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CARLOW GARDEN TRAIL | |||||||
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Altamont Plant Sales - The Walled Garden at Altamont Address:
HOW TO FIND US: Altamont
Plant Sales
are located in the grounds
of Altamont Gardens. Altamont Gardens are 22km from Carlow Town,
signposted
on the main N80 Carlow - Wexford road, 3km from the village of Ballon.
If you are travelling from Tullow follow signs for the Bunclody/Wexford
road (N81). Altamont Gardens is 3km from its junction with the Wexford
road (N80).
OPENING TIMES: Summer opening times - 10.00 a.m. - 5.30 p.m. daily including Bank Holidays until the end of October. Winter opening times - Monday - Friday 10.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. or other times by appointment. ADMISSION CHARGES: Free
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An unmissable highlight of a visit to Altamont Gardens is the Walled Garden situated within the grounds of the estate and run privately by gardener and nursery man Robert Miller. The area consists primarily of the Corona North Commemorative Border planted to honor the late Corona, owner of Altamont. Each border had its own individual theme and colour from striking reds to cool white and blues, romantic pinks and warm yellow glows. The scent of lavender fills the air over the summer months. The borders are planted mainly with herbaceous perennials with roses and trees, some with a fascinating history. Many of the plants were donated to the border by friends of Corona and fellow great Irish gardeners. To name a few these include Iris pumila "Lady Moore" who was the wife of an ex-National Botanic Gardens director at Glasvenin. Great plants include Hellebores torquatus donated from the above mentioned Lady Moore to David Shackleton and in turn to Helen Dillon who donated the plant to the border. Famous gardens who donated to the border include Beechpark, Lucan, The Dillon Garden, Ranelagh, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Co. Dublin, Mount Congrive, Co. Waterford, Airfield, Dundrum, Co. Dublin and Birr Castle, Co. Offaly along with many other large and small private gardens making an important contribution to the overall theme. Other items of interest include the living willow tunnel, 200 year old Medler tree and the composting area. The borders together make up one of the largest of its kind in the country and tells the story of Irish horticulture, or rather lots of stories, woven into a seamless, living tapestry. A visit is a must during late spring, summer and early autumn. The story weaves the fabric of Irish gardening; its warp and weft are the interplay between gardens, people and plants. Jane Powers - The Irish Garden Nov./Dec. 1999 If you would like to pick up a little bit of history of Irish gardening then Altamont Plant Sales, located within the borders, is the place to head where many of the plants grown in the border and throughout the gardens at Altamont can be purchased. 
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