PARADISE FOUND
OUT OF THE EARTH, THESE GARDEN OWNERS ARE CREATING LIVING MIRACLES ACROSS THE COUNTY
THESE gardens of Wexford have a few things in common which inspire them to keep going, be creative and open their gates to the public. They are all in County Wexford, privately owned and managed and are self-funded. Together with garden centres and Government funded gardens they are members of the Wexford Garden Trail. This trail welcomes visitors and their members are more than happy to assist with any information visitors require to enjoy their visits to the gardens and garden centres of County Wexford.
There really is something special and treasured about Irish gardens. They represent a natural environment of plants and trees taking in carbon and releasing oxygen into the air while their roots stabilize the soil and filter water. As trees reduce air pollution they help us to breathe better. Spending time within a natural setting often reduces our stress and improves our sleep.
Just being among trees is good for our wellbeing and they make a lovely setting for walking, an activity shown to reduce stress and illness. With roots reaching deep into the earth, trees have excellent grounding energy. Indeed the healing powers of a garden have been portrayed in art and literature since our earliest beginnings. Out of the earth these garden owners are creating living miracles.
Nature has long been known for its relaxing qualities. Visiting gardens is so good for our health having vital positive effects on mental health as they boost our mood and generally make us feel more cheery. The holistic benefits are huge. Relaxation, stress reduction and the value of improved quality of life to name but a few.
So much inspiration can be received through visiting gardens to assist the creation of our own garden too. Meeting the gardeners and owners adds enormously to the visit.
The sharing of valuable knowledge and stories while appreciating someone else’s hard work and creation adds to our lives. So often we are creating and planting for the future generation to enjoy so sharing knowledge cements the continuity of gardening systems. Stories of pioneering gardeners over the years who created and contributed to gardens over time add a depth to our visit helping us appreciate the garden while gaining inspiration for our own gardens. Great inspiration too for poets, artists and writers alike.
The visit provides us with the benefit of expanding our knowledge of horticulture, new technologies and making connections with like-minded people. They are a great way to introduce gardening as a hobby to children teaching them to nurture living things.
Some of the deepest preoccupations of thoughtful gardeners are the weather and the seasons. It is from spring to autumn, that magical time of year when many of Wexford’s self-funded private gardens open their gates to the public for you to explore.
GLENAVON JAPANESE GARDEN:
Glenavon Japanese Garden was created by and is owned by Iris Checkett.
‘During the winter of 1999 I attended gardening classes run by Frances McDonald in Gorey Community School. As part of the course we were asked to design our dream gardens. I decided to create a Japanese themed garden. The garden developed over the next few years, constructed by Drinagh Garden Centre. Originally based on the four seasons of the year over the years it has matured and changed,’ Iris said.
Some years ago she joined The Wexford Garden Trail and opened her garden to the public for a few months in the summer. All proceeds are given to charity.
‘The Garden Trail has helped enormously with the marketing of my garden through the website, social media and the brochure. It is enormously beneficial too for our garden visitors as we introduce them to the trail and suggest other gardens for them to visit and garden centres for them to purchase plants and garden related tools, compost, pots and ornaments.’
Unfortunately, because of the pandemic last year there were very few visitors to the magnificent gardens near Courtown.
‘This year I hope Government restrictions allow more people to avail of the wonderful spaces we have all created in the Wexford Garden Trail for visitors to enjoy safely. Working in the garden keeps me fit and gives me the opportunity to meet like-minded people. Hopefully these visitors get as much pleasure from the beauty of the garden as I do, and the peaceful place helps them to reduce the stresses of life.’
Each season brings its own particular pleasures at Glenavon. ‘In spring we have the beauty of the Cherry Blossom. Summer features Hydrangeas, autumn, the Liquid Amber walk and in winter all the grasses.’
Naturally, there are problems associated with any garden. The area is all macamore soil so it requires quite a lot of chicken manure and hard work.
‘I have to contend with the Macamore soil and Mr Heron repeatedly comes for my fish! On the upside I buy all my replacement plants and receive help and advice from my good friends in Springmount Garden Centre. Nothing takes away from the pleasure and enjoyment of being surrounded by the beauty of a garden. I love Glenavon Japanese Garden and enjoy every moment I have in this gorgeous space.’
Location: Glen Richards, Courtown Harbour, Gorey
Telephone: 053 9425331
Mobile: 085 2048737
Email: irischeckett2@gmail.com
Website: www.facebook.com/glenavonjapanesegarden
Contact: Iris Checkett
Opening Hours: Sunday and Friday May to August 2pm – 5pm, or by appointment to individuals and groups.
KILMURRY GARDENS:
Kilmurry Gardens was created and is owned by Paul and Orla Woods.
‘Opening your garden to the public is a work of passion it requires complete dedication and a little bit of lunacy which we have in spathes,’ Orla said.
‘It is a moving feast which is never complete but which hopefully inspires people to try and achieve parts of it in their own garden space. Opening your garden requires courage as you are opening yourself up to other people opinions and criticism but it also can give you huge rewards for all the hours you are on your hands and knees weeding.’
Their greatest concern is when people return from a walk in the garden with armfuls of flowers they have picked to see if they have them for sale in the nursery. ‘A tight lipped smile usually is the response with a gentle reminder not to pick the flowers. The responses can be quite amusing.’
