Grasse Cottage

Opening Months:
Opening Days:
Opening Hours: Open by appointment anytime.
Admission Charge: €4

• Appointment Only
• Admission Charge

Dick Mallet’s garden, created over 48 years, proves the point that passionate plants people have happy gardens. Appearing much bigger than half an acre, thanks to cleverly hidden boundaries and mysterious paths winding between a splendid collection of plants, the plan is given structure and year round interest by strategically planted shrubs and trees.

Some, such as Acer griseum, Betula jacquemontii and Prunus serrula- Dick’s particular favourites - have wonderful bark. Grasses, iris, salvias, old roses and herbaceous and viticella clematis are particularly well represented. Clematis durandii and R. Belvedereromp about, pheasant’s eye grass glows gold in winter, Salvia guaranticais almost navy blue and gorgeous iris I ensatais a real show stopper.

There are eye catching species: Brodiae, robust tar weed or Grindelia, choice Eryngium x oliverianum and Catanachea caerulea (romantically known as cupid’s dart) plants proliferate merrily with Geranium palmatumand echiums self seeding around.

Dick loves to grow tender plants: The golden angle’s trumpet Brugmansia‘Champagne’ flourishes in the greenhouse alongside curiosities like the marmalade bush Streptosolen jamesonii, and a wonderful collection of pelargoniums and streptocarpus. Other tender plants stay outside in pots and are lifted to shelter in winter, whilst cuttings and seed collection are also used as a strategy against frost casualties.

Hidden within the garden are three ponds, a rose forest where the scent of old fashioned roses like R d’amourand R‘Fantin-Latour’ lingers, a vegetable garden - and a tropical corner, complete with a banana tree and cannas.
 

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

Gardens Strengths

Greenhouses

Groups & Tours

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

Tour Days:

Tour Times

Open by appointment anytime.

Additional