Michael Classon’s garden “Summy” is located near the scenic village of Rosbeg, and is described in The Donegal Garden Trail as “established in 1979 in a valley on a rocky hillside surrounded by four acres of native hazel woodland with blackthorn, juniper, burnet rose, ash and oak. Native primrose, bluebells, orchids and varied ferns abound. Emphasis has been placed on the blending of nature and the provision of all year round colour from many trees, shrubs, bulbs and herbaceous plants. Above the house is the woodland garden with rambling roses and honey bees buzzing in a shady glade.”
The driveway to “Summy” is lined with Hydrangeas:
A beautiful white Tree Poppy stands tall on the opposite side:
The scent of Honeysuckle fills the air:
Day Lilies sparkle after a summer rain shower:
Hypericum is thriving, and will flower all summer:
On the hill behind Michael’s home, we pass sweetly scented Paul’s Himalayan Musk Roses:
A variety of shrubs and trees adorn the hillside in contrasting colours:
A stunning white Hydrangea smiles gently:
Further up the hillside, we look upwards into the centre of a Monkey Puzzle tree:
The path winds on through Hazel and Ferns. In springtime a sea of Bluebells delights the eye. What a perfect combination.
The Garden Trail brochure continues “In a sheltered glen below the house a pond mirrors the ever changing Donegal skies. This naturally spring-fed pool is surrounded with a host of shrubs, fruit trees and acid loving plants.”
A series of gently sloping paths lead to the pond:
It is a haven of peace and tranquility.
Our journey continues past more Himalayan Musk Roses and a Gertrude Jekyll Rose (on the right):
Michael cups an unusual star shaped Mallow flower:
It has taken many years of hard work on a site that many would have thought impossible, but Michael and his late wife have created a treasure of a garden.
It is well worth a visit.
Brigid P. Gallagher is a retired natural medicines therapist, passionate organic gardener and author of “Watching the Daisies- Life lessons on the Importance of Slow,” a holistic memoir dedicated to the art of mindfulness and healing from debilitating illness.
Wow Bridget a heaven on earth. Wonderful presentation and a lovely post.
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Thank you Kamal. Michael is such a lovely man and still gardens at 85. 🌼🌼🌼
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Yes from the post could make out. So nice to have such people around the gardens even at that age.
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Wow, Brigid, it’s a wonderful garden. I would love to pay a visit. I can see that it has taken years to make it so beautiful. Nice photos!
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Thank you Miriam. Michael is an inspiration. He is also really kind and gentle. 🌼🌷🌼
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Is it his private garden and welcome people to visit?
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He is part of the Donegal Gatden Trail. Visitors pay a donation which he sends to the MS society.
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It must be nice to have it available to public.
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What a wonderful example of the art of quiet toil creating an absolutely exquisite haven. Thank you for sharing. There is SO much crammed into my little notebook now pointing to a trip to Donegal (via West Cork or vice Versa because I can’t visit without visiting friends and dear ones) …. next year perhaps. Yes, perhaps next year 🙂
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That would be wonderful. We have an airport two miles from here that has flights to and from Dublin and Glasgow. I would bake you a cake. 🌷🌼🌼
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Then how can I possibly resist! I shall look into it. I have a daughter threatening to return after 4 years in the Far East and who I know will want to go to Ireland. It seems rather kismet-like to me …
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Brilliant. I have not met any other blog friends in the flesh.I am hoping to go to next years bloggers bash to catch up.
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I have a friend in a different region who I ‘met’ blogging. She and I are going to try and rustle up some sort of blog-meet for Frenchies as the Bloggers Bash is a bit too far for many to go. So far I have only met one other blogger in the flesh. He lives very near my mother and we passed a delightful morning last year. I think that one generally gets a good idea of whether one would really get on with another through their writing. At least, ever optimistic me thinks that! I will be delighted to meet you, I know it 🙂
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I shall look forward to that Osyth. Anyone who takes after Dr Doolittle is my cup of tea!
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Beautiful white Hydrangea, I love all the flowers though.
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Thank you. It is a beautiful garden and Michael is such a dear man.
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Such a beautiful garden. xxx
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Thank you both. I hope you are feeling better today. X
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Welcome back Brigid! Your photos are gorgeous, as always. That garden looks so beautiful and peaceful.
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Thank you Terri. It is a lovely garden. I have one more Garden Trail garden to visit next week before autumn descends. 🌼🌼🌼
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I’ll look forward to seeing your photos. I hope you enjoy it.
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What a beautiful memories to have created with his late wife. Gardens are such special places. I am looking forward to creating another one for us when we settle down again!
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Thank you. Wishing you lots of lovely times when you begin planting. You will ha e lots of inspiration on your travels. 🌼🌼🌼
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I have 🙂
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Wow… they put a lot of work into their gardens! Very beautiful indeed!
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Yes. They sure did. Michael is 85 now and still an active gardener.
