After a few days in Dublin, the Other Half and I took a day trip south of the city to County Wicklow. We left the city in the morning, riding in a small van along some very curvy roads, to spend the day touring the Powerscourt Estate, some Monastic ruins, and the Wicklow Mountains. I of course was most excited to see the the award-winning gardens at Powerscourt which began to take shape almost two and a half centuries ago.  Ah Europe, you have so much history to share!

Quite a backyard, huh? This main terracing was part of a redesign by Daniel Robertson in the 1840s. As the 6th Viscount’s architect, he drew up the plans in the style of Italianate garden design. This style began in Italy and was echoed in formal gardens across Europe. After his father’s death, the 7th Viscount completed Robertson’s plans and adorned the garden with a collection of ironwork gates and statuary. The view from the terrace is quite breathtaking as it has a natural backdrop of the Sugar Loaf Mountain.

The Walled Garden

Paths leading away from the main, back terrace brought us to a walled garden. Here in one of the oldest parts of the gardens, the plantings were more traditional and formal. There were many flowering beds with a mixture of perennials bordered by annuals, a collection of roses, and the glass greenhouses. Finely manicured trees were placed along the edges of the walkway and used as accents in the lawn. A collection of huge, showy hydrangeas and ornamental shrubs were placed along the walls that were not accessible by paths. I really enjoyed a colorful bed full of nothing but dahlias surrounded by alyssum.

Wooded Walk

The Powerscourt garden design “reflected the desire to create a garden which was part of the wider landscape.”  I really enjoyed the blending of the more formal grounds and paths into this more wooded and winding walkway area of the estate. For over two hundred years, many specimen trees have been added. Currently there are about 250 varieties to see. There was also a Rhododendron Walk were the rhododendrons were in fact the size of small trees.

Pet Cemetery

Yes! As silly as some people may think it is, I cannot tell you how heartwarming I found this little lot nestled back in the woods. Plus, there weren’t any stray cats wandering around, so the visit was quite endearing. This is the resting area of many beloved pets of generations of the Wingfield and Slazenger families. This grave marker for two of the family’s cows, Eugenie and Princess, was my favorite.

A Victorian’s Japanese Garden

The 8th Viscount and Viscountess added a Japanese Garden to the estate in 1908. Having visited Japanese Gardens before, it was interesting to see this Victorian interpretation of the style. Instead of very carefully placed wood and stone elements, the winding paths had more iron and stone statues as accents. Azaleas, Japanese Maples, and Chinese Fortune Palms were planted here. Yes, palm trees can be grown in Ireland. Zone envy!

Adjoined to the Japanese Garden is a little grotto area surviving from the original garden design in 1740. The walls of the grotto are made from fossilized sphagnum moss and covered in trickling water, moss, and ferns. The Other Half really enjoyed this secret nook.

The Pepper Pot Tower

The last area of the gardens we visited was Tower Valley. The wonderful collection of trees extends to this area where a stone tower stands. The structure was designed after a pepperpot from the family’s dining room table. I immediately thought “This would be the best playhouse ever!” I mean, could you imagine being a kid and having this in your backyard? Then the Other Half and I hurried along the path, past the mock cannons, and up the spiral stairs to enjoy the view of the Powerscourt House and Gardens from the top.