August, for me, is the most bittersweet month of all and today has been full of the sweetness as my beloved Mount Congreve Gardens have re-opened ~ and suddenly Thursdays feel like Thursdays again. The world famous gardens here in Co. Waterford are set to open every Thursday from now until the end of September (9am-4.pm).
I suppose the bitter-sweetness of August harks back to a time when I knew that my older brother and sister had just four weeks to go before returning to boarding school and transforming me into an ‘only child’ for yet another year.
It’s also about the shortening of the days. This mattered hugely to me in the days when I played tennis with a passion ~ days before floodlights and indoor courts. Fading light isn’t just about tennis games ending earlier; it’s about reaching out to soak in as much colour as possible in every single sense of the word ‘
I made my way to Mount Congreve early this morning on a day which was very humid with grey skies. There were moments when I felt like I was in a rain forest but my heart was singing as I lost myself in the Gardens which were overflowing with inspirational colour.
SOCIAL BRIDGE ~ Jean Tubridy connecting with you from Ireland 
beautiful spot.. reminds me of some gardens in Toronto..always worth a slow walk through…
Hi there, thanks so much for writing. Yes, Mount Congreve Gardens are stunning and I feel like I could walk slowly through them forever! Would love to see the gardens in Toronto.
I’m pleased the gardens are open again, albeit just for a day a week. We’re fortunate these days that so many places that, years ago, were fenced off as private now welcome in the public.
Roy, you’ve no idea what a difference that one day a week makes to me and many others who are besotted with Mount Congreve. The staff were thrilled to see us all arriving to savour the place again after such uncertainty over the last while when the Gardens were shut completely. Hopefully you’ll get to see them one of these Thursdays??
Most certainly it would be a port of call. However I think the plane is leaving without me next Saturday, change of plan…
Hi Roy, what a pity. I hope the new plans are equally exciting and that you get here some time soon.