Nestled in the hills high above Cork, with distant views of the river Lee, Lakemount seems to blend into it’s verdant landscape. In this beautiful corner of Ireland, Brian Cross has created, according to the Royal Horticultural Society, one of Ireland’s “flagship gardens”.

The garden was started in the early 1950’s by Mrs. Peggy Cross, originally a chicken and fruit farm, who laid out the basic form by planting hedges to buffet the land from the relentless Atlantic winds. The garden is south-facing and slopes gently away from the house, supporting the cultivation of a multitude of plants from all four corners of the world. Since these early plantings, the garden has evolved into a wonderful oasis of calm. Recently, Brian’s wife Rose has created a charming cottage-style area in this constantly-evolving garden.

Unlike most gardens, Lakemount can be described as a garden for all seasons. Careful selection of plants and shrubs provides all-year-round spectacle. No matter what the month, there are always plants of interest and exciting planting compositions within the gardens’ borders. Read more ….