Powerscourt

"What makes the gardens at Powerscourt so remarkable is their grandeur of scale combined, as so rarely happens, with great delicacy and refinement of detail.  Their setting is superb, but their design and execution are worthy of it.  Meticulously kept, every part of the gardens rewards the closest study.  Powerscourt is a magnificent example of an aristocratic garden laid out with taste, knowledge and imagination."  

Peter Coats ( "Great Gardens of the Western World")

A five minute walk from our hotel lead us to the Powerscourt house and garden.     

Originally built in 1300  the castle was remodeled in the 18th century by a well-known German architect Richard Castle, under the commission of Richard Wingfield.   The mansion was designed around the footprint of the original small castle.  The gardens, in the beginning, were laid out as parklands and terraces.  It was during the next century the gardens and landscape became the public gardens I had the opportunity to tour.

Here are a few things that caught my eye and imagination.

The Pepper Pot tower was built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of the Prince of Wales.

The view atop the tower was breathtaking.

The Viscount's private walk from the tower through the American garden of unique cypress trees led us into

the Japanese garden where we found

so many hidden spots to

 

to stop and meditate.

I loved this grouping of trees.  

I thought it looked quite mystical.  

I almost expected a fairy to flit about at any moment.

Just past the trees we happened upon a cemetery.  There were no graves of Viscounts or other royals.

This was the resting place for all the beloved pets, including a favorite cow who had cared for the family by giving them numerous gallons of milk.

Passing through the gate into the walled garden we found

the herbaceous border

and further in, the cutting gardens.

I loved looking up at all the chimneys as I exited back onto the terraces.

One of the many urns lining the Italian garden

In 1974 while refurbishing the house a fire broke out in the early morning hours.  Little could be saved other than the outer shell.  The roof and most of the rooms were destroyed.

The Powerscourt house is now the home of the Avoca cafe', bakery

I resisted but I don't know how

and shops specializing in unique Irish foods and designs.

I wanted to take this home.

What began as a short morning outing ended up being a day long excursion walking down paths and walkways created so long ago I truly cannot wrap my brain around it.  

These are the thoughts which stop me in my tracks and send me to the history books.