“What makes the garden special is that it has a very naturalistic look: Although a lot of time and thought has gone into it, somehow the planting has an incidental look about it,” says Bergerhoff.

Read the full story online at http://www.southernstar.ie/localnotes.php (after this week, you will need to search for the item by issue date).

Click to read more on this website: River House Garden Skibbereen

A leafy road in the Bandon River Valley leads one to Kilcolman Rectory with its mature grounds, sweeping lawns, magnificent Beech Trees, many rare Species Rhododendrons, Azaleas and Magnolia, (which were all brought from China). Beautiful Eucryphia cordifolia, Camelias, Hydrangeas, Abutilons and Crinodendron hookerianum create a heady mixture of foliage and scent and the gardens boast an extensive variety of old roses and Echiums. The splendid flower garden provides Sarah with ample cutting from early Spring to late Autumn, with which to decorate her tables and guesthouse and the wonderfully productive vegetable garden supplies the house throughout the year with fresh herbs and vegetables, including sea kale, cavelo nero, asparagus, purple sprouting broccoli, Jerusalem and globe artichokes, and a huge variety of salads. There are also many fruit trees, including quinces, apples, and plums. Produce from the garden will be for sale.

OPEN: 12th–27th June from 2–5pm and April to
September by appointment. Groups at any time by appointment. (Sorry no dogs and unsuitable for children under 12 years.)
ADMISSION: €5
LOCATION: From Clonakilty: Take the Bandon Road and after Ballinascarthy, turn left on the sharp bend, signed Oliver Plunkett GAA ground, going straight down hill, turn left at T junction and the Rectory is 3rd entrance on right. From Bandon: Take the Clonakilty road, turn right on the sharp bend immediately after the sign for Hosfords Blue Geranium Café. Go straight down hill, turning left at T junction and the Rectory is 3rd entrance on the right.
GPS: N 51.73.128 &W 8.86.649
Tel.: (023) 8822913
Email: sarahjgornall@eircom.net
Website: www.kilcolmanrectory.com

The Ewe is a unique combination of nature and art, an artist’s open home and Ireland’s only interactive sculpture garden. The whole family can enjoy challenging games and the creative areas for an experience like no other. The garden is set by a beautiful waterfall, in a lush forest. Turning off the N71 tourist route you enter a different world. The sound of the flowing river accompanies you, as you walk across the first bridge into the garden. A waterfall cascades down beside Falling Water Lodge, a timber clad house, designed and built by the artist. A vain emu, a sunbathing rhino and other humorous sculptures are found amongst grasses and bamboo. A board walk and second bridge takes you right across the waterfall to a shady forest area, The Timeless Garden, with more sculpture surprises. Higher up, The Environmental Garden provides yet another garden, where all the sculptures are made of recycled materials. Information on plants, animals and consumerism give food for thought about our treatment of the planet. A brand new Jurassic Garden features ancient plants from the time of the dinosaurs and maybe a surprise lurks … The indoor and outdoor art works are by Sheena Wood, a prolific artist and environmental designer with an impressive range of work from paintings to textiles, mixed media, mosaics, ceramics and sculpture. Widely featured on TV and in the national & international media.

CHARITY DAY
See website for details.

OPEN: Open every day 10am–6pm during summer or by appointment. Please call if travelling far. No dogs please.
ADMISSION: Adults €5. Children €3. Family €15. ‘Edible Art’ ice creams and drinks for sale. Picnic tables by the river.
LOCATION: From Glengarriff 3 miles up the Kenmare Road – well sign posted. Look out for giant gremlins.
Tel./Fax: (027)63840.
Email: info@theewe.com
Website: www.theewe.com
GPS N 51 46′ 37″ W 9 34′ 09″

Mr & Mrs Egerton Shelswell-White
Bantry, County Cork, Ireland

Extending to 45 acres in total on the edge of Bantry Bay, the gardens and grounds are a wonderful mix of formal and informal. Arranged over seven terraces, highlights include the Italianate garden with its formal yew and box hedging and elevated ancient Wisteria Circle. Rising from this garden is the famed ‘Hundred Steps’, from the top of which there are stunning views over the gardens, house, Bantry Bay and beyond to the Caha mountains in Kerry. On the front lawn are 14 round beds with the House forming an impressive backdrop. Elsewhere in the garden, visitors can stroll up to the walled garden (under restoration) with its ancient apple trees, and the beginnings of a vegetable garden.