The development of their garden started in conjunction with the development of the nursery as the Woods’s found people enjoyed seeing the plants they were interested in buying growing in a garden.
‘It is planted in an informal style with the inclusion of pond areas over the past few years. We completed our long border in a formal setting six years ago and they give a formal entrance into the garden joined to the more informal areas. My favourite spot is sitting in the long borders surrounded by hornbeam hedging completely surrounded by foliage and flowers. It is the most perfect tranquil spot. My favourite plants are definitely the ones that continue flowering for a long time like Alstroemeria and are wonderful cut flowers for the house and also the scented ones like phlox and paeonias which are brief but in the few weeks they flower give so much joy.’
Their gardening opening has been self-funded and they have a donation box for the RNLi in Courtown which both Paul and Orla are past crew of and which their daughter Hazel has now joined.
‘Our greatest pleasure is seeing people enjoying the space we have created and sitting and relaxing, which in these times is so important. Our opening last year was hampered with Covid regulations but hopefully when summer arrives we will be able to reopen and allow people to enjoy our space.’
Kilmurry Nursery, Gorey.
Telephone: 053 9480223
Mobile: 086 8113171 / 086 8180623
Email: kilmurrynursery@eircom.net
Website: www.kilmurrynursery.com
Contact: Paul & Orla Woods
Opening Hours: Nursery Open Jan-March Mon-Friday 10-5 March 30th -Sept 27th open Monday-Saturday-10-5pm 30th Sept-13th December -Monday -Friday-10am-5pm
Entrance Fee: Donation to Courtown RNLI
KILMOKEA GARDENS:
Kilmokea Gardens is owned by Mark and Emma Hewlett
Ancient garden heritage goes back to earliest settlers. In the seventh century the patron Saint of gardening, Saint Fiachra was adopted.
‘He holds a special place in our hearts as the Kilmokea monastic site dates back to this time,’ Emma said.
It is situated next to the walled garden. When the Church of Ireland purchased the monastic lands to build the rectory for the Rector of White Church, the fruit and vegetables for the house were grown in the walled garden.
‘Today it is home to a series of interchanging garden rooms with herbaceous planting, rose gardens and sheltered garden seats positioned to reflect on the beauty of the place. My favourite place is our Italian Loggia and pool which I have adopted as my summer office. As the business has grown, I become more office bound so I may as well be close to the garden on my laptop!’
Without doubt roses are Emma’s favourite summer flowers and Hellebores in the spring. ‘Many of the healing properties of the flowers and plants in the garden are now bottled as last lockdown I completed a flower essence course and these will be available to purchase in the Conservatory.’
To further assist the health and wellbeing of their guests Mark and Emma are introducing the concept of ‘Forest Bathing’ in the woodland garden. This Japanese practise known as ‘Shinrin Yoku is a simple method of being calm and quite amongst trees, observing nature around you while breathing deeply. ‘A wonderful way to de-stress and boost the immune system at the same time.’
They have been maintaining the seven acres of gardens for 24 years and have weathered many storms!
‘One of the first things we did was to build a large wooden conservatory which is our café where we offer guests lunch and afternoon tea. We then created a new food garden where fruit and vegetables are grown using organic methods for the kitchen which feeds guests staying in the house, self catering cottages and are essential ingredients for our lunch menu the conservatory café. This is really important
to us as our philosophy of “ground to fork” is ingrained in our objectives.’
Since the food travels only a few feet to reach the plate in the Conservatory Café, it is more sustainable. ‘We strive to offer local and sustainable food and food grown with organic methods to our guests and our family.’
Both Mark and Emma’s parents were keen gardeners and fostered an interest in gardens, nature and the outdoors in their children.
‘When we first started caring for the gardens my father would drive down from Dublin arriving at 8 a.m., peel himself out of his low Honda and put on his overalls to mow the lawns and tend to the roses. He was great inspiration and got involved in many of our early projects, giving advice, even when it wasn’t needed!’
Over the years Mark and Emma have created a large new food garden, which is very close to their hearts.
‘We have built boardwalks and wooden structures in the woodland garden, designed fairy houses and Viking boats and planted many hundreds of plants, not to mention spending many hundreds of hours weeding! We now employ a full-time gardener who gardens five days a week. We are very involved with decision making, planning new plantings, building structures, graveling pathways and discussing all the planting of seeds for the vegetables and flowers. We are totally indebted to our gardener Marty Reville who tends to the gardens with the love and passion which we hold for the gardens. With him we have created no-dig vegetable beds and he is extending biodiversity throughout the gardens.’
Large bug hotels are the latest structures at Kilmokea Gardens.
‘We really hope Government restrictions allow us to open Kilmokea Gardens to visitors this season, and we look forward to welcoming you.’
Great Island, Campile, Co Wexford
Telephone: 051 388109/ 086 6641946
Email: stay@kilmokea.com
Website: www.kilmokea.com
Contact: Mark & Emma Hewlett
Opening hours. 10am to 5pm
March 17th to end of May. September & October. Wednesday to Sunday
June, July, August. Every Day.
Entrance Fee: Adults €7; OAP €6; Children under 16 €4; Children under 2 Free; Groups welcome. Up to 12.5% discount for groups of over 20.