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Fairfield Lodge, Monkstown, Co Dublin

This small garden surrounds a charming 18th century Dublin lodge. It is split into exquisite rooms, each lovingly created to give a greater impression of size. No square inch has been left unplanted. There is a blue and white front garden, an unusual yellow courtyard garden and a formal garden, with a terrace and a velvety lawn, surrounded by herbaceous borders, filled with perennials, old roses and clematis.

The Dillon Garden, Dublin 6

An urban garden, an oasis in the city, where a series of little gardens, each with a different theme, are arranged around a central stretch of water. This incorporates five different rectangular sections, the longest about 6 feet wide, with 2 small and 1 larger waterfalls, all set in limestone. Rare herbaceous plants are a speciality.

Knockcree, Co Dublin

is one of the hidden gems of Irish gardens, causing surprise and delight in equal measure. A natural garden, in the foothills of the Dublin mountains, it is dominated by a huge granite outcrop, which makes it primeval and so different.

Corke Lodge, Bray, Co Wicklow

When, in 1840, the house was rebuilt as a seaside villa, to designs by James Sheil, a Mediterranean grove was planted with a Cork tree as its centrepiece. Only the large trees, of the original garden, survived into the twentieth century, when Alfred Cochrane redesigned it around a collection of architectural follies, salvaged from the demolition of Glendalough House, a 1830's Tudor revival mansion, built for the Barton family, by Daniel Robertson, who designed Powerscourt gardens.

Kestrel Lodge The Long Hill, Kilmacanogue, Co Wicklow

Set in magnificent mountain scenery, this is a plant enthusiast's garden, created on a hillside in 1979. It features mixed and curved borders and beds, packed with interesting and uncommon plants, including bulbs, grasses and cottage garden flowers.

Graigueconna House, Bray, Co Wicklow

The romantic garden, covering about 3 acres, was designed in 1908. The original layout has been kept, together with some trees and shrubs, but has been largely replanted since 1970. Long flower borders run either side of a central grass path, leading to "a jungle area of walks, pool, shrubs, ferns, rose beds and an old orchard, with apple trees festooned with roses and clematis". There are many unusual plants - Southern Hemisphere shrubs and aroids abound; Some native plants are encouraged as well as wild life.

Primrose Hill. Lucan, Co Dublin

This lovely, old-world garden opens, in June and July, with a wide ranging collection of perennials, many rare and some our own hybrids of special interest to the plantsperson.

The garden also opens for the month of February, for early spring bulbs, snowdrops, cyclamen and hellebores. A visit is a must at this exciting time of year.

Anna Nolan's Garden, Co Dublin

This exceptional suburban garden is filled with plants of all kinds, from the rare and unusual to the common and hardy. Tender climbers and fine herbaceous borders overlook tiny alpines in screes and troughs.

Salvias from South America share their space with watsonia from South Africa, giant busy lizzies from the Himalayas, and astelia from Australia. With Anna's focus on colour co-ordination and plant association, interest is maintained from early Spring to late Autumn.

Lodge Park Walled Garden, Straffan

As it did in the eighteenth century, the walled garden continues to produce fruit and vegetables and much more besides. The edible plants grow alongside an ever increasing collection of lesser known ornamental plants. Coloured borders of white, blue and yellow greet the visitor and a pink border begins the main walk, with a collection of peonies nearby.

