A Jewel in Dublin's Crown
If you're headed to Ireland anytime soon (weather be damned!), might as well indulge yourself in some seriously luscious flora. In which case, do I know a place for you: the Dublin haunt of one of the world's most celebrated gardeners, Helen Dillon.
If you time your visit right, you may get a chance to sample some of the irrepressible Dillon charm and wit.
photo credit: Ketzel Levine, NPRThe Dillon Garden is just a bus ride from downtown Dublin, one brief block and a world away from the teeming masses on Sandford Road. The summer I was there (two, three four years ago? who can remember?), one of my favorite plant combinations was this percussive arrangement of masculine plants (yes, I jest).
Euphorbia, allium and two forms of eryngium at peak perfection in Helen Dillon's front garden.
photo credit: Ketzel Levine, NPRSo how do you get in? Simple! All you gotta do is pay. The Dillon Garden is open Mon-Sat, 2-6pm during the summer, with more limited hours on Sunday. No guarantees you'll see what I did, she's too restless a gardener to just leave things alone, but I would imagine no matter how soggy the weather, you'll find yourself awash in color.
The ultimate use of a see-through Stipa gigantea dripping over a perennial jungle
photo credit: Ketzel Levine, NPRAnd if it makes you feel any more comfortable about going, by all means tell Helen I sent you.
4:52 PM ET | 07-30-2007 | permalink
