Another visit to Mount Usher, Co Wicklow
Last week I went to Mount Usher again on my way to Dublin. It was a fleeting visit but I had a chance to rush round and here are some photos.
The mild climate means that many ‘exotic’ plants thrive at Mount Usher, even after the cold winters 4-5 years ago. The slight mist that was starting to win the battle with the late summer sunlight gives the scene a primeval feel.
Although it is a bit early for autumn leaf colour there are hints of the changes
Even Cotoneaster horizontalis (C. purpureus?) looks good here
The wildflower area, which is not always totally successful, in my opinion, looked good in parts such as here with Rudbeckia triloba and sunflowers
Around the cafe and shops was some interesting plating, repeated again and again. I thought this combination of white cosmos, Nicotiana mutabliis (or N. ‘Marshmallow’) and blue chicory was inspired
You just have to love colchicums right now, even if you also have to curse them in May when their huge leaves die down. Colchicum speciosum ‘Album’ is my favourite
I wonder if they had a dog called ‘Chips’ too
I was especially pleased to see the large bushes of Gevuina avellana. The beautiful leaves would be enough reason to grow this ‘proteaceous’ shrub from Chile but right now it is in full bloom….
… and those creamy white, waxy flowers are wonderfully scented as well as delightful to look at.
There are previous posts about Mount Usher in ‘Gardens’ – right – and there is one below:
thebikinggardener.com/2014/04/13/mount-usher-county-wicklow/
The Biking Gardener 
Used to love visiting there Geoff and, if I remember rightly, huge gunneras.
I made the right decision and bought a season ticket this year 🙂
Beautiful…
This looks a beautiful place to visit. Blue Chicory is one of my favourite plants this year and it does look very pretty with the Cosmos and Nicotiana. Thanks for sharing your trip.
I have heard that Mount Usher is not as well maintained as it used to be but the style is Robinsonian and so copes well with being a bit rough round the edges and there is so much to see at every season. It won’t be my last visit this year I hope. I might copy the chicory planting myself – it is such a lovely blue.