A Beautiful Obsession

In his seventeen years at Huntingbrook Garden, Jimi Blake has cut a dash through the traditional herbaceous border, the shrub border, the woodland garden and is leading the way in Irish horticulture with his innovative approach to gardening, with his new plant trials and introductions but, most of all, in the manner in which he …

The Irish Garden, A Cultural History

The Irish Garden, A Cultural History by Peter Dale, Illustrated by Brian Lalor What is it that makes an Irish garden different?  Devon, Cornwall, western Scotland and, indeed, many parts of England have basic conditions very similar to those in Irish gardens yet our gardens differ and it is this difference and the reasons for …

Huntingbrook

Huntingbrook, Jimi Blake’s garden in Co. Wicklow, has taken a leap forward this year with the redevelopment of a large area of the gardens. That area to the right as one walked into the garden, a quite high bank until this year, has been lowered, new soil added and the whole area replanted. Now, rather …

Annes Grove – A Rejuvenation

Annes Grove is situated in north Co. Cork between Doneraile and Castletownroche. Lieutenant-General Grove Annesley inherited land here from the Grove family in the early eighteenth century and laid out the grounds as informal parkland with a walled garden and there was little change until Richard Grove Annesley (1879-1966) inherited in 1900. Influenced by his …

Oh, She’s a Colourful Lady

June Blake, and her garden, will feature in the September issue of the Royal Horticultural Society's magazine, The Garden. And it will feature prominently with a photograph of the garden on the front cover. The magazine hasn't arrived in the post yet but June's son, Dara, has shown it on Facebook - advanced copies for …

Label that Memory

While cutting down a now large clump of crocosmias I came on a label in the centre which read, "Crocosmia Bristol/Severn Sunrise/Sunset." Check the name. From Anna Nolan. Sept. 02" . I know now that this is Crocosmia 'Severn Sunrise' and I have enjoyed it in the garden for the years since I received it …

“Irish Demesne Landscapes 1660 – 1740” by Vandra Costello: A Review

“Irish Demesne Landscapes 1660 – 1740” is a scholarly treatment of an era of Irish gardening written in a delightfully accessible and pleasantly readable style. Vandra Costello was inspired after reading the diaries of Samuel Pepys to read those of John Evelyn and was very taken by the many references they contained to gardens in …