Vandeleur Walled Garden, Co Clare

Beautifully constructed walls contain this sheltered garden, once the Walled Garden for Kilrush House. As a forgotted garden, the Vandeleur Walled Garden has been re-designed for the 21st Century around the old path system and specialises in many unusual and Tender plants that thrive in the area's uniquely western latitude microclimate. Replanting the borders that line the walls began in the spring of 2000. Restoration work is now nearing completion. The centre of the garden contains the nucleus of a plant collection and there are a variety of areas for the visitors' pleasure, including unusual water features, tree collection and horiontal maze

Ballynacourty, Co Limerick

Twenty five years ago Ballynacourty was surrounded by open fields; today the gardens extend to approximately 1.6ha. Soil depth is critical as this is a limestone area with stone outcrops close to the surface. The garden is designed as a series of small gardens all interlinked. One garden has a laburnum walk underplanted with lavender, another has vegetables (just enough for the house use), another is full of soft fruit and flowers for picking. Throughout the garden there are many varieties of shrub roses. May and June are months when the garden is full of flowering trees and shrubs, while the other months have many interesting delights

Grange Castle and Gardens

Grange Castle, close to the source of the Boyne, is a fine example of a late 15th Century Tower House currently being restored by Duchas, The Heritage Service. The Tower was further embellished in the 17th Century with ornamental battlements and Jacobean chimneys. It is adjoined by a Georgian Cottage and is the focal point of a complex of walled enclosures including an historic Wallled Garden and a recently constructed Labyrinth. The entire site is comprised of six acres with parklands, walkways, stately oak trees and old fashioned shrubs and wild flowers.

Rowallane Acknowledged as a real plantsman's garden, Rowallane is renowned for its peaceful, intimate character. The garden's 21ha of natural garden contains plants from many parts of the world: daffodils, rhododendrons and azaleas in spring and reach their peak around the end of May and early June; summer flowering trees and shrubs continue the display. In the walled garden, which houses the national collection of Penstemon, herbaceous plants, fuchsias and shrub roses will flower until autumn frost; the rock garden with primula, meconopsis, heathers and dwarf shrubs is of interest thoughout the year. Autumn on Rowallane brings a spectacular display of colour in foliage and berries. A National Trust property

Kilmacurragh Wicklow
This is an arboretum particularly famous for its conifers and calcifuges, planted during the 19th century by Thomas Acton in conjunction with David Moore and his son, Sir Frederick Moore, curators of the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin. It was a time of great botanical and geographical explorations with numerous species from around the world being brought back to Ireland through Glasnevin. The more favourable soil and climatic conditions at Kilmacurragh resulted in many of these specimens succeeding there while struggling or failing at Glasnevin. Restoration work is being carried out on the grounds.

Altamont Gardens Carlow
Large, beautiful old world garden, Robinsonian in style with a strong emphasis on the informal tradition of combining a good plant collection within the natural landscape of its environment. Lawns and clipped yews slope down to a lake surrounded by rare trees and shrubs and a profusion of roses, old and modern, and herbaceous plants scent the air.

Glenveagh National Park Donegal
Some 16,540 hectares of mountains, lakes, glens and woods, with a herd of red deer. A Scottish style castle is surrounded by one of the finest gardens in Ireland, which contrast with the rugged surroundings. The Visitor Centre houses exhibitions and audio-visual show.

The house, built in c1838 stands at the end of a long and varied avenue. The garden has been extensively changed and enlarged over the years and now covers an area of over ten acres. The avenue partly runs across an area of acid peat where there is a collection of various Rhododendrons, Azaleas and Sorbus. The main garden of about 4ha is on a limestone soil and contains a large collection of rare and unusal shrubs and trees, many chosen by Sir Harold Hillier, the famous plantsman. There is a good herbaceous border and a large Victorian greenhouse. The garden is of great interest throughout the season.

One of the world's great gardens situated 20km south of Dublin in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains. The gardens were begun by Richard Wingfield, Viscount Powerscourt, in the 1740s. The word garden belies the magnitude of this creation which stretches out over 20ha. It is a sublime blend of formal gardens, sweeping terraces, statuary and ornamental lakes with secret hollows, rambling walks, walled gardens and over 200 variations of trees and shrubs. The 18th century house, which was gutted by fire in 1974 has an innovative new use, incorporating a terrace restaurant overlooking the garden, speciality shops and an exhibition on the history of the Estate. New Garden Centre opening in Spring 2000. The gardens have been restored with the assistance of an ERDF grant through the Great Gardens of Ireland Restoration Programme

Ilnacullin (Garinish Island) Cork
Located in the sheltered harbour of Glengarriff in Bantry Bay, Ilnacullin is a small island of 15 hectares (37 acres) known to horticulturists and lovers of trees and shrubs all around the world as an island garden of rare beauty. The gardens of Ilnacullin owe their existence to the creative partnership, some eighty years ago, of Annan Bryce, then owner of the island and Harold Peto, architect and garden designer. Access to the Island is by small ferry boats and licensed 60 seater water buses.

