Garden design, garden planning, garden layout, planting plants and planting schemes

Unexpected delight in a rugged environment

Posted on September 1st, 2010

Connemara famous for it’s rugged natural beauty is a place where the local conditions can and do change very quickly. On bright sunny days, the relative raw unspoilt natural environment can be simply breathtaking, but there are also reminders of difficult and harsh conditions. Setting out from the Glann Road in Oughterard and heading westward along the Great Lough Corrib, one passes through a beautiful wooded area. Reminiscent of scenes  by Tolkien, the sunrays penetrate deeply through the tree canopy and shafts of light touch the lush smooth grassy covering of the forest floor. 

 Before reaching the boarded walk of the Western Way which leads to Maam, there is plenty of rugged natural beauty to be admired along the route. Craggy outcrops, open expanses of water, hills and mountains, faint sounds of birds. There is little reminder of human present, apart from an occasional walker, here one is more likely to encounter aimless rambling sheep than humans. The sound of winds blowing across the lake or through the often leaning trees is more likely to drown the sound of distant birdsound. Concentration is required in order to hear muffled distant birdsong.

Today lucky with the weather, the sun was high and bright and with a brisk walking pace one did not take notice of the cooling easterly winds blowing across the lake. Finding a suitable place to rest amongst the random rock was not difficult, nestled beside a large boulder provided great shelter from the wind and a natural suntrap from which to admire the panoramic beauty. The combination of stunning vistas and natural silence is irresistable and soon the mind and body drift into a meditative trance. Coming here one is less but better for the unexpected delight of this beautiful but rugged environment.     

Garden Design Ideas start with Nature

Posted on July 10th, 2010

Whether your preference is for vivid colour contrast, random planting schemes, sculpted features, subtle textures, perspective or water, a ramble along any lakeline may provide some examples of that which appeals to our visual senses is often already made by Nature.  Some photos taken during a stroll along Lough Corrib in Connemara in beautiful sunny conditions reminded me of some of these things which have the potential to influence Garden Design.

Loch na Fooey, Connemara – remote, wild and beautiful

Posted on May 30th, 2010

Loch na Fooey near Finney is located in a remote area of Connemara near the border with neighbouring County Mayo. A small loch which surrounded by nearby hills has a spectacular amphi-theatre atmosphere. Remote, wild and beautiful and well worth the visit. A small sanded shoreline, makes Loch na Fooey an ideal area for families or simply an ideal area to de-stress and enjoy the incredibly beautiful natural landscape of Connemara as it swaps the Spring greens for Winter browns.

40 Shades of Brown

Posted on March 23rd, 2010

The natural colours and typical beauty of Irish countryside are looking unusually brown following a prolonged wet and cold winter. Still as springtime begins to warm the landscape, we can at least enjoy the unusual 40 shades of brown, seen here in Connemara National Park, Letterfrack.

Firm reminders of soft margins

Posted on December 9th, 2009

Although the lingering roadsigns are perhaps recent reminders advising road users of road closures along the Pier Road in Oughterard due to flooding, there are still plenty of firm reminders of nearby flooding that the warning notices of soft margins are hardly required or indeed necessary?

Although a casual visitor might be impressed by the apparent nearness and expanse of water on bothsides of the Pier Road, levels are still very high. The ditches which run along bothsides are as much as 1.0m – 2.0m deep and many are overflowing. More worrying for local residents is the nearness of high water which contiunes to spread from the local Owenriff river which appears to have become submerged within the new expanded waterscape. The Pier Road leads one to the Great Corrib lake and here too high water levels can be seen. Current levels are  as much as 2.0m – 3.0m above normal levels, quite staggering when one considers that the Corrib lake which has  depths of up to 50m making it even deeper than Galway Bay! The swans might be enjoying the newly expanded habitat of  ‘Soft Margins’ but I would doubt very much if anyone else would see the current conditions so.

Iconic Connemara dwellings of contrasting fates

Posted on November 10th, 2009

Driving throughout Connemara, one can expect to see many and varied sights usually of great natural beauty but sometimes ones of great traditions some harking back to the earlier times of much tougher but perhaps simpler lifestyles. This is perhaps best seen in the iconic stone houses and outbuildings to be found throughout the Connemara region. Many are in great order and beautifully maintained by proud owners,  but also there are some in very poor order suffering neglect or even worse dereliction. Surrounding areas appear overgrown leaving no clues as to the whereabouts or indeed the existence of current owners. Are these once beautiful and skillfully constructed stone structures relics of a previous past and abandoned by a long lost or gone generation?

Nearby Rosmuc and only a short distance from the main road, a  country lane wide enough for no more than a single car, leads to a small opening which is part hidden amongst the hedgerows but boasting good views to the nearby lake below, is a beautiful thatched roof cottage. No ordinary cottage however, because this is house apparently was the summer residence of the great Irish Nationalist Padraig Pearse. The house is strikingly simple and modest in layout and is apparently maintained by the OPW (Office of Public Works).

