Sixty- two members and guests of the IGPS had a wonderful day out to Aughentaine Estate, on the outskirts of Fivemiletown, County Tyrone, home of James and Caro Hamilton Stubber. It was a beautiful sunny day, we enjoyed a lovely picnic lunch on the front terrace and afterwards Caro very kindly treated us to a delicious pudding, tea/coffee and homemade traybakes. We had a plant sales table and afterwards James gave a short talk on the history of the estate, illustrated by colourful photos on a large display board.
Designed in the mid 1950’s by Percy Crane, and created over the last 50 years by Mrs John Hamilton Stubber, the extensive gardens at Aughentaine cover some 12 acres and are on an elevated site with magnificent views. They range from formal terraced herbaceous borders to planted parkland, a walled kitchen garden and an attractive woodland glen sheltering a collection of specimen rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas and trees.
James and Head Gardener Barbara Carleton, guided us around the garden on a wonderful tour, pointing out special plants combined with interesting stories. At the end of the day, Billy McCone presented the book ‘Irish Heritage Plants – Plandaí Oidhreachta’ as a gift each to Caro and Barbara. Many thanks again James, Caro and Barbara, it certainly was a fabulous day!
Many thanks to Barbara Kelso for text and photographs.
