Wicklow’s Hidden Gardens – Two Day Tour

May 2018

Our May 2018 Press Trip brought us through some of Wicklow’s best hidden gardens: Start at June Blake’s and Hunting Brook Gardens in Blessington. Quick lunch at Grangecon Cafe, Check the Rhododendrons and Birds of Prey Centre at Russborough House and finish the day in Kiltegan at Patthana Garden. After a fantastic dinner and overnight at the Brooklodge & Macreddin Village, meet Catherine at Shekina Sculpture Garden, tour the Botanic Gardens at Kilmaccuragh and finish the tour with lunch at Hunters Hotel.

Through this page, you will follow our itinerary over the two days. At the bottom of this page, you will find a References section and Google Map to help you organise your trip if you so wish.

DAY 1: West Wicklow Gardens

June Blake’s Garden

We all met at June Blake’s Garden, where Dara (June’s Son) gave us a tour. June then met us for a cup of tea and some stories.

: Welcome to June’s Gardens

: June Blake’s Garden

: Home made scones at the newly opened tea room

: Chat with Gardener June Blake (left)

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Hunting Brook Gardens

Located just five minutes from June’s garden, Huntingbrook Garden was our second stop. Unfortunately, Gardener Jimi Blake was away and it is Dara that showed us around.

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Grangecon Cafe

We drove into the centre of Blessington for lunch at the Grangecon Café

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Russborough Rhododendron Trail

After lunch, we stopped at Russborough House to follow the short trail to the Rhododendrons.

: Russborough House & Park

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National Birds of Prey Centre

Before leaving Russborough House, we managed a short visit of the National Birds of Prey Centre located pass Russborough’s West Wing.

: National Birds of Prey

: Meet baby owl!!!

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Patthana Garden

Our last visit was in the small village of Kiltegan, passed Baltinglass, where we toured TJ’s Patthana Garden.

: Meet Gardener TJ Maher

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Brooklodge and Macreddin Village

A 25 minutes’ drive over the hills brought us to The Brooklodge and Macreddin Village to spend the night after a meal at the Strawberry Tree.

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DAY 2: Wicklow Mountains, Spiritual Garden and Exotic Trees

Shekina Scultpure Garden

We left the Brooklodge around 9.30am and drove over ‘…..’ (with stunning views of Lugnaquilla, Ireland’s highest mountain outside of Kerry) to arrive at Shekina Sculpture Garden.