Ireland's Oldest Garden - Part II


The Round Pond and Fountain

The Double Linden Avenue begins midway across the old Deer Park and both physically and visually continues in the distance over the crown of the hill. There are ribbons of beech wood visible on each side of the Linden (Lime) Avenues.

2. * The Angles - Patte d' Oie - or Goose Foot *

The surviving third of three pleasure areas on the eastern side of the garden is The Angles designed in a formal, very symmetrical pattern - basically five avenues radiating from a circle - but seemingly full of twists and turns through high clipped hedges of beech and hornbeam. There are beech sentinels at the end of each allé and perimeter walls of yew at the end of each triangle.

A Section of the Angles - Patte d' Oie

Scattered throughout The Angles are 19th century statues and huge old trees such as Scots Pine and Ginkgo, Ginkgo biloba. There are myriad vistas from within the seclusion of The Angles both into the greenness of its interior or outward toward the black water canals.

Sadly, only the outlines of the other two parts are apparent to those who explore this east side of the garden. There used to be a Maze here as well as a Bowling Green, which was originally planted with grasses selected to meet the standards of the game. There is still an avenue of Ilex trees dating from the 17th century and steps leading to what once was the Bowling Green. This area has now been planted with birch and poplar trees.

* The Wilderness - French Bouquet * This aea is not numbered on the map, but is west of the canals directly across from The Angles.

The Wilderness is a rectangular wooded area crossed by a grid of paths and populated now by 19th century statues and backed by the vista of Small Sugarloaf Mountain. This was a good spot for horseback rides and still is a tempting area for summer walks.

View Into The Angles

From one of The Wilderness paths, the view outward is directly through the center of The Beech Hedge Pond enclosure and beyond.

5. * The Double Beech Hedge and Pond *

The original design of the round pool enclosed by a double beech hedge is still very much in evidence. Though the beeches are now braced to prevent their toppling, it is possible to walk between the two circular rows and steal

The copyright of the article Ireland's Oldest Garden - Part II in Landscape Design is owned by Georgene A. Bramlage. Permission to republish Ireland's Oldest Garden - Part II in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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