Mount Usher Gardens, County Wicklow, Ireland - a Robinsonian Garden

[Paddy Tobin]

Uli,

Many thanks for your interest in this plant. Unfortunately, it was planted in a woodland setting among other plants and was a weak and elongated specimen so I haven't a photograph of the whole plant. This photograph shows a little more than the one I posted earlier.

Paddy

[Lesley Cox]

What an amazing visit you must have had Paddy, and returned home absolutey swimming in colour. The Nothofagus fusca is a very fine one, as every tree in this wonderful garden seems to be.

[Roma]

Paddy, your mystery 'not Mahonia' fruit looks vaguely familiar to me.  Could it be Garrya eliptica?  It's a long time since I last saw it so I could be wrong.  The female form isn't planted so often as the male because it is not so attractive in flower.

[Paddy Tobin]

Roma,

I think you have hit the nail on the head. How seldom we see the female form in gardens - the plant struck me as familiar but I still could not place it.

Well spotted, many thanks, Paddy

[Maggi Young]

Roma, what a fine mind you have, well done! Found this photo, "borrowed" from this site:
www.calfloranursery.com/.../pages_g/garell.html

[David Nicholson]

Lovely walk Paddy, many thanks, glad to hear there is a good tea room.

[Paddy Tobin]

David,

Knew you would want to know about the eating facilities - most important.

Maggi, that certainly seems to be the one. The photograph you show still has the white bloom on the berries but this wears off to show the darker purple colour.

Well spotted, Roma. Many thanks.

Paddy

[Ragged Robin]

Paddy, I have been through your Autumn paradise at Mount Usher several times and each time a new slant on these glorious colours reflected for double enjoyment in the water - what a place, thanks so much to you and Mary for sharing your walk.

[Paddy Tobin]

Robin,

Glad you enjoyed it. The original planters of the garden were very clever in their placing of good colouring plants on the river bank giving twice the colour with the reflections. It's a garden we visit several times a year and always enjoy it.

There are no Heren cows there, though. They would add to the appeal, don't you think?

Paddy

[Ragged Robin]

More peaceful without (bells) 

[cohan]

More peaceful without (bells) 

and easier to enjoy looking up at trees without having to worry about where you are placing your feet!

[Anthony Darby]

Your photos make the place look magical Paddy. I'm sure an accurate reflection?

[arillady]

If only I had known about this garden when I stayed in Bray. Ah Well.
Lovely colours Paddy.

[Paddy Tobin]

Yes, Anthony, an accurate reflection - in the river. It's a great place for autumn colour.


Pat, this garden was certainly close by when you were in Bray and would have been worth a visit. Next time!

Paddy

[Lesley Cox]

The female Garrya is a lovely thing and it's a pity it's not more widely available. I've never seen it here.

Just a slight diversion, Robin's cows were called "herren" which sounds like a breed but isn't there a Scottish song called "Caller Herren" about calling cattle in to be milked? maybe a lullaby or something. Small bell ringing in my unreliable memory. (Not a cow bell though