Ballon Garden

Opening Months: May, June, July, August
Opening Days: Sunday
Opening Hours: Sun & Bank Hols, 2pm - 6pm. Other times and groups by appointment.
Admission Charge: €2.50 per person. Groups €2 per person. Children free.

• Appointment Only
• Admission Charge

Plants overflowing happily into the laneway signal the garden of an enthusiast. Stasia O’Neill and her husband began gardening 46 years ago, starting with a collection of choice shrubs and trees around the perimeter to provide much needed shelter.

These now form the back row of a 20 foot deep chorus of thoroughly interesting plants, all vying for the attention of visitors. Gold and silvers predominate in mixed borders wrapped around a lawn while an impressive collection of dwarf conifers provide backbone and winter colour. Colchicums have colonised under birch trees and Dieramas seed freely round the rock garden.

It would be worth a visit just to make the better acquaintance of conifers alone, graceful Cedrus atlantica‘Glauca pendula’, Picea pungens‘Globosa’ Picea albertiana glaucaare just some of the representatives of a rewarding family that earn their keep throughout the year.

Like the best of gardens, this one evolved gradually, built up from cuttings, gifts, exchanges and irresistible purchases. Many of the plants came via Corona North at neighbouring Altamont and there are some particular choice varieties Phlox ‘Nora Leigh’, Viola ‘Limelight’ Rosa moyesii ‘Eddie’s Jewel’ besides unusual plants that aren’t even listed in the RHS encyclopedia of plants, but Mrs O’Neill - a knowledgeable plantswoman - is on first name terms with them all.
 

Best time of year to visit: May, June, July, August

Groups & Tours

• Groups Accepted
• Groups Need Appointments
• Accept Only Groups
• Guided Tours

Minimum Group Size:

5

Tour Days:

Additional

Festivals

Wicklow Garden Festival