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Amazing the gardening keeps him young!
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Welcome back to the blog, Brigid. Thanks for sharing Classon’s beautiful gardens. Your photos are lovely.
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Thank you Diana. I am slowly catching up with my blog friends. Going through them alphabetically…
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What a beautiful enticing garden, for a moment I truly felt as if I was there. Bliss. 🙂
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Thank you Marje. Michael was such a lovely host. My sister and I really enjoyed our visit.
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What a beautiful garden Brigid. It sounds like a really special visit. Px
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Thank you Paul. Michael is an inspiration. Still gardening at 85. X
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I’d like that to be me one day!
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Me too. 😉
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how beautiful
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Thank you Michele. I will be catching up with you soon.
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Wow, this is incredible! Did you visit here in your time off blogging? Brigid, the flowers and nature are exquisite. ❤
Thank you so much. Blessings, Debbie
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Hi Debbie. I visited before my time out. I have a lot of posts scheduled ahead at the moment. Summer here is full of good blog material. 🌼
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Hello Brigid,
What a beautiful look at this garden. It’s a treat to see Honeysuckle and Hypericum growing in the garden like that. Two I’ve only heard about but not seen.
Thank you Brigid and I can imagine how much you enjoyed this visit 🙋🏻💕
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Many thanks Di. It was a lovely day out and I got two posts from it. Another scheduled tomorrow. I am ahead on my scheduling for a change. 😊
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I’m thankful that I stumbled upon your blog. at 37 I’m wracked with health complaints due to stress. I no longer work, I’m a Mum, Wife, Housewife and now allotmenteer. I still rush around as I thrive on being busy but I’m learning to enjoy being busy in terms of ‘pottering’. I’m looking forward to sharing your visuals of being slow and reading words that give me a gentle reminder to do just that.
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Thank you so much. Yes it takes time to change old habits. However gatdening really helps.
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Absolutely lovely, Brigid. I am really enjoying the English gardens during our tour of England.
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Thats wonderful Robbie. I hope you get to see lots. 🌼🌼🌼
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Absolutely breath taking Brigid. Thank you for sharing, and I hope you enjoyed your time away from social media. And I believe you said your sister was coming to visit too.
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Thank you Sharon. It was great to have a break with my sister. Still a bit of catching up to do yet. 🌼
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What a marvelous place to wander on an afternoon Brigid! Did you get inspired for your garden?? I especially loved that pond–and the water lillies. so beautiful! Hope you have a great weekend ahead. Are you singing?? hugs hugs!
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Hi Rhonda. I loved the pond too. If only I had space to make mone that size. Shall be singing tomorrow. 🌼🌼🌼
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Oh Brigid– what will you group be singing?? I love choral music. I’m reading a fun book –The Chilbury Ladies Choir– set down in rural England during the War. Got the recommendation from another blogger– have you read it?? Hope you are doing so well. xox
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I have not come across this book but I will look out for it. Life is challenging at the moment as my sister is very sick with cancer. X
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Oh Brigid. So sorry to hear this. It has got to be so difficult for you, and after all you’ve been through. Am stopping to pray for her, for you as you look to the days ahead. God bless and keep your friend. hugs hugs.
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Thank you Rhonda. Your prayers are very much appreciated. 🌼
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hugs Brigid!
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Oh Brigid what a magical way to spend the day….so soothing and peaceful. And the fragrances your senses were bombarded with. Ahhhh, is what comes to mind! I would love to meditate there. Thanks for sharing all those beautiful pics!! xo
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Bless you Deb. It is such a lovely garden. It shows how you can create something beautiful on a difficult site. Michael is 85 now and still an avid gardener. 🌼🌼🌼
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Wow, good for him, I bet that’s what keeps him feeling good. How could it not, that garden would be a delight to spend time in daily! You being such the avid gardener too can truly appreciate all his hard work and beautiful plants and flowers. xo
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💚
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I’m so glad you had the chance to enjoy this wonderful ‘haven of peace and tranquility’ Brigid.. xx
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Yes. I am too. It was a special day. X
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Wonderful xx
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Thank you fort he share can smell the perfumes of the garden.
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My pleasure. That is the last of my garden visits for the summer.🌼🌼🌼
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Wow, beauty overload What a stunning garden and what an amazing man he is to have created such beauty. Lovely post Brigid.
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Yes Michael is quite a character and still gardening away at 85. He and his late wife created a real haven despite the difficult location and site. 🌼
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Clearly he loves what he does. 🌹❤️
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Lovely post as ever Brigid! What a wonderful way to spend a day. Such a pretty garden and I love those Mallow flowers.
Thank you for joining us at #MyGloriousGardens this month. I think you win the prize if there was one for commenting on the most amounts of posts too….thank you. I will post a round up post soon.xx
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Thank you. I thought everyone did the same. 😉
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[…] Watching the Daisies […]
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Beautiful pictures 🙂
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Thank you Ben. 🌼
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