Visited on 6-15-2012 with members of the Lakeland Horticulture Society. Photo credits: Deborah McMillin

The Irish Cottage Garden Lakemount, a “his” and “her” garden, is a two acre display of herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees that have been carefully selected to provide four seasons of color and interest.  The garden sits on what had been a chicken and fruit farm and as Brian Cross mentioned, the chicken manure was the only benefit for the garden that has acidic soil and a sandstone base.  Now, in topsoil that is two spades deep, he grows a garden that colorfully displays plants found worldwide.

Lakemount Garden is not far from Cork City.  The rain that had followed us on a morning tour of Cork and the picturesque harbor town of Kinsale fortunately subsided for our visit to Brian Cross’s garden in the early afternoon.  His mother Peggy originally started the south- facing garden in the 1950’s, and similar to the other gardens we visited in the southwest, planted hedges as a buffer from the fierce Atlantic winds. Distant views of the Lee River can be seen from the garden paths.  Brian has been designing gardens for over twenty- five years as a profession and is currently considered one of Ireland’s best known garden and landscape designers.

A gateway led us into the garden where Brian’s cottage home is surrounded on three sides by a series of small intimate gardens.  Stone and terra cotta pots filled with a variety of plants are placed on either side of the back door to their home.  Even the family dogs have their own pottery water bowl.

The south- facing garden slopes away from the house, complete with a view of a formal garden featuring the Millennium pond with water lilies and iris. The steps and paving stone that surround the pond and the raised beds is Liscannor stone from County Clair.  A cast iron sculpture of arum lilies is centered in the pond.  A minimal variety of water plants and the hard landscape of stone between the pond and the raised beds create a space of formality.

Pathways laid in a variety of attractive stone winding throughout the garden, lead to different garden surprises.  Wrought iron gates covered in honeysuckle and clematis vines, or archways covered in ivy divide the changing areas unobtrusively. Small statues, classical and whimsical were found tucked among the garden scenery.

There is a boy musician with his horn, a cherub with a bird- bath and cupid with his bow. A worn smiling clown face peeks out from the greenery and a feline peeks above foliage with a dove safely perched on a gates stone column surrounded by rhododendrons. Pots filled with plants are used as an accent or when appropriate a centerpiece. Terra cotta, stone pots and urns to glazed ceramic in bright colors are part of the garden composition. Formal urns and pottery used as sculpture are an important element of the garden design.

Wooden benches under arbors or open seating in the garden are an invitation to sit and relax.  Turquoise wrought iron benches on slate, decorative pottery with pink flowers, and a terraced planting of azaleas and pink rhododendrons as the background compose a picture in this garden.

Rosemont Garden is the “her” garden named after Brian’s wife, Rose.  It is a cottage style garden with lupine, poppy, digitalis, passion -flowers, iris and primula.  Colors in pinks, white, lavender and blues for ladies colors are predominate.  Towards the rear of the garden was the family pet cemetery with a gravestone in commemoration of their dogs who had enjoyed their home at Lakemount.

Winters are not severe at Lakemount. There is occasional ground frost but it is the winter wet that is of concern.  Since Mediterranean plants do not grow well in wet conditions, Brian Cross said that he does not grow them.  A conservatory holds tender plants such as abutilon, pelargonium, fuchsia, begonia, and jasmine.

Disease and pest are not a problem in the garden other then the hosta plants, which are numerous and attract slugs.  The only chemicals applied in the garden are Draza pellets for slugs, used early in the season.

Lakemount Garden does have examples of design that we may find the opportunity to use in our own home gardens on a smaller scale. Terracing can be used as an alternative method for showcasing plantings.  Consider using attractive hardscaping materials for walkways. Natural materials can be used in a contemporary, cottage or numerous other styles of gardens.  Pottery placed throughout the garden adds an artistic touch.  Statues on pedestals and urns give vertical interest.  A small fishpond or a fountain with running water and a comfortable bench or seat nearby provides a quiet space.  The use of shape, texture and colors are important design elements used in Lakemount Garden.   Check out the additional photos in my flash slide show.  Perhaps you will find an idea from Lakemount Garden that you can integrate into your own garden.

Visit Lakemount Garden at www.lakemountgarden.com