LONGEST BORDERS Alex Welcome to the Borders stop. Here we tell you about the flowering herbaceous borders. Pause after bordersThis is my favourite part of the gardens. Anthony These are the longest double herbaceous borders in Ireland. AlexT raditionally, a herbaceous border backs onto a protective hedge. It provides a wonderful place for bees and butterflies. Sarah These borders really hum with life from spring until early winter. MAINTENANCE SarahIn 2015 the beds were entirely replanted. Alex The current mix includes over 700 varieties of flowering plants. Alliums and Foxgloves give colour in summer.Dried sedums decorate the border in winter. Anthony This must be a very high maintenance area, Alex. AlexY es, one person is required to tend and weed the borders all summer long. They start at one end, and they start again when they get to the other end! Sarah And we have recapped all the walls here. AlexThese brick walls store and radiate heat. They give walled gardens their own special protective climate. Anthony Apples, plums and pears grow on the walls in the orchards on either side of this walk. Some of these rare varieties date back to the 1600’s. MERVYN’S JOY Alex Mervyn Wingfield, the 7th Lord Powerscourt, once said:- “The planting of the choice plants and shrubs,and seeing them increase year by year in size and beauty has been one of the greatest pleasures of my life.”