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:
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Daphne bholua ‘Jaqueline Postil’ (fragrant shrub)
Passiflora and Clematis⁤ on a unique sloped pagoda
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Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’ (Wedding Cake Tree)
Eucalyptus specimen
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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.