Self-taught garderner Ealma Purcell on creating The Poppy Garden in Oldcastle, Co Meath …
“Considering my background, sometimes I look out the window and can’t believe that it’s my garden outside. We built our house in 2004 and had our first child later that year. At that stage, it was literally a house in the middle of a barren acre, with not a single plant. My husband created a tiny flowerbed at the front of the house and since then I’ve been hooked. However, I knew nothing whatsoever about plants. I went from nil interest to having an encyclopaedic knowledge of plants in my head, reeling off Latin names! I’ve learned from my mistakes, in addition to killing lots of plants. I used to feel so guilty, but now I reckon that one in 20 plants will keel over for no reason anyway.
The great thing about gardening is that every area is different, influenced by climate, taste and, maybe more than anything, the plants at the garden centre on the day you visit. I especially love the cottage garden, informality and autumnal colours, but also conifers and glaucous plants for their palette. I also like to use salvaged pieces such as old bits of wrought iron or marketplace and auction finds. It’s nearly as addictive as plant hunting and adds to the character. There’s a beauty and permanence in something like beautiful old gates, and the right piece can elevate a space.
While the pandemic was awful, it helped us to get things done and I ended up opening the garden to the public in 2023. I’ve found it a great opportunity to meet people, and sell gorgeous plants and pots, which gives me so much pleasure. Any profits are used to buy seeds and more plants. I pore over stock lists every week like a child in a sweet shop.
I’ve since designed some private gardens and taken over garden planning at an exclusive wedding venue, Clonabreany House in Kells. It’s been a joy to be able to plant huge swathes of beds there. A scheme we put in last winter beside the chapel was of hundreds of Seslaria Autumnalis (an airy grass) interplanted with thousands of Allium Sphaerocephalon, which have been stunning all year.
In The Poppy Garden, autumn is my favourite season of all and I’m always thinking about maximising autumnal colour in my planting. I’ve found it essential to keep the proportions right though – you still need green or bluey green background plants to really show off the brilliant leaves. Acers are amazing, but can be tricky in some spaces, so I’d always go with Liquidamber. They’re super trees, so easy to grow and the colour is fabulous. I recommend a narrow variety for small gardens called “Slender Silhouette”.
Our open season runs from May to September, then we’re open by appointment. In winter, we undertake a huge tidy-up and plan new projects, sourcing plants and advising on other gardens. It’s amazing how much you know without realising it, just from years of experience.
Need to know: The last open weekend is on until October 11 from 11am to 4pm and by appointment at other times. Find more information at www.thepoppygarden.com.
