The CEO of Mount Congreve Gardens in Waterford lives on site in a gardener’s cottage, which she restored and where she replanted the garden using the no dig method …
I live in the Garden House within the historic Walled Gardens of Mount Congreve, which has a fascinating history. Originally constructed in 1875, it was the home of the estate’s Head Gardener. I moved in this year after the house was restored to its original charm. It had been sadly neglected following the death of Mr Ambrose Congreve. The interiors were dated and the gardens completely overgrown, which required a lot of attention.
Our first tasks in the garden were to remove and replant fruit bushes in the centre of the lawn, then set about rotavating the soil and sowing new grass seed. The palm needed to be significantly cut back, while the beds were cleared and replanted. I used the no dig method on two of the entry beds with the help of my dog and it worked marvellously to mask the weeds, and the growth of the lemon balm that had lost the run of itself.
However, the real game changer in the garden restoration was from the assistance of one of our former School of Horticulture graduates, Masha Sueva. Masha and I share the same love of vegetables, so she immediately organised a growing plan, making the raised beds by hand.
From cherry tomatoes and green beans to red cabbage and chard, the weekly harvest has been bountiful. Nothing has failed to grow, even with my dogs’ somewhat unhelpful help. My garden is informed by my childhood growing up in the countryside, on land that once was a farm. We always grew our own fruit and veg, including potatoes, carrots, rhubarb and strawberries. We had hens and ducks, so eggs were plentiful, while our farmer neighbour provided milk – unpasteurised. It was my job to walk up the boreen and collect the milk, so I always left a milk trail on the way home as it sloshed over the sides of the churn.
At the age of 18, I moved to France to work as an au pair in a tiny village south of Bordeaux. With six children under the age of eight, this was no easy task, but the old house and grounds we lived in were like something out of a movie. They grew their own vegetables, too, so I would be sent out to collect the courgettes and potatoes for a gratin.
Moving back to Ireland, I bought an apartment by the sea with magnificent views, but always knew I would like some kind of garden eventually. What better garden could I have found?
Living in the Garden House is a great privilege as it’s so warm and welcoming. It was an important moment in time when it was restored as it has brought the house back to life and given it a purpose. The courtyard, which catches the sun beautifully at midday, has become a favourite spot to sit and relax.
The view from the first floor, overlooking the kitchen garden, never fails to amaze me. Whether under a clear sky or with clouds rolling in, it’s always breathtaking. I’ve filled the rooms with plants, from Monsteras to palms and ivy, bringing the outdoors in. There is the most magnificent camellia hedge running alongside the house, which truly is the Rose of Winter. Once most of the colour in the Walled Garden starts to fade, these magnificent pink flowers begin to emerge. I arrange them simply in a vase on the dining table, while most of the rooms have Monsteras, Palms, Ferns and Ivy dotting the corners and bookshelves.
As for gardening tips, anyone who has not tried the no dig method should just do it. It’s so simple, yet so effective. This means leaving soil undisturbed as much as is practical. You may occasionally need to use a spade or trowel; for example, when making a hole for planting trees or seed potatoes. The second part of no dig is to feed the masses of soil life with organic matter on the surface. This is how it happens in nature, where old leaves and woody materials decay on top of the ground. No dig makes life easier and allows soil life to flourish, with plants growing more healthily.
Need to know: tour the gardens and pop in for a coffee in Stables Cafe. www.mountcongreve.com