OPEN: 17th March–31st October. Daily 10am–6pm.
ADMISSION: €5 garden only. House & Garden: Adults €10, groups & students €8.
LOCATION: On N71 on west side of Bantry Town Centre.
Tel.: (027) 50047. Fax: (027) 50795.
Email: info@bantryhouse.com
Website: www.bantryhouse.com

A 2 acre garden, terraced to take advantage of it’s steep position close to Dunmanus Bay. A garden of many themed ‘rooms’, taking the visitor from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere with plants in abundance. From Sorbus to Palms, Rhododendrons and Acers to Restios, tree ferns and ground cover ferns, Proteas and Primulas, Hedychiums and Agaves you will find them growing here. Featured in many national and international publications and national and international TV. Unusual plants for sale. (Sorry no dogs).

CHARITY DAY
Sunday 18th July, 2–5.30pm in aid of
The Bantry Church Renovation Fund

OPEN: 12th–27th June, 12–5.30pm (Closed Mondays) and May-September by appointment. Groups at any time by appointment.
ADMISSION: Adults €6. Children €3. Garden unsuitable for children under 12yrs.
LOCATION: Just over 1 mile from Durrus on the Kilcrohane road. See sign.
Tel./Fax: (027) 61111. Mobile: (087) 8161526.
Email: kilravock1@eircom.net
Website: www.kilravockgardens.com
GPS: N. 51.037.014 & W 009.33.055

A large 2 acre garden in a subtropical oasis of peace and serenity. Enhanced by the woodland setting and the surrounding mill stream, river and natural waterfalls, which can be quite spectacular! Our many tender and rare plants thrive in this mild, sheltered climate, and allows for a wide variety of planting. This provides continuous interest from March through to October with it’s spectacular autumn colours. Statuary, seats, 5 unique locally built bridges and a pond all add to the interest and enjoyment of this beautiful garden.

CHARITY DAY
Sunday 20th June
2–5.30pm.

OPEN: 1st March–31st October. Mon-Sat 9am–8pm. Sundays by appointment.
ADMISSION: €5.
LOCATION: Durrus Village. Beside Wiseman’s store.
Tel./Fax: (027) 61070.
Email: info@carraigabhainngardens.ie
Website: www.carraigabhainngardens.com

A Kasuga lantern set on a mossy island guards the entrance to this intriguing garden which contains ornamental and purely botanical elements. Explore the stepping stone paths to a small secluded teahouse and enjoy the tranquillity. Alternatively take a guide and discover bamboos in this major collection, which now includes many of the latest finds from Yunnan, Mexico and Chile. The vegetable garden and tunnel house are managed organically. All the usual vegetables, with espalier grown traditional and modern apple varieties. Featured in the gardening press and TV. Limited bamboo propagations by request.

OPEN: 1–6pm Daily all year. Please telephone first except during Trail days 12th–27th June.
ADMISSION: €5. Guided tours of the Bamboo collection by arrangement.
LOCATION: From the roundabout at the western end of Skibbereen bypass (N71) take the exit signed ‘N.C.T. Centre’. Continue for 2½ miles (4km) to where the road forks. Go left here to second left turning, exactly ½ mile (0.8km) and turn onto narrow lane. The garden is a further ½ mile (0.8km) on sharp right hand corner.
Tel.: (028) 22563.
Email: rjstonard@eircom.net
GPS: N 51.35.11 & W 9.18.30

Circa 5½ acres of romantic gardens going down to the sea. Courtyard gardens with pots of profusion, beautiful abundant vegetable potager, gravelled herb garden, young woodland and old meadow with grass ampitheatre. From spring bulbs to Roses, annuals and perennials to late summer Dahlias, there is always something of interest to see.

CHARITY DAY
Sunday 11th July

GARDEN OPEN: 1st March–end of September
CAFÉ OPEN: Easter–mid-September. (Award winning Café). Plants for sale. Dogs on leads please.
ADMISSION: €5.
LOCATION: Skibbereen to Baltimore road, as you enter village ‘Baltimore’ sign is on left – entrance directly opposite.
Tel.: (028) 20232.
Email: glebegardens@gmail.com
Website: www.glebegardens.com

The ‘Lag Bridge’ is the causeway to Ringaroga Island and the c.1 acre garden is merged into natural rock outcrops. There are ten borders each with a different planting and colouring (on the whole) featuring perennials, annuals and shrubs blending in with natural heather and gorse.

OPEN: 10am to 5pm. 17th May to 28th August. Closed Sundays. Not suitable for children under 12.
ADMISSION: €5.
LOCATION: 6 Miles south west of Skibbereen on Baltimore Road (R595). Turn right by Bebhinn Marten Studio Sign (blue) entrance on left 30metres.
Tel./Fax: (028) 20148.
Email: beacondesigns@eircom.net
Website: www.beacondesignsknit.com/garden