National Botanic Gardens Dublin
These colourful gardens cover a total area of 19.5 hectares, part of which is the natural flood plain of the river Tolka. The gardens contain a large plant collection which includes approximately 20,000 species and cultivars. There are four ranges of glasshouses including the recently restored Curvilinear Range. Notable features include herbaceous displays, rose garden, rockery, vegetable garden, arboretum, extensive shrub borders and wall plants. Gardens are accessible for people with disabilities but there are some steep gradients.

Muckross House and Gardens Kerry
Within Killarney National Park is Muckross House – a magnificent Victorian mansion and one of Ireland’s leading stately homes. The elegantly furnished rooms portray the lifestyles of the landed gentry, while downstairs in the basement one can experience the working conditions of the servants employed in the House. The Gardens at Muckross House are renowned world-wide for their beauty. In particular they are noted for their fine collections of azaleas and rhododendrons, an extensive water garden, and an outstanding rock garden hewn out of natural limestone.

Emo Court Laois
Emo Court was designed by the architect James Gandon in 1790 for the Earls of Portarlington and is a magnificent example of this neo-classical style. During the middle of this century it was owned by the Jesuits, it was then acquired and extensively restored by Mr. Cholmeley-Harrison in the 1960s. The house is surrounded by beautiful gardens and parkland which were first laid out in the 18th century and contain formal lawns, a lake and woodland walks with many very fine trees and shrubs. The house and gardens were taken into State ownership in 1994.

Swiss Cottage Tipperary
A delightful "cottage orn�" built in the early 1800s by Richard Butler, 1st Earl of Glengall to a design by the famous Regency architect John Nash. Its interior contains a graceful spiral staircase and some elegantly decorated rooms. The wallpaper in the Salon manufactured by the Dufour factory is one of the first commercially produced Parisian wallpapers.

Mullagh (Via Kells) Telephone 046/42480 Fax 046/42406 Email: jshack@indigo.ie Contact: Daphne & Jonathan Shackleton. Season: 1st May - 30th September Opening Hours: Fri-Sun, Bank Holidays 14.00-18.00 Lakeview Gardens is set within a backdrop of mature trees, adjacent to a rambling house and overlooking Mullagh Lake. Grey stone walls enclose an acre of sloping garden intersected by gravel paths and terraces. Each area is filled with rare and unusual plants and has a distinct planting theme: flower filled borders with specific colour schemes: sunbaked terraces with planted walls overflowing with colour: a patch planted in cottage garden style. A small specialist plant nursery where plants seen in the garden and often unavailable else where can be purchased.

Loughcrew House, Oldcastle, Co Meath This delightful garden comprises water, trees and shrubs, vistas and archaeology as well as extraordinary features in a historic and atmospheric setting. The garden embraces a medieval mote, a magnificent yew walk, St.Oliver Plunkett's family church and tower house, foundations of a 17th century longhouse, canals, walled garden and a water-mill. An extended walk leads to an enormous portico, restored as a ruined temple and through a rockery and woodland walks to Loughcrew Lake.

Perched on a hill overlooking two lakes, the 17th century castle is the home of Sir John and Lady Nugent. The walled garden covers 1.2 ha and is divided into four walled sections. On view are herbaceous borders, a grass tennis court, a lily pond, a rose garden, a herb and soft fruit garden. Visitor have the opportunity to walk around the woodland lakeside walks, the later affords dramatic views of the castle and demesne.

