While the rest of us think we're doing well if we manage to nurture a basil plant on the windowsill, others are in the enviable position of opening their entire garden to the public. When Hilary Wilson-Wright wanted to do a little fund-raising for St Patrick's Hospital, she realised the amazing gardens surrounding her home, Coolcarrigan in Co Kildare, held the answer.
After a tremendous storm in 1974 had nearly decimated the 10-acre grounds, her husband, John Wilson-Wright, had the good fortune to meet a world-famous plantsman, Sir Harold Hillier, of the Hillier Arboretum in Winchester. He invited Sir Harold to come to Coolcarrigan and reinvent the garden, and such was Hillier's interest that he paid visits for the next five years. The resulting garden is packed full of rare and interesting trees and shrubs, as well as an old greenhouse complete with grapes and peaches; an arboretum and a small church. Hilary and John are throwing it open to the public on Sunday, August 10th and are expecting Dr Anthony Clare and other governors of the hospital to make the Sunday outing. Tea will be served in the gardens as part of the admission fee of £5 and directions can be had from 016775423, extn 632.