Not too far away and nearer the Rosmuc coastline, one encounters a dramatic example again of a well built stone dwelling except here is not unusual example of a stone dwelling with all the signs of a long lost purpose. Gone are all the signs of previous occupiers, the stone appears robust and defiantly resisisting all efforts of the harsh the weather to destroy. But alas the roof timbers have long lost the fight to withstand  decay and rot. The roof having collapsed and in a very advance state of delapidation, appears to reveal not a thatch finish but rather a mixture of bog and clay sods? Or has the original thatch simply decomposed to a such a degree as to appear like an early example of a green roof? In contrast to Padraig Pearse’s summer residence, here apart from a simple open fireplace in each of the two ground floor rooms, there are no reminders of previous trappings. Instead old straw appears strewn across the stone floor probably indicating that the building has at some point been used as a building for housing animals? Despite the great stonework and marvellous westerly views of the nearby shoreline, the stonework may be well capable of withstanding the elements for another hundred years and more, but it’s future is little more than an iconic collection of stone testament to a bygone past. 

Such a pity reallybecause these icons provide a window for us to look back and for many a not too distant past.  Perhaps some may prefer to have no reminders or no interest of  harsher times? Others might look back to the past with nostalgic bliss, but whatever your preference, icons of our past are worth preserving  and represent an intrinsic  part of our social as well as architectural heritage. Such icons must be preserved not just as display models but more importantly as valuable windows with links and clues to the development of Irish culture .  

Grand views by the Glann Road, Oughterard

Posted on November 3rd, 2009

The joy of it all! A stroll along the Glann Road, within a  stone’s throw distance of Oughterard and the nearby Great Corrib lakeshores. Connemara looks well any time of the year, but during these late Autumnal days when daylight seems to take on an even more vivid brightness causing the colours of the surrounding natural landscape to become an even more rich and varied tapestry of vivid greens, rustic browns and light purple sage. 

Although the sun shines brightly, more light than heat at this time of year, illuminating a palette of rich autumn colours. The singularly striking impression however is one of great peace and tranquility broken only occasionally by the scattering chatter of fleeing robins and goldfinches.

Connemara Natural Stone walling

Posted on October 28th, 2009

In Oughterard where for many people Connemara begins, can be seen a wide range of natural stone walling, from the rough random rubble stone types to the more refined dressed stone finishes. I am always impressed to see natural stone walls of all shapes, sizes and types and throughout the West of Ireland and in particular in County Galway and no more so than here in Oughterard, Connemara, stone walls are in abundance. A distinctive construction craft which we should cherish and encourage more irrespective of whether the design or form is formal or informal. 

It is a great tradition and as is evident from my photos of walls in and around Oughterard, a tradition that goes back a long time. Stone walls can make a substantive statement of character to any property, a great construction skill and tradition, demanding strong hands but keen eyes, the art and mark of stonemasonry is an important element of Irish craft and tradition, perhaps long lost in many urban areas, but fortunately remaining popular and indeed cherished and thriving in rural communities and towns like Oughterard, Connemara.

Of course besides attractive stone walls, there are many other interesting sights to be enjoyed in Oughterard. Now as we approach the end of October, the trout can be seen spawning in the local Owenriff river, itself a beautiful civic amenity throughout the year. There are lots of picnic areas and benches on which to sit and enjoy the views but also to be seen are the signs which so eloquently remind us to:

Connemara – constantly changing, endless beauty

Posted on October 15th, 2009

For a spectacular and captivating drive through some of the most iconic, beautiful and natural landscapes to be seen anywhere in Ireland, I would recommend the Connemara Loop. Setting out from Oughterard, the gateway to Connemara and heading westwards along the N59 continue via Tully Cross and onwards to Renvyle, returning back along the N59 to Oughterard via Letterfrack.  Although a relatively a journey (much less than 100km), there are so many unmissable views, that one should allow plenty of time to enjoy. I would also recommend stopping for lunch at Renvyle House. The dressed Crab and Smoked Salmon open sandwiches of Irish Soda Bread were simply delicious. 

Along this route you will pass through incredible natural scenery including spectacular valleys, hills, mountains, lake and shorelines, bogland etc. The views and colours are endless in beauty and constantly changing, not just between seasons but almost daily. Apart from the natural beauty, the environment resonates with fabulous sounds to provide a freshness which is just incredibly relaxing for mind and body. At this time of year, the prevailing colours of the landscape reflect distinctive autumnal hues.   

But no matter when you actually travel, I can honestly say that the Connemara Loop makes for a great visual treat and complete with soulful delights.