Irish Times 18 November 1957
Mount Congreve Gardens by G. O. Sherrard
I paid a visit to a very interesting garden lately
that of Mount Congreve near Waterford, the property of Mr. Ambrose Congreve. It
is a large garden and has two main features - (1) A walled garden of about two
acres with a wide herbaceous border running completely round it at the foot of
the wall and a well-kept lawn in the centre; and (2) an informal garden of
trees and shrubs, planted in clearings in a wood.
The herbaceous border is very fine and reminds me of
that at Castle Forbes Co. Longford. There is a great selection of plants. And
the width of the border allows them to be planted in groups with tall things,
such as Lavatera Olbia at the back. The flowers of late autumn were making a
display when I was there – Michaelmus Daisies, Rudbeckias, Eupatoriums,
Heleniums, Sedum Spectabile and so forth. I noticed an improved form of the
sedum, named Brightness, and a fine form of Rudbeckia Newmanni,called
Goldsturm. Salvia Uliginosum was producing its vivid blue flowers and is quite
hardy in this garden.
The house is at the top of a rather steep wooded slope
and vistas have been cut through the trees so that the River Suir could be
seen. Many of the trees are fine specimens and Mr Congreve has used them to
shelter a choice collection of shrubs, in which Rhododendrons are prominent.
Other shrubs which are well represented are the Magnolias, of which I saw large
specimens of M. Campbelli and M. Mollicmats, the beautiful pink species. The
large Mahonias, such as M. Bealei, M. Nepalense and M. Lomarifolia, made quite
a handsome group in the woodland.
