20 wonderful gardens to visit in Cork
Board walk area and water feature with wetland at Fernhill House Hotel.
Our gardens are looking glorious now with heat in the soil and a little rain now and again to spruce things up and keep the growth looking fresh and full. It is a great time to get out and about and gain some inspiration and ideas from other gardens. Where better to start than the West Cork Garden Trail which has 20 wonderful gardens to visit this summer. The gardens have been divided into 5 geographical areas and so it may be possible to visit more than one when making a trip west. For more information check out their web page at www.westcorkgardentrail.com. It is best to individual gardens before a planned visit to avoid disappointment.
There are 5 gardens to choose from in the Clonakilty area and one recently visited was Fernhill House Hotel just outside of the town. The country house dates back to 1826 when it was built by the Atkins Family. It was purchased by M.J. O Neill in 1946 and opened as a country house hotel and gardens. It is home to 10 acres of gardens which have more recently been developed since 2008 from what was formerly a pitch and putt course in front of the hotel. The gardens comprise a south facing steeply sloping bank which moves down into a river valley which is one of the last remaining ancient woodlands in the area.
In 2017 Mary Reynolds of Chelsea Flower Show fame was commissioned to complete a landscape plan for the gardens and these plans have gradually being put into place since then. Nature, woodland planting, ferns, organic and a naturalistic style of planting are at the heart of the design. Permaculture also influences the design with 3,000 native trees some bearing fruits and nuts planted for biodiversity as part of a food forest.
Naturally ferns take center stage throughout the gardens having given the house its name. The hotel has a handsome vista down over the now gardens which have been planned to provide interest and colour, complimenting the summer wedding season annually in the hotel.
The gardens are in four parts with a formal wedding area ideal for capturing images of the special day central to the gardens. There are numerous photo opportunities with the colourful backdrop of herbaceous planting and climber covered archways and pergolas to frame a view. Herbaceous geraniums planted in combination with grasses and ferns combine to produce a soft romantic setting ideal for outdoor weddings when the sun is shining!
The blessing garden provides the ideal location for ceremonies with a stone moon gate framing views out into the garden beyond. A marquee to host celebrations is located at the center of the gardens with the river of life garden created using long beds of herbaceous planting producing soft colours and textures threading through to the bamboo grove and bee meadows. There is a Celtic stone circle located within the permaculture forest which eventually leads to a wilder part of the garden known as the ‘Wild River Valley’. The herb gardens and kitchen gardens are located to the rear of the hotel and were out of bounds due to building works ongoing currently. Visiting the gardens is free and it is an amenity used by local walking clubs and schools regularly. There are plentiful wildflower areas where biodiversity is thriving within the gardens, a joy to observe and a great addition to this flourishing west Cork getaway location.
This weekend Frank and Kitty Tanner, Raheen, Newcestown, Co Cork, P72K102 are opening their garden on Sunday the 7th of July from 12pm to 6pm in aid of Marymount, 0214869100 for more details. Further north just over the Limerick border near Ballylanders, Co. Limerick, Siobhan and Mossie O Mahoney V35PP63 are also opening their garden at the foothills of the Galtee mountains. This garden has been in the making over the last 36 years and is full of roses and herbaceous planting as well as trees, kitchen garden and much more. They will also open their garden on the first Sunday in August and September between 11am- 4pm. 0870534336 for further details. It certainly is a weekend or garden visiting!
One of the plants that was providing colour and magnificent scent on one of the pergolas was a Philadelphus x virginalis, a semi double white flower. Mock orange, as this shrub is also known produces heavenly summer scents and it is a must have shrub for a warm and sunny spot in the garden. It has an upright habit with cascading stems that will benefit from so it is ideal for a pergola or a sunny south facing wall. When grown in the right location it will reward you with masses white flowers in June and July getting to 3m in height with a similar spread when allowed. It prefers a free draining but moisture retentive soil. This shrub will benefit from pruning after flowering as it flowers on old wood and will need some time to put on growth before going dormant for winter.
Another popular cultivar with single flowers is Philadelphus ‘Belle Etoile’ and it also produces magnificent sweet scents that will forever be reminiscent of hazy summer days. It is interesting the memories that different smells evoke from childhood days and growing up. Happy Summer Gardening this weekend.
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