THE GARDENS OF IRELAND
RESCHEDULED TO
JUNE 9 to 18, 2025
$3750 DOUBLE OCCUPANCY Single supplement $1300
THIS TRIP IS IS LIMITED TO 16 PARTICIPANTS
Tour includes 9 nights accommodation, 9 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners, 1 drinks receptions, all trip-related admissions and guides, transportation and gratuities. Cost does not include airfare, airport transfers or alcoholic beverages not specified in the itinerary.
MONDAY, JUNE 9
Our tour begins at 1:00 p.m.
We start off with a bang with a tour of this national treasure, Ireland’s stunning and picturesque botanical garden. And we are particularly lucky to have Melissa O’Brien on tap again to be our guide. Be prepared to be dazzled.
For Oysters and Guinness
We’re in Ireland and one of the great Irish pairings is oysters and Guinness. We have ours at the ever-popular Duke Street pub, Davey Brynes. Not a fan of one or both? Not to worry. There will be other delicious options to whet appetites and close out our first afternoon together.
TUESDAY, JUNE 10
National Geographic ranks Powerscourt as second only to Versailles and The Royal Gardens at Kew in importance and beauty. In the company of John Ducie, one of Dublin’s most sought-after gardening guides, we spend the morning in a long and lingering visit exploring the elegant and ever-enchanting 47 acres that comprised this wonder of the horticultural world.
Mount Usher Garden and Arboretum
John Ducie stays with us through the afternoon as our guide for Mount Usher Gardens and Arboretum. English gardening superstar Monty Don lists Mount Usher as one his favorite gardens in the world. Quite the recommendation. In fact it is considered the perfect expression of Robinsonian design, after 19th century Irish garden designer William Robinson. It is Robinson who developed the naturalistic design approach that has come be known as ‘Cottage Garden style’.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11
We spend the morning visiting the stunning private gardens of the Blake siblings.
A visit to Jimi Blake’s Hunting Brook is akin to a visit to an artist’s studio, especially if that artist is very, very talented--and equally gifted in sharing their passion. Creativity and beauty abound throughout this garden over which Jimi presides with warmth, charm and a very deep knowledge of plants.
Just down the road on a different plot of family land, June, the equally talented Blake sibling, has designed a dazzler of a garden of an entirely different sort. This sunny location manages to be both highly organized and lushly inviting, just like June herself. Her fund of plant knowledge is as impressive as her wide array of gorgeous plantings.
This afternoon we tour Airfield Estate which describes itself as ‘Dublin’s only working farm and gardens with an ambition to be a sustainable food hub in a world-leading sustainable food city.’ Sited on 38 acres in suburban Dublin, Airfield raises livestock as well as produce through organic methods while also serving as an educational center and food purveyor to the surrounding community. And it is something of a talent incubator. Jimi Blake worked at Airfield for ten years before beginning his own garden. Colm O’Driscoll, the new head gardener at Lismore Castle, was until very recently at the helm of Airfield.
THURSDAY, JUNE 12
Today we depart Dublin for points west.
Our first stop today is in Kilkenny where we receive a tour from the head gardener at Rothe House. This garden located in the heart of Kilkenny is a sterling example of a 17th century burgage plot, a long and narrow plot designed to feed the household which would have been in residence between the garden and the street. Rothe House’s garden is brimming with fruit, flowers, vegetables and herbs. In short, an intimate garden that is both fascinating and meticulously faithful to its period.
This is a special treat, giving as it does a chance for compare and contrast. Then head gardener Darren Topps gave us a marvelous tour in 2022. He has since moved on to manage the Gardens of The Duchy of Cornwall. As mentioned above the new head gardener is Colm Driscoll, former director of Airfield Estate. It will be interesting to see the changes to this lovely garden, the Irish seat of the legendary Cavendish family.
FRIDAY, JUNE 13
Open morning
This is our morning to sit back & relax. Sleep in. Take a long walk. Read a good book. Whatever will recharge your batteries. We’ve been going hard, and a little down time is likely to be a welcome break. In the afternoon we pack our bags and head for Baltimore on Ireland’s lush and rugged west coast but first a stop at
Melissa O’Brien, Blarney Castle gardener, will again be our guide for this visit—and there is really no one better to take us through this extensive and impressive 60 acres.
SATURDAY, JUNE 14
We visit two stunning gardens today, and while quite different in their particular elements, they are both the results of singular individual visions.
A four-acre contemporary garden that artist gardener, Charlotte Verbeek, has spent 25 years developing. As Charlotte says on her website ‘The naturalistic planting blends seamlessly into the wild areas with extensive use of grasses and perennials inspired by Piet Oudolf.’ In short, we are in for quite a treat.
Garnish Island is part Mediterranean dream, part fairyland and all magic as is the ferry ride through Bantry Bay out to this very special place. Originally designed for the enjoyment of the Bryce Family; since 1953 it has belonged to the people of Ireland. Garnish Island is considered one of the must-see gardens of Ireland.
SUNDAY, JUNE 15
We’ve seen and done a lot in the past week—today is a day for a change of pace. We head out to stunning Cape Clear Island for stroll around the island and Sunday lunch in a traditional Irish pub. Cape Clear, one of the western-most islands in the Republic, is considered ‘Gaeltacht’, that is an area where Gaelic is the predominant language. And whatever the language, the island is rugged, breathtakingly beautiful and unspoiled.
MONDAY, JUNE 16
Today we turn back toward Dublin with an overnight stop in Waterford along the way—but first a visit to
This is another garden of superlatives—one of the best rare species gardens, one of the largest collections of rhododendrons, one of the grandest walled gardens—one could say more but this at least gives an idea of the scale and beauty of Mount Congreve.
TUESDAY, JUNE 17
We return to Dublin today but not before we get in one last visit—this time to the delightful
a particularly fine example of the charming Irish custom of private gardens, designed and maintained privately but open to the public. Spread over three acres, highlights at Kilgar include a stunning collection of roses and particularly fine examples of Mediterranean and French inspired gardens.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18
The tour ends after breakfast