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Mount Usher Gardens Last updated: Jan 2005
Address:	Ashford, Co. Wicklow, Ireland Tel: 353 (0)404 40205 Fax: 353 (0)404 40205 email: mount_usher.gardens at indigo.ie web address: mount-usher-gardens.com Latitude: 53° 01'N Longitude: 04° 05'W
BACKGROUND TO THE COLLECTION
Year Founded:	1868
Ownership:	Private, Mrs Madelaine Jay
Garden code:	MTUS
Umbrella organisation:	Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Irish Garden Society, National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens
PERSONNEL
Owner:	Mrs Madelaine Jay
Head Gardener:	Ms Maria Vlahos
Contact person:	Ms Maria Vlahos
Total Staff:	6
Total Horticultural Staff:	5
POLICIES
Accessions	That every plant introduced to the Gardens is given an accession number, and that details about its origin, collector, collector number, etc. are documented.
Collections	To cultivate, when possible, three of every plant that is introduced to the Gardens; and that 25% will be natural-source material. To continue in the Mount Usher style of growing unusual and rare plants.
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
Altitude:	20 m
Soil type:	Loam, acid
Aspect:	South, mostly flat
Total area:	8 ha
Area heated:
Other sites of collection:
WEATHER RECORDS	Records kept
Temperature:
Average daily:
Av. monthly max:
Av. monthly min:
Absolute maximum	29 °C
Absolute minimum	-7 °C
Wind:
direction
strength:
Rainfall
Average annual	1000 mm
Month of maximum	January
Month of minimum	July
PLANT COLLECTION
Families	290
Genera	500
Species	3000
Taxa	5000
Accessions	10000
Plants	12 000
Notable plants within the collection
	Eucalyptus viminalis, E. urnigera, Cunninghamia lanceolata, Nothofagus dombeyi, N. moorei, N. fusca, N. nervosa, Pinus montezumae, Eucryphia moorei, E. x nymansensis 'Mount Usher', Cornus capitita and Lomatia ferruginea.
Geographical area of specialisation
	Northern Europe, Middle Europe, Southwestern Europe, Southeastern Europe, East Europe, Northern Africa, Southern Africa, Siberia, Caucasus, China, Mongolia, Australia, New Zealand, Subarctic America, Northwestern USA, North-Central USA, Northeastern USA, Southwestern USA, South-Central USA, Southeastern USA, North and Central Mexico, Western South America, Brazil, Southern South America
Special families within the collections
Special genera within the collections
	Nothofagus, Eucryphia, Eucalyptus
Special collections	Nothofagus, NCCPG – 1 Genus.
Phenological Garden
Records of living collection	Kept since 1880 Computerised
Record System	unknown
Plant-collecting trips	International and national
FACILITIES ON SITE
Herbarium	Approximately 140 specimens, mostly cultivated
Library	No
Research facilities	No
Publications	Garden catalogue
Identifications:	Undertakes identifications for the general public. Internal verification of material
Teaching and Education:	Primary and public education, potential for special courses
Interpretation of the material:	Supervised garden walks, signs, brochures, guided trails
Friends Organisation:	No
Visitor facilities:	Restaurant, café, plant shop, book shop, gift shop
ACCESS TO THE COLLECTIONS
Public access:	Admission charge
Visitors per year:
Public opening hours:	Mon-Sun: 10.30am-6pm summer
GUIDING PRINCIPLES BEHIND THE COLLECTION
	No chemicals are used in the management of this garden. The Gardens will continue to exchange plants, in all forms, with other gardens, institutions, etc. with like-minded interests in both botanical and amenity pursuits. Mount Usher is a garden that welcomes visitors to enjoy the Robinsonian garden style and the plant treasures that grow within.

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