trip to Ireland

[Maggi Young]

Angie you'll have to visit Hester Forde. Paddy might have a phone number for her

 Good thinking... I've just send Angela Hester's contact details!  


 Oh, I'll send Deborah Begley's in Limerick, also!

[angie]

Thanks everyone for all the advice... away to feed the fish and water the plants and I am off.


Angie

[Maggi Young]

So you got my messages, Angela?
Have a great time!
 

[Paddy Tobin]

June Blake's garden, Blessington, Co. Wicklow is worth a visit and would be closer for you.

Ashely's earlier suggestions re website for information is probably your best bet.

Paddy

[Ragged Robin]

Have you got your camera?  Have a great time 

[mark smyth]

Yesterday I got up early, phoned Angie and suggested we meet at a private garden mid way between their hotel and my house. We spent and hour and a half walking and chatting around the nursery beside the garden

[Ragged Robin]

What a great idea Mark and you and Angie look so relaxed, like old friends....so often we miss opportunities that could be worthwhile and rewarding if we just make the time and meet half way.  I'm really pleased it worked out and hope to work on your example which is so much in the spirit of e Forum that no barrier is insurmountable if one has he will 

[mark smyth]

THanks RR. I would drive anywhere in N Ireland to meet a forum member

[Lesley Cox]

A great opportunity Mark and Angie and a brilliant picture to commemorate the occasion.

[ashley]

Great idea and picture Mark; well done.

How did you get on Angie?  I hope all went well.

[angie]

Hi everyone ...Ashley was asking how I got on in Ireland absolutely fantastic. As you have all seen Mark met us and at this point I would  just like to say to Mark that was really nice of you to greet us in Ireland.

Mark is a really lovely young man... but we all now that from all his posts. It was really nice to meet him and he made us feel so welcome, we met at a lovely garden and the sun was shinning I just wish that we had more time to speak but we had to make our way to Cork and we needed our time, but there is always another time and Mark said the next time we come to Ireland he will show us some nice gardens, thanks Mark for meeting us.

We were only going to stay in Ireland for four days but we had to extend it by a couple of more days, so much to see and as for the Irish people they are so friendly, we couldn't believe how helpful people were, when we got lost this man drove up beside us and asked if he could help, we ended up following him and he took us right to place we had been trying to find, what a gentleman.

We never got to all the places that we had hoped but we got to June Blake's garden in Co Wicklow, what a lovely garden and June took the time out to talk to us( she was busy painting her new extension ) I have never seen so much colour and structure in a garden. I fell in love with her species dahlias , she even went and got me one, I was so pleased.

June told us to go and see her brothers garden ( jimi Blake ) Hunting Brook garden, it to was out of this world so much colour, Jimi wasn't there but his dog was , so we said hallo.

We then went to Garnish Island , lovely ferry man and the garden was something else, I thought I was in Italy, we need to go back there again as we didn't have enough time.

We also visited Mount Usher gardens , had a lovely lunch ,bought some plants and walked along the banks of the river Varity. Some beautiful trees to be seen.

We went to see Helen Dillon's garden on the way back to Dublin we had been there before but I hate
passing a nice garden.

We visited  a few more gardens but the ones that I have mentioned were my favourites. My favourite nursery was Deelish Garden Centre, another charming man and so much unusual plants.

Well I think I have went on enough and I will post some pictures when I have a bit more time but I would just like to say to everyone thank you very much for all the information on Ireland and without your help I would have missed all these lovely places.
Wonderful places and the most friendly people I have ever met. Thanks Ireland I will be back next year.

Angie    

[ashley]

Delighted to hear that you enjoyed it Angie
Wow, you certainly packed a lot into your 4+2 days, if that's only a partial list
For those less familiar with Irish geography, Angie ranged from the north-east where she met Mark to Garinish in the south-west & Deelish in the deep south near Skibbereen, as well as Mount Usher & Dublin in the east.  
And other places too?    Phew, I need to lie down

[angie]

Ashley every mile was worth it. My friends always say why don't you take a nice holiday on a beach, take it easy , well that's a nightmare to me sitting wasting time. I always want to see what's around the corner

Angie

[mark smyth]

THanks for the kind words

[Lesley Cox]

Seems you had a super time Angie, and I agree, who wants to lie on a boring beach where there are plants and gardens to see and people to meet? I'm looking forward to seeing a little bit of Ireland through your photos.