Nature’s Canvas

Every season at Adare Manor brings its own enchantment, but there is an undeniable magic to midsummer, when the estate is in full bloom. Across these 840 acres, you will encounter a diverse, thriving ecosystem, and at this time of year, the gardens, wildflowers, and forests are all at their peak. Warmer weather and long bright evenings offer an invitation to step outside the grandeur of the Manor house and into the splendour of the Manor estate.

Lavished with love and attention by our expert team of gardeners, the geometric parterre garden and walled “secret gardens” which surround the Manor are living works of art. At this time of year, the star of the show is the Bellis “Robella”. These double salmon-pink flowers were chosen to complement the warmth of the manor’s stonework. There are 8340 of these beauties planted in the formal gardens. Later in the season, Begonia
“Nonstop Red” will step in to take their place, ensuring a continuous, spectacular display of colour. As a cool counterpoint to these brighter blooms, dense plantings of Nepeta “Six Hill Giant” produce successive flushes of lilac-coloured flowers throughout the summer. This cousin of the mint family is a resilient perennial, fragrant and beloved by bees. All of these flowers would make elegant additions to the home garden, as would this recommendation from Padraig Collins, Landscape Manager:
“The Cercis Siliquastrum, with its striking purple flowers in spring, presents an enticing
option. With a mature height and width of approximately 4.5m, this small tree not only adds visual interest but also contributes to the ecological richness of its surroundings.”

Beyond the elegant symmetry of the formal gardens, the estate grounds unfurl into a dynamic landscape of woodlands, parklands and riverbanks, all carefully managed to support local biodiversity. Here, aesthetics and sustainability go hand in hand, and thanks to our ongoing conservation projects, there is always something new and beautiful to discover.

We have planted over 16,000 native trees since 2016, and constructed two new wetlands on our golf course, alongside several “rewilded” areas along the river and around our solar farm. We have also surrounded the Padel Club with a sea of native wildflower meadows: heaven for our eyes and a haven for pollinators. Each of these measures contribute to the
health of our environment, providing land-based carbon storage, water quality improvement, and wildlife habitats, all while adding to the peaceful loveliness of
the grounds.

In 1865, Lady Caroline, Countess of Dunraven described how the estate’s “… extensive vistas through aged trees and shaded walks “where many a saint and many a hero
trod” give a peculiar interest to the whole place.”

You can share her joy in Adare Manor’s natural wonders by following in her footsteps. Set aside a quiet hour for a stroll through the Woodland Walk or the Biodiversity Trail as you meander through
the forest and along the River Maigue. If you pause for a moment and listen, you may experience the same peace that she found here, where “…the murmuring of the river, the singing of the birds, and the fluttering of the numerous water-fowl (are) the only sounds that break upon the silence.