Ardnamona has glorious gardens, planted by Sir Arthur Wallace in the 1880s. Many of the seeds and cuttings came from the Imperial Gardens at Peking and the palace gardens in Kathmandu. It is designated a National Heritage Garden and has been described as "wild gardening at its most exuberant and refined; a Himalayan mountain slope cloaked with a primeval rhododendron forest, 60 feet tall, with a carpet of leaves underfoot".

Hamwood Dunboyne Co. Meath Tel: 00353 1 8255210 Contact: Major Hamilton. Season: 1st April - 31st August Opening times: Mon -Fri and 3rd Sunday of each month 14.00-18.00 Hamwood is an 18th century house and gardens built in the palladian style by Charles Hamilton in 1770. The walled garden contains a restored rock gardens ca. 1810. The pine walk is planted with cedars, pines, spring bulbs and camelias. The rose garden is full of old fashioned roses, the original character and atmosphere of the house has been faithfully retained to the present day.

Ratoath Co. Meath Tel: 00353 1 8256015/ 8256219 Contact: Arthur Laedner & Carmel Heslin Season: Easter Sunday - End of September Opening hours: Wed -Sun 14.00- 18.00 Guided tours available Two prize winning gardens with almost 200 hundred years between them. Glebelands,from 1813, and the Lutyens influenced Glebewood from 1990. The older and more mature garden is set in undulating land, emphasised by skilfully crafted low stone retaining walls and bounced by high indigenous mature trees, augmented thirty years ago by blue cedars, pines, conifers, acers and larch. Glebewood, designed and constructed on 0.5ha of flat featureless land six years ago, had to radically sculpted and moulded to reflect the rolling characteristics of Glebelands. The aim of the designers was to create an overall atmosphere of interest and relaxation in an environment of ever-changing plants and seasons. The two gardens provide a series of free-flowing spaces linking secluded areas where a tranquil atmosphere can be enjoyed and savoured - the personal welcome from the owners has helped to sustain this.

Fernhill Gardens, County Dublin
The giant Wellingtonian redwoods in the broadwalk at Fernhill form a cathedral-like aisle. Beyond them stretches the greeness of the Victorian laurel lawn and a magnificent springtime blaze of colour from rhododendrons and azaleas. Many of these specimens were introduced from the Himalayas by the William Hooker expedition.

At Fernhill you can see an increasingly rare example of an enclosed Victorian vegetable and flower garden. Many of the trees in the estate date back 200 years and the work of Judge William Darley, who collected plants from all over the world, has been continued by the Walker family.

Although there are some fine eighteenth-century trees at Fernhill, the structure of the present garden layout was created in the 1860s by Mr Justice Darley and his son Edmond. It was further enlarged in the 1890s by Judge William Darley who was responsible for the pond, cascades, rockery and for many of the fine rhododendrons, including a magnificent bright blue form of R. augustinii and the original plant of the pink flowering R. 'Fernhill Silver' - an arboreum hybrid of unknown origin but believed to have been given to Fernhill by the Glasnevin Botanic Gardens. The rhododendron collection was expanded by Joseph Walker after he acquired the property in 1934, and his work improving and extending the garden was subsequently continued by Ralph and Susan Walker when they succeeded to Fernhill in the 1940s. In addition to adding new features such as the Back Paddock, Water Garden and Heather Bank, they increased the collections enormously and transformed the garden by putting into practice William Robinson's ideas of arranging exotic plants in a naturalistic setting.

With panoramic views of the Wicklow Hills and Mount Leinster, Lisnavagh was originally designed by Daniel Robertson in the 1850’s.

