The Dillon Garden

Over 25 years this garden’s owners, gardening writer and broadcaster Helen Dillon and her husband Val have transformed their suburban garden of just over half an acre into a wonderland for plant lovers.

A striking feature is the limestone canal with magnificently planted borders on either side, which remarkably works very well indeed. The gravel garden is another gem, with the gravel providing a perfect foil for a collection of Araliaceae, many of them rare, with their exotic and exuberantly shaped leaves.

There is something to see in all seasons, drifts of snowdrops in early Spring, Dianthus, Hellebores and sky blue Clematis in Summer and in Autumn the wonderful leaf colours and late flowering species such as Perovksia and Lavatera.

Abundantly planted borders blaze with colour, there are surprises around every corner, a marvellous mix of the formal and the informal with much for the domestic gardener to learn, if you are lucky enough to meet the owners good company too.

There is a regular programme of lectures and other events throughout the year which are both excellent and popular. If you are a gardening enthusiast I really do encourage you to check what’s on while you are in Dublin – it could be the highlight of your trip!

But even if you can’t make a talk, don’t miss this place. The garden changes all the time, so even if you have been before, go again!

Main image by Marieasy

Visiting the Dillon Garden

The garden is open to the public from 2pm to 6pm every day in March, July & August and on Sundays only in April, May, June & September. Children must be supervised at all time, but ideally don’t bring them. It’s not really a run around type of place they probably wouldn’t really enjoy it anyway.

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