*************
Garden Owners,
Please copy this information and paste it into an email to:   wb [at] armchair-travel [dot] com

Please make any changes in BRIGHT RED in your email back to us.

Regards,
Armchair Travel Co Ltd
http://www.armchair-travel.com
*************



Garden Name: Mount Usher Gardens
Last Modified: 13/01/2011
Garden ID: 0160

pic: 0160_MountUsher.jpg

Owner: Mrs Madelaine Jay
Address:
Ashford
Co Wicklow

Postcode: 
County: Republic of Ireland

tel: 00353 404 40205 and 00353 404 40116
fax: 00353 404 49679
website: www.mountushergardens.ie
email: info {at} mountushergardens.ie

Features: 
The gardens harbour approx. 5000 different species of plants, shrubs and trees.

English Heritage Grade:


Opening Times:
27th Feb - 31st Oct; Daily; 10.30am - 5.30pm

Best Times of Year to Visit: 
Spring
Autmn

To see: 
Bulbs in meadows, rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias & magnolias.
Eucalyptus, Nothofagus, Oaks and Ecryphia showing autumn colours

National Collection: 
Nothofagus and Eucryphia

National Garden Scheme days: No
Comments: 

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: 

Viewing by Appointment: No
Comments: Guided tours must be booked in advance. 

House Open for Viewing: No
Comments: 

Admission Prices:
Adult € 7.50, Child € 6; Over 60s & Students € 6.
Group Rates for 20 or more, Adults € 6, OAPs & Children € 5
Guided Tours (€ 50 extra) must be booked well in advance.

Parking: Yes
Lavatories: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Shop: Yes
Plants for Sale: Yes
Lunches: Yes
Teas: Yes
Refreshments: Yes
Picnics: No
Dogs allowed: No
Only on Lead: No
Events: No

Other Facilities:
Special evening events. Craft Courtyard. Guide dogs permitted. Avoca Cafe
Members of Houses Castles and Gardens of Ireland, Dublin Garden Group and Wicklow Gardens Festival


Designer: 
Description of Garden:
Mount Usher is a privately owned garden of some 20 acres, standing in the sheltered valley of the Vartry river as it flows down from the Devil's Glen, 27 miles south of Dublin and 2 miles from the sea. The house, around which the garden was founded, was attached to a water mill, which used the power of the Killiskey river (a tributary of the Vartry) to turn its wheel. Spectacular pinus montezumae, bluebells, rhododendrons and plants and shrubs that benefit from the particular climate that Mount Usher enjoys, thrive here but not elsewhere in the British Isles. A grove of eucalyptus, a kiwi-fruit vine and a huge Eucryphia make every visit memorable. It boasts the tallest Cornus capitata (18m) in the British Isles and many other record trees.


History: 
The garden dates back to approximately 1860. The design was inspired by William Robinson. Five generations of the Walpole family were passionate garden-lovers and the gardens were developed by one or other members of each generation. They were fortunate to have the advice of several great horticulturalists such as Sir Frederick Moore, Sir John Ross of Bladensburg, E. A. Bowles, Augustine Henry and others. The ambition of the present owner is to keep Mount Usher, if possible, as beautiful and interesting as it was under the stewardship of previous owners.
Today the gardens are owned by Mrs Madelaine Jay, who has added immensely to this world famous 'Robinsonian Jewel'.

Local Inns: 


Accomodation: 
Grand Hotel, Wicklow
Hunter's Hotel & Restaurant was a coaching Inn

Restaurants: 
Chester Beatty's in Ashford

Village/Town/Sightseeing: 
Wicklow