4 hectares of outstanding trees and shrubs, mixed borders, rock garden and cruciform yew walk. There is a wonderful array of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, embothriums and many other unusual plants. There are endless woodland walks with all sorts of wildlife for the more adventurous

This garden developed over the past eight years from what was a neglected orchard, has matured into a plantsman's paradise. Adjoining a 19th century farmhouse, the serpentine beds have an extensive and unusual range of herbaceous perennials and shrubs. Ornamental cottage garden, white garden and a sunken rose garden.

A wandering farmhouse garden on one acre nestling under the foothills of Mount Leinster. It has a wide variety of many rare plants, shrubs and trees

Fota Gardens fotaHouse.jpg (10216 bytes)

There are four walled gardens in Fota enclosing a total of roughly 6.5 acres (2.6 ha). The high walls, built in the early part of the 19th century, are in magnificent condition.

The gardens are being restored, and the national collections of climbing plants and Phormiums are being assembled in the walled gardens. A disused orangery is also being restored.

Glin Castle
This 1780s Georgian house became Glin Castle when crenellations and Gothic details were added in the 1820s by the 25th Knight. The neoclassical hall with elaborate plasterwork and ceiling painted in the original red and apple green, opens onto the grand staircase with a "flying ramp". The library has a broken pedimented 18th century mahogany bookcase with a secret door and the castle contains a unique collection of Irish paintings, Irish furniture and decorative arts. The pleasure grounds and park were planted with beech, oak and yew at the end of the 18th century. Further ornamental plantings took place in the 19th century and the gardens were formalised with clipped hedges and urns from the 1930s onwards. The walled garden's grey stone walls are lined with fig trees, pears and clematis. A headless Andromeda is chained to her rock in a rustic temple and all varieties of vegetables and herbs are edged by espaliered apples and cascading sweetpeas. A herbaceous border leads the eye up the path to the Gothic henhouse. Through the Gothic garden door a new walk crosses a stream to guide the visitor to the resored rustic hermitage and standing stone.

Ardgillan Castle and Gardens

Balbriggan, County Dublin,
00 353 1-849 2212, 00 353 1-849 2786

On an elevated coastline the 18th century Castle commands magnificent views. The gardens comprise a Rose Garden with large Victorian Glasshouse, Walled Garden sub-divided into five sections, each having a specific theme, including a herb section, fruit and vegetable potager, Irish plants, semi-tender plants and formal garden leading to a Robinsonian styled woodland walk.

The Japanese Gardens at Tully were created between the years 1906-1910. Devised by Colonel William Hall-Walker (later Lord Wavertree), a wealthy Scotsman of a famous brewery family and laid out by the Japanese Eida and his son Minoru. The Gardens, planned to symbolize the 'Life of Man', are now of international renown and are acclaimed as the finest Japanese Gardens in Europe.

Benvarden Garden Benvarden, Dervock, Ballymoney, County Antrim, BT53 6NN
028-2074 1331, 028-2074 1955

Benvarden House is situated on the banks of the River Bush where the river is crossed by the Coleraine to Ballycastle road. The Walled Garden, about 2 acres in area, appears on a map dated 1788 and has been cultivated since then without interruption. The Garden is one of the finest in the North of Ireland and ranges from beautiful rose beds to a well stocked kitchen garden. The extensive pleasure grounds stretch down to the banks of the river which is spanned by a splendid iron bridge 90 feet long. The Woodland Pond, fed by a sparkling burn, was originally created in the 1850s and has been reclaimed over the past 10 years with further planting in progress.

Glanleam Subtropical Gardens

Valentia Island, County Kerry,
00 353-66 76176, 00 353-66 76108

Created over 150 years ago. Towering woodlands sweep down to the sea, overlooking the spectacular scenery of Valentia Harbour and the distant Kerry mountains. Broad walks weave through jungle like plantings of South American palms, Australian tree ferns, bananas, giant groves of bamboo and myrtles from Chile.

Mount Congreve Gardens

Kilmeadan, County Waterford,
00 353 51-384115, 00 353 51-384576

Large Plantman's garden within woodlands. Delightful walled garden contains an elegant Georgian greenhouse.