The Courtyard Garden
Competition in colour with Hydrangea Britannia and Wisteria Sinenois.
Midsummer colour in the Courtyard Garden. Geranium Palmatun with Hoheria in the background.
The fountain.
A student finding quiet time in the garden to read.
It used to be an internal wilderness surrounded by walls. Nowadays people tend to visualise Marino as that group of buildings that surround the courtyard garden. Wilderness it certainly used to be: a haven for weeds and high grass, a few broken concrete paths and as the pièce de résistance, a large ugly oil tank with enough oil to heat the whole institution for a winter. The only survivor of those days is the Araucaria -"monkey puzzle" to you and me, which now rejoices in the companionship of thousands of plants native to many countries.
Marino`s courtyard garden is a story of redemption, not so much ugly duckling to swan as oil tank to water fountain. It is a redemption that is associated especially with Brother John Bourke who is matter of fact about it all - down to earth even!
"Initially there was no great thought given to the nature of planting. Any offering of a tree, shrub or perennial was gratefully accepted. As the garden developed many of those early pioneers were discarded and more suitable replacements were made. At no stage was an overall design contemplated. It was simply an instinctive use of space, bearing in mind the basics of sun, shade and moisture retention. As time progressed the quality of the soil was greatly improved by annual supplies of manure and mulch."
Today the garden houses an extensive variety of plants from New Zealand, Canaries and Madeira, China, Japan, South Africa, Mexico, South America, Australia, and Chile. Some survive at well below their normal temperature limits due to the extra protection from the high walls although Irish winters from time to time take their toll.
Brother Bourke is philosophical about such attrition. "A plant lost makes way for a welcome replacement. Yes, even gardens speak of life and death but ahead there is new growth - the poetry of the earth is never dead!"
The thousands of visitors to Marino greatly enjoy and appreciate the scents, the calm, and above all the sense of tranquility which the courtyard garden offers. This is one place that proves the old adage:
"One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth".