Garden Alpine Paradise: Creating a Mountain Retreat
Coolwater Garden: A Haven of Alpines and Thoughtful Design
This article details a visit to Coolwater Garden in Fedamore, Ireland, a garden created by Kevin Begley and his wife. The garden, located 20 minutes south of Limerick city, is a testament to thoughtful design and a passion for alpines and succulents.Key Features & Highlights:
Transformation from Lawn: The garden originated from a desire to avoid grass cutting and has undergone meaningful transformations.
Divided into Front & Back: The garden is divided into a front garden and a back garden, with the back garden largely consisting of a pond created in 2009/2010.
Front garden Focus: The front garden, completed in 2011/2012, showcases specimen shrubs, trees, alpines, and herbaceous plants, integrated with architecture and hard landscaping.
alpine & Succulent Paradise: A major focus of the garden is alpines and succulents, displayed in numerous planters and arrangements. The sheer variety is notable, requiring a full two-hour guided tour to even begin to appreciate.
Notable Plants: The garden features a diverse collection including:
Daphne bholua ‘Jaqueline Postil’ (fragrant shrub)
Passiflora and Clematis on a unique sloped pagoda
Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’ (Wedding Cake Tree)
Eucalyptus specimen
Blue Atlas Cedar
Ulmus parviflora ‘Hokkaido’ (smallest elm in the world)
Trough Collection: Kevin Begley has an extensive collection of 70 troughs (with 3 more planned) planted with a wide range of Saxifrages, Sedums, and Sempervivums.
* Climate considerations: The garden’s sloping location makes it windier and slightly colder than the surrounding area, influencing plant choices.
In essence, Coolwater Garden is presented as a beautifully designed space that seamlessly blends horticultural expertise with artistic vision, particularly in its stunning display of alpines and succulents.