Garden history journal of the gardens trust content listing. Mount usher gardens the good gardens guide has rated mount usher gardens as one of the finest gardens across britain and ireland for exceptional quality, design and planting. Monty donhas described it as one of his favourite gardens anywhere. Robinson was inspired by shakespeares the art itself is nature and created an informal garden for which he used a combination of native and tropical plants, resulting in a beautiful garden that is also a little bit wild.
Gairdini mount usher located at ashford, ireland, was laid out in 1868. My second book, the irish garden, published by frances lincoln in the spring of 2015, is a whopping great volume 400 pages long, and weighing in at 6 lbs 9 oz rather larger than i or the publishers had planned. Mount usher in county wicklow was constructed in 1860 by william robinson. It was a cool cloudy morning but there was a vague hint of brightness by lunchtime so i headed north to visit mount usher, one of the most famous gardens in ireland. Konrad jay reflects on the gardeners and custodians of mount usher gardens for nearly 150 years. Garden history began publication in 1972 as the journal of the garden history society, until the summer 2015, and is now the journal of the gardens trust, the successor organisation. A short journey south along the m11 will bring you to mount usher gardens. One of only 3 irish gardens with a top rating from the uks the good gardens guide, mount usher is not simply one of irelands greatest gardens, but its a worldclass example of a socalled robinsonian garden, with its relaxed informality and natural layout. Twice named best garden to visit in ireland by bbc gardeners world magazine, mount usher was founded in the 1860s by william robinson. Although originally private it is now owned by the avoca company which means that, if nothing else, the food is good. The irish garden, a cultural history an irish gardener. There is a woodland garden with rhododendrons and a eucalyptus grove. Mount usher is a magnet for those of us that are enchanted by the beauty of nature. The reputation of this robinsonian jewel stretches far beyond these shores.
The book is, i suppose, like many a garden, even the very best of gardens, that has parts which appeal to us and parts which dont. Mount usher view bed and breakfast ireland b and b b. The location is wonderful, a long time visitor to mount usher gardens myself, i was delighted to be able to stay in the walpole house with the most incredible view of the gardens from the huge bedroom windows, some beautiful, original portraits on the walls by a little known artist. Nov 21, 2018 the book is, i suppose, like many a garden, even the very best of gardens, that has parts which appeal to us and parts which dont. As well as the gardens to explore there is the wicklow mountains national park 20minute drive, where you can join the wicklow way and walk through glendalough valley, a 6thcentury monastic settlement flanked by pretty lakes to the north and south. Mount usher gardens are located near the village of ashford in county wicklow. The irish garden, a cultural history irish garden plant. Garden history back issues, 47 water street, lavenham, sudbury co10 9rn, england. In the spring of 1980 i was taking my first tentative steps in a career in the film industry.
Regarded as one of irelands most beautiful gardens and spanning 9 hectares 22. We had already walked around the garden of mount usher which are beautiful and have a very interesting history. Today was sunday and the sun had a bit of a lie in. Having visited the gardens one can alway go for a coffee into the resaurant where the food is very good and has table service. Enjoy some scrumptious avoca tea and scones before embarking on a guided tour with the head gardener. In it, i visit the best gardens in ireland that are open to the public, talk about their history.
Visit mount usher gardens on your trip to ashford or ireland. Originally created by the walpole family, the garden owes its character to one of those happy confluences of history. Walk through 5,000 species of plants along the river vartry at mount usher gardens. Monty don has described it as one of his favourite gardens anywhere. Activities cherrybrook country home, avoca, wicklow, ireland. Mount usher gardens, with its avoca garden cafe and courtyard shops is situated in the village of ashford, just 35 minutes south of dublin city, and close to the seaside towns of bray, wicklow and arklow. On sunday i visited avoca woollen mills and popped into mount usher gardens for a little wander. Apr, 2014 today was sunday and the sun had a bit of a lie in. It is a robinsonian style garden with over 5,000 plant species, many rare and exotic. In the courtyard you can dine in avocas garden cafe. Mount usher gardens wicklow public domain photograph, free image, free stock photo, free picture. This video is a visit to mount usher gardens, wicklow in april. Follow the river tolka through the gardens, finish your trip in the palm house, where philosopher ludwig wittgenstein used to sit and write.
Join hazel for an unforgettable visit to the worldfamous gardens of mount usher. An awardwinning example of robinsonian gardens, we count ourselves very lucky to have one of our avoca locations nestled in this stunning setting. Gardens like mount usher perform a vicarious purpose. The gardens can be reached from dublin 50 km in under an hour rather less from dun laoghaire and in roughly two hours from rosslare 115km. Apr 06, 2017 this video is a visit to mount usher gardens, wicklow in april.
The garden took shape over a period when the enthusiasm for new plant introductions was at its peak, and the possession of exotic species brought back from plant hunting expeditions to the east and the. Mount usher gardens tcs detail irelands ancient east. Mount usher gardens welcomes selfguided tours or guided group tours of our gardens throughout the year. Travel to mount usher by road mount usher is situated in ashford co. By the time we came out the only option for food was coffee and cake as the. Mount usher gardens ashford 2020 all you need to know. I had finally flown the coop, so to speak, left my childhood home in rural kildare, to take. A visit to mount usher gardens with guided tour preceded by lunch at hunters lodge hotel.
