Ballynacarrig reunited earlier this year when the the garden and across the pond. as you find them — several Brittas Bay National Historic Properties division This area also contains a ring fort, trips to the garden at Co Wicklow. of the Office of Public Works which ancient oaks and a tract of primeval different times may [email protected] owns the gardens purchased the woodland that will be subject to a be necessary. 086 6085849 sensitive restoration. 30 31 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020

Worth a Read by Paddy Tobin

range of vitamins, minerals, trace

elements and micro-nutrients that are

no longer available to those who live

on a diet of highly processed foods.’

There is a worldwide reliance on a

very limited genetic range of foods

and, as this continues to decline,

the genetic resources available in

wild foods become more and more invaluable, a safeguard for the future. Summer Wildflowers of The quality of the photography is It is essential, vital, that we conserve the Northeast, A Natural History outstanding and the number of these wild varieties as a gene is a companion volume to Carol photographs used is unusually resource for future agricultural crops. Gracie’s extremely successful earlier generous with a dozen or more used The Wild Food Plants of Ireland: These are our Crop Wild Relatives, book, Spring Wildflowers of the to illustrate each species in its various The Complete Guide to their ancestors of our present-day food Northeast, A Natural History, (now stages, guises and with its usual Recognition, Foraging, Cooking, plants, which we can still gather and reprinted and released with the plant and insect companions. These History and Conservation by Tom eat and this book will act both as a present volume). Along with their illustrations are perfect companions Curtis & Paul Whelan comes at an record and as a reference for future intrinsic beauty and interest, their to a text which is a delight to read opportune moment when interest in use. There is a serious message in relevance to us is that we actually for it is not only extraordinarily our wild plants and their conservation this volume but it is also filled with grow a great number of the plants informative, bearing the hallmark is especially keen. Both authors have interesting recollections of how wild described in our own gardens, of years of fieldwork, observation highly regarded previous publications: plants were used formerly and how something I found quite surprising and research, but is also written Tom Curtis on Irish orchids and Paul we might once again enjoy them, and remarkable. with passion, love and enthusiasm Whelan on the lichens of Ireland so collecting and trying the suggested for the subject matter –a wonderful the quality of research and depth recipes. Both books are far, far more than combination! Wonderful books! of information in this book comes mere plant listings and descriptions as no surprise. The Wild Food Plants [The Wild Food Plants of Ireland, for there are notes on plant history, [Spring/Summer Wildflowers of the of Ireland is another high-quality Tom Curtis & Paul Whelan, Orla on those for whom the plant was Northeast, A Natural History, Carol publication and one I recommend Kelly Publishing, Softback, 259 named, on traditional practical and Gracie, Princeton University Press, without hesitation. pages, €25, ISBN: 978-1-912328- medicinal uses of the plants and on Oxford, 2020, Softback, 272 and 47-5] its natural growing conditions which 372 pages, £25, ISBN: 978-0-691- In her introduction, Darina Allen act as excellent guidelines for the 19953-5 and 978-0-691-199344] says, ‘gathering food in the wild is a gardener who wishes to grow them. forgotten skill, hardly a necessity, but A significant part of every entry Both are available online from in reality, much of the food we eat is given to the pollinating insects Princeton University Press nowadays is nutritionally deficient. associated with each plant and However, wild foods that have been describes the interactions between untampered with provide a wide plant and insect, always interesting, 32 regularly fascinating. 33

IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020

Society Snippets Interestingly, the report of the Irish Bergenia Trial repatriation of N. ‘Foundling’, a pretty Issue 141 in the spring of 2018 little pink-cupped daffodil bred by carried a report by Brendan Sayers Events in autumn and winter Return to the Rectory Garden our Honorary Member, the late Kate of the trial of bergenias of Irish origin At the time of going to print, it has Glowing clumps of crocosmia Reade, led to one member getting being carried out at the National not been possible to confirm whether greeted our volunteers in August, in touch to say that she had quite a Botanic Gardens. At that time he any of the Society’s regional lecture when they were finally able to number still growing in her garden. had sourced 27 plants of 11 different programmes will be able to go ahead return to the Folk Museum having Great news. Does anyone else have cultivars and he expected to add as there is no certainty about what missed the primulas and daffodils it? If so, please get in touch via igps. more. Brendan hopes to report to government restrictions will apply completely. After five months of [email protected] the committee in the early part next at any given time. The Executive enforced neglect, Lorna Goldstrom year and to have an update for this Committee is considering whether reports that they are still battling the Plant Heritage Newsletter as well, a very appropriate lectures could be provided online willow herb, buttercups and cleavers, The Society has joined the UK based development for the Society’s 40th if the speakers are willing. More but that the agapanthus bed looks organisation Plant Heritage as a anniversary year. information will be contained in the lovely and there’s colour everywhere. corporate member. Plant Heritage flyer in this Newsletter. The Museum staff were able to keep aims to conserve cultivated plants Appointment the grass cut and Lorna hopes it will in Britain and Ireland pointing out Congratulations to our member, Award for Charles Nelson not take too long to get the garden that, when a plant is gone, it’s gone. . Claire McNally on her appointment, The Society for the History of back in half decent condition. More details in the January issue. as Head Gardener at the National Natural History awards Honorary Trust’s Rowallane Gardens in Co Membership to persons who have Irish Heritage Plants. John Anderson. Down in succession to Averil Milligan. performed signal service to the As reported in April, we have We are delighted to report that John Society. They maintain a limit of already received a number of young Anderson, a sometime member of Jane Powers ten Honorary Members and the plants of Iris unguicularis ‘Kilbroney the Society, former head gardener Hot off the presses is latest to be awarded is Dr E Charles Marble’ and, thanks to the kind at Mount Usher, and current Keeper a new book by IGPS Nelson. Charles Nelson was the assistance of our Honorary Member, of Garden at Windsor Great Park member, Jane Powers. former horticultural taxonomist at the Brian Duncan, are due to receive and the Savill Gardens, has been An Irish Nature Year will National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. a small consignment of bulbs of awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal be reviewed in the He resigned in 1997 and pursued a Narcissus ‘Foundling’. Plans are in by the RHS. next issue. freelance career continuing to take hand to plant them in a number of an interest in Irish gardening and safe havens to try and ensure their garden plants of Irish origin. The continued survival. It is not clear Society is indebted to him for his if there will be sufficient stock to work which many IGPS members use make any more generally available frequently as a reference. One of his just yet but, following the success most comprehensive publications, of the online plant sale organised by A Heritage of Beauty, lists over 5,000 the Northern region earlier this year, plants of Irish origin or association. this method may be a way to ensure Warmest congratulations to Charles. wider distribution among members.

Visit to Coille Garden, photo courtesty of Adrian Walsh

34 35 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020

Around the Regions Leinster

Royal Hospital Kilmainham Northern Gardens and National Memorial Gardens, Dublin Visit to Finnebrogue House and Coille Garden It was with a feeling of defiance Finnebrogue House was built in (Covid and Storm Ellen) that the the early 1660’s. The current owner, enthusiasts of IGPS attended Noel Lamb, led tours of the house, two of Dublin’s hidden gems on generously imparting a wealth of Saturday 22nd August. Both gardens knowledge about its history, contents are unusually formal, though for and the latest renovation process completely different reasons. The which restored many of the finest gardens at the Royal Hospital, Passionflower bloom and fruit at Royal rooms to their 18th century condition. Kilmainham, date from the end Hospital Kilmainham: photo courtesy of of the seventeenth century. Today Robert Trotter Coille is a one acre garden hidden Stachyurus chiensis ‘Joy Forever’ they seek to revive the original away the Finnebrogue estate which structure with various seasons of appearance, now lost. The work was A rampant passionflower was was acquired in 1998 by John and interest, including the illuminating planned and beautifully carried out growing up the wall beside the lodge: Agnes Peacocke. Not only did this variegated Stachyurus chinensis by conservation architect, Elizabeth the fruit were ripe — something I fulfil their desire for a bigger garden ’Joy Forever’, Paulownia tomentosa, Morgan, since the 1980s brought have not seen since I left Australia — but it came with several outbuildings Crinodendron patagua, Acer davidii, about a kindlier view of the heritage emphasizing the exceptional warm including a cow byre, ancient and Eucryphia x nymansensis site. We were conducted around the microclimate of this walled garden. kennels and a dairy. The restored ‘Nymansay’. gardens by the head gardener, Mary cow byre is now their home and the Condon, whose careful management The National Memorial Gardens, front stone walls are bedecked with A beautiful golden elm acted like is visible everywhere. It is a green designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurascens a beacon and guided us upwards garden, with various features such to commemorate the 50,000 Irish ‘Freckles’, C. armandii and the hardy to interlinking courtyard gardens. as immaculately clipped box hedges soldiers who lost their lives in the kiwi climber Actinidia kolomikta The house and garden are aptly and topiary which will be familiar Great War, has in my experience a with its stunning variegated leaves named Coille meaning a wooded to anyone who has also visited feeling of peace which is unique. The tipped with silver and pink. The wall area. Undoubtedly it is a garden Kilruddery House in Co. Wicklow. beautifully-placed granite buildings, opposite was clothed with the lacy for all seasons and all tastes and, the simple altar and high cross, the foliage and pink flowers of Indigofera despite restrictions, thanks to our Mary took us into the beautiful little quiet completeness of the symmetry: heterantha and lacteus hosts we had a super day out lodge which is the focal point at all these conspire to make you feel weighed with clusters of berries. on 1st August. the far end of the garden facing the calm and also somehow very sad. Royal Hospital main building. Though The Head Gardener, Craig Savage, A meandering path, burgeoning with Patricia Kernohan this was built as a banqueting room told us that, in spite of the changes plants including a pink deciduous originally, it later became the home of in fashion for roses, the Memorial ceanothus, roses, crocosmias and successive gardeners and finally was Gardens as far as possible maintain heleniums, led to a sweeping lawn just left vacant. Some fine restoration the varieties and colours laid down with mixed borders where many work is now being carried out here. by Lutyens himself. unusual trees and shrubs provided

