Rare Mexican plant is thriving in Achill
OUR sizzling Irish summer has brought about a major botanical event on Achill Island, writes Joanna McNicholas.
A desert plant native to Mexico, which rarely flowers in cooler climates, is ready to bloom at Achill’s Secret Garden.
The plant, Agave Americana, commonly called Century plant due to its flowering habit, thrives in hot dry areas and can take up to 70 years to bloom depending on climatic conditions.
Willem Van Goor owner of Achill Secret Garden attributes the plant’s flowering to a combination of extremely high temperatures and six weeks of drought.
When conditions are favourable an Agave directs all of its energy into producing a tall central stem with shoots which eventually produce yellow flowers. The unusually high summer temperatures caused an explosion of growth and the plant has now reached a staggering seven metres, towering way above the roof of its owner’s house.
Monitoring the plant over the summer months Willem found on the hottest days it was growing at a rate of one centimetre every ten minutes until early afternoon. Growth then ceased and began again the following morning.
Willem’s plant is 46 years old and is now ready to bloom. Following its flowering the plant will die.
In hot climates, seeds from the flowers can regrow but that is unlikely to occur in Achill’s damp climate. “At Leiden University Botanical Gardens in The Netherlands, two 70 year old Agave plants also flowered this summer” Willem explained.
His plant is positioned on the east side of the house just seven metres from the sea and it faces fierce winds.
“Agaves won’t grow in an open garden but this one has a cosy corner at the back of the house to keep it going. Twice it was flooded with one foot of seawater and it has survived storms, hurricanes, frost and snow’ Willem added.
Artist, musician and gardener Willem Van Goor along with his wife Doutsje Nauta moved to Ireland from The Netherlands in 1997. They run the Bleanaskill Lodge bed and breakfast and Achill Secret Garden, the most westerly public garden in Ireland. A number of well-known people had previously owned the property including Sir Anthony Bevir who was a private secretary to Winston Churchill until 1957.
The aptly named garden is located on the Atlantic Drive. Backed onto the sea shore tall trees screen its three acres of beautiful gardens from the public road.
Cordylines and majestic Monterey Cypresses planted in 1875 form a protective canopy over the garden which is cleverly divided into ‘rooms’ and everywhere gorgeous flowering plants, shrubs, and trees sway in the sea breeze. The garden can only be described as magical.
In the midst of mature trees a profusion of lilac lace caps, exotic flowers and shrubs tumble out through hedges and paths. There’s also a vegetable garden and a polytunnel containing grape vines, kiwi fruit and tomatoes. The garden is delightful and filled with an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity. It is open to the public by appointment only.