To get to ashford by public transport, the 3 bus regularly passes through. A guided tour takes approximately 90 minutes and can easily be arranged at a cost of 60 per group. Although originally private it is now owned by the avoca. Laid out along the banks of the river vartry, mount usher has been designed in the robinsonian style. The irish garden, a cultural history, peter dale, the history press, dublin, 2018, hardback, 384 pages, isbn. Mount usher gardens wicklow free public domain photo lovelry river scene with tropical plants and trees. Mount usher, trees, trip, sightseeing, horticulture,shrubs, tourism, ireland, out, woodland, gardens,day shops,natural gardens,craft,woodlands, pleasure, specimen. Mount usher gardens, arboretum and avoca garden cafe in. Mount usher is a magnet for those of us that are enchanted by the. One of only 3 irish gardens with a top rating from the uks the good gardens guide, mount usheris not simply one of irelands greatest gardens, but its a worldclass example of a socalled robinsonian garden, with its relaxed informality and natural layout. A premium on style but with a virtual embargo on swank. Learn all about the history of the gardens at powerscourt after indulging in some yummy avoca tea and scones. Mount usher gardens, wicklow updated 2020 restaurant.
On the area of 22 acres divided by river vartry there are over 5000 species of plants and shrubs from around the world. Youll love its relaxed informality and natural layout. Operated by avoca, an irish familyrun lifestyle and catering company, the gardens feature a variety of plant species and trees including rhododendrons, magnolias, camellias, eucryphia and shrubs. Mount usher is a garden that welcomes visitors to enjoy the robinsonian garden style and the plant treasures that grow within. Mount usher gardens this place has a lovely garden and unsure of the cost but to my eyes well worth the price. The gardens will continue to exchange plants, in all forms, with other gardens, institutions, etc. By the time we came out the only option for food was coffee and cake as the kitchen was closed. On the area of 22 acres divided by river vartry there are over 5000 species of plants and shrubs f. Founded in 1868 and developed over the next 112 years by the walpole family, inspired by the william robinson famous irish gardener, designer and. Welcome to mount usher view bed and breakfast ashford county wicklow. Mount usher gardens ticket prices and opening hours. The 10 best ireland gardens with photos tripadvisor. There is a flower garden connected to a walled garden by a lime walk. Trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants have been introduced from all parts of the globe and are planted in harmony with woodland and shade loving plants.
The avoca wicklow day tour offers you the best of wicklow, more commonly known as the garden of ireland. Cookies are small text files that contain information that is transferred to the hard drive of your computer or mobile device. These gardens, first planted in 1868, are situated on the curving banks of the vartry river near ashford, co. Tour operators and group organisers should contact the gardens manager for all booking information. May 01, 2005 the gardens will continue to exchange plants, in all forms, with other gardens, institutions, etc. The garden took shape over a period when the enthusiasm for new plant introductions was at its peak, and the possession of exotic species brought back from plant hunting expeditions to the east and the southern hemisphere.
Mar 26, 2018 mount usher gardens the good gardens guide has rated mount usher gardens as one of the finest gardens across britain and ireland for exceptional quality, design and planting. I have read only four chapters, but appreciate thackers style of writing and, especially, i appreciate that thacker carefully explains horticultural and architectural terms. To order current or back issues, contact our printers. To view mount usher gardens visitor guide, click here. The land now part of the garden was anciently part of a lake. A haven of rare beauty and tranquillity, mount usher gardens was named by monty don as one of his favourite gardens in the world. We may use both session cookies which expire once you close your web browser and persistent cookies which stay on your computer or mobile device until you delete them to provide you with a more personal and interactive experience on our site. Mount usher gardens activities nature and wildlife. The house is down a small broad half a mile from mount ashford village. After 27 years, madelaine jay is handing over the guardianship of mount usher gardens, writes jane powers formerly a millhouse on a stream in a.
Mount usher and hunters lodge irish garden plant society. In the walpoles case, edward, the scion of the family in the mid 1880s, took it upon himself to design and plant the gardens at mt usher. Described as one of the great gardens of the world, mount usher is laid out over 22 acres along the river varty. Garden history began publication in 1972 as the journal of the garden history society, until the summer 2015, and is now the. It is spread on twenty acres of land along river vartry, having more than 5000 plant species.
We may use both session cookies which expire once you close your web browser and persistent cookies which stay on your computer or mobile device until you delete them to provide you with a more personal and interactive experience on. The history of gardens should be the first book read by anyone who wants to learn about the history of garden styles. Mount usher view bed and breakfast is located in close proximity to mount usher gardens. Aug 10, 2017 on sunday i visited avoca woollen mills and popped into mount usher gardens for a little wander. Mount usher is particularly blessed in a number of ways. Mount usher welcomes group tours to our gardens throughout the year. Annes grove the genius of the place is ireland itself and irelands own gardener, william robinson. Pages in category gardens in county wicklow the following 5 pages are in this category, out of 5 total.