36 37 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020 IGPS Newsletter : 150 September 2020

Advice for contributors Behind the roses in their formal He told us that Lutyens designed circular beds surrounding the it so that the fallen petals would fountains and central ponds, Craig represent the blood of the fallen men Length of articles. is printed in standard type and maintains wonderful ebullient borders of the Somme. If writing a report of a regional event enclosed within single quotation of perennials: japanese anemone such as a visit or lecture, please keep marks e.g. Nerine bowdenii ‘Alba’. in full bloom, agastaches, salvias, Some years ago at the time of the it short and sweet: 250 to 300 words If more than one is referred to, the Romneya coulteri and a gorgeous centenary of WW1, the Society are very suitable. Articles are always second and subsequent ones can Actaea ‘Brunette’ presented Escallonia ‘C F Ball’ to the welcome; 650 or 950 words work be shown with just a capital letter in Memorial Gardens to commemorate well especially when accompanied italics for the genus, e.g. N. undulata. I was fascinated to hear him Charles Frederick Ball of the then by two or three good quality, high describing the way in which he plans Royal Botanic Gardens at Glasnevin resolution photos. It’s very helpful if Common plant names. When plants the pruning of the trees so that the who was killed at Gallipoli. This time, you can alert the editor ahead of time are referred to by their common vista from the top to the bottom thanks to Stephen Butler, we were about what you plan to write. names, they are in standard type of the garden is visible, although it able to present Escallonia ‘Alice’ rather than italics and the initial letter has well grown trees on either side. which was named in honour of his Photos. Take photos at as high is lower case e.g. nerines, roses, Similarly, he clearly cares for the wife. She will be planted alongside resolution as possible. A low hellebores and peonies. Likewise for ranks of cherry trees by the Temple, her husband. resolution photo from a tablet or the names of wild flowers. calling them by name, and telling basic smart phone will often be too us we must come in spring and Mary Montaut fuzzy to reproduce. Attach them to Capital letters. Use an initial capital see the blossom. an email as a separate jpeg. Do not letter for proper nouns, i.e. the embed them in the text. names of people, countries, gardens, and institutions. Thus the National Newsletter conventions Botanic Gardens, Rowallane, or Book and magazine names should Kilmacurragh; the Society when be in italics with a capital letter for referring to the IGPS but gardening all the principal words e.g. A Heritage societies in general; the Chairman of Beauty and The Irish Garden. Do when referring to the person who has not enclose the title of the book with been elected to this post in the IGPS. either single or double quotation Seasons of the year are in lower case marks. e.g. spring, autumn.

Scientific names of plants. The Abbreviations. Write IGPS rather scientific or Latin name of the plant than I.G.P.S., Co Kildare rather than must be in italics. The initial letter of Co. Kildare, etc rather than etc., the species name has a capital letter, and Dr rather than Dr. But include a e.g. Nerine, while the second does stop or point for the following two not, therefore Nerine bowdenii. abbreviations, e.g. and i.e.

The cultivar name, which is often Spaces. Leave just one space but not exclusively in English, at the end of a sentence. Memorial rose garden, Islandbridge: photo courtesy of Wikimedia

38 39 IRISH GARDEN PLANT SOCIETY

C/O: National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9

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Officers: Chairman Billy McCone Phone: +44 7411 244 568 Email: [email protected]

Acting Hon Sec. Agnes Peacocke 15 Finnabrogue Road, Downpatrick, BT30 9AA Email: [email protected]

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