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Mount Usher Gardens are open to the public. They were begun on one acre of land on the river Vartry that was disused and had an old mill on it. They were turned into private gardens in the 19th century. A Dublin businessman, Edward Walpole bought the land in 1868 and when he died his three sons inherited it. They bought more land around it and over the years gathered an amazing collection of flora. The gardens were laid out after the ideas of William Robinson in the late 19th century. It now covers some 20 acres. It now has a collection of plants from around the world, over 4000 species and always has something interesting to see. There are camellias, magnolias, rhododendrons, handkerchief trees (Davidia) (see them in May), the Chilean firebush ( Embothrium see them in June), Mock Orange (Philadelphus, see them in June), there is also an amazing collection of trees. You can take many pretty walks around the gardens crossing the bridges and stopping for tea in the tearooms. They are situated in the pretty village of Ashford, which has a number of attractions nearby. There is the Devil's Glen which is 1 mile(1.6 km) northwest of the village. The River Bartry falls over 100 ft (39m) into the Devil's Punchbowl basin. |
