The walled Annesley Garden, dating from 1740, provides a central focal point for the National Arboretum. This magnificent collection of trees and shrubs, set in beautiful surroundings, also incorporates fountains, ponds, ornamental greenhouses and broad sweeping vistas.
In terms of size, age and condition of the trees, this collection ranks among the top three arboreta in the British Isles and the finest in Ireland.
It includes -
• 18 oldest existing specimens in the British Isles
• 34 ‘champion’ trees of the British Isles
• 42 ‘champion’ trees of Ireland.
The Annesley Gardens & National Arboretum in September 2002
The walled garden has a distinct colour co-ordination this month for white
flowers are in abundance. There are probably more individual flowers in bloom
in September than in any other month in the Castlewellan calendar. Therefore
the gardens are a rich source of late nectar for honey bees, bumble bees,
wasps, butterflies and moths. This is largely due to the amount of Eucryphia
plants smothered in bloom.
The 200m long Eucryphia Walk produces the 'snow carpet' for which the Annesley Gardens are famous. The Walk was planted in 1946 and is created by specimens of Chilean Eucryphia glutinosa. The Eucryphia Walk is actually composed of single and double-flowered forms. The latter is called E.glutinosa 'Plena' and it flowers for a slightly later and longer period. There is a prominent plant by the steps to the terrace. The mother plant from which seed was taken is still alive and can be found by the Heron Fountain and this must surely be one of the finest specimens, having been planted around 1885. Two other evergreen Eucryphias in the Arboretum need also to be mentioned:
Firstly, E cordifolia is another species from S.America and the most prominent is at the top of the steps to the terrace however the Champion tree of this species is visible from the main path, it is 70ft (21m tall), The white flowers are shown up especially by the very dark evergreen foliage. Note also the orange lichen on the trunks.
Secondly, E x nymansensis is the hybrid that is produced from the two species mentioned above. This hybrid has been made in Sussex and Ireland. There are 3 large spires smothered in flower in the garden at the moment. The tree in the vista from the terrace is of particular interest as it is named after a previous Head Gardener at Castlewellan, 'George Graham'. Not only can this be appreciated more easily now some of the nearby conifers have been removed but the greater light levels mean flowers are produced lower down.
Turning to other genera, Eupatorium micranthum is probably the most irresistible plant to butterflies. It has an incense fragrance and you may be lucky to see up to a dozen Red Admirals on it at a time. The plant can be found near the top wall.
Nearby is Hydrangea paniculata 'Grandiflora' is one of the showiest of the genus with large pyramid of a flower, a good specimen can be found near the top wall.
Aesculus parviflora or the Shrubby Japanese Horse Chestnut has filigree white panicles with thread like stamens. A plant can be seen near the top gate.
A remarkable Chinese Magnolia, M.delavayii is in flower near the champion Eucryphia cordifolia mentioned above but you will have to look carefully for the ivory blooms which are towards the top of the tree and can be hidden by the large leathery foliage.
Finally in the white theme, in the Herbaceous Borders just above the Merboy Fountain you can find Crinum x powellii which has rich perfumed trumpets.