The garden at Ardcarraig , Oranswell, Bushy park , Galway has opened annually in May for the past 27 years in aid of Galway Mental Health Association. The owner , Lorna MacMahon was a horticultural ancillary therapist in the Psychiatric Unit of UCHG for twenty eight years and the funds raised go to help those recovering from mental illness.
The garden was created on a rocky hillside about four miles outside Galway. It covers about five acres and includes a natural stream , a hazel wood, a bog area and a section with enormous granite boulders. Apart from a formal herb garden made in a disused tennis court the garden is informal and divides naturally into seventeen sections on three different levels. There are water gardens , Japanese style sections, a small sunken Mediterranean garden, dwarf conifer area , a bog garden and woodland clearings. Native bluebells , hawthorn , and wood anemones thrive alongside candelabra primulas, meconopsis, azaleas ,and rhododendrons from the Himalayas . Japanese bamboos ,hostas and maples are very much at home in the climate of the West of Ireland and there is certainly no shortage of moss for a moss garden. The garden is particularly well known for its collection of primulas , hostas and dwarf conifers.
On the three Open Days there about 2500 plants for sale , many of which are rare or unusual, among which are 600 primulas and 120 hostas.
Originally the garden was opened annually on only one day in May ,but thanks to the vagaries of the weather it now opens on the last three Sundays in May from 2.00 – 6.00 pm in the hopes of getting at least one fine day . Numerous groups visit the garden, but these are by appointment only
This winter has been much colder and drier than usual in the West. This has been difficult for farmers but beneficial to gardeners It has been possible to clean out pools , clear the bog garden , regravel paths and get on top of weeding before growth started . While many plants are later than usual it should mean that May will be more colourful than ever with early and late spring plants flowering at the same time. Let us just hope that we do not have endless rain to make up for the dry spell
GARDEN OPEN DAYS
May 12th, May 19th , May 26th2.00- 6.00 5 euros
Lorna MacMahon , Ardcarraig , Oranswell , Bushypark , Galway
Source: GardenGuide News Room
