A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be invited by Pat Kelly to visit her beautiful forest garden for a look around and a sketching session. It was such a delight to explore the many species which call this garden home, and Pat was so knowledgeable that I could have stayed all day finding out more. The weather was a little difficult for much artwork to be completed on the day, but I took lots of photos and have been enjoying making sketches from these in the time since. One of the best bits was sampling some of the berries, edible leaves and seed pods that Pat foraged while I was there and although I can't share the tastes with you, I can share some photos and sketches of the species we encountered.
One of the first parts of the forest garden I encountered was the pond area. There was so many types of plant here that it was hard to take it all in, but Pat pointed out the different species, including a waterlily flower that was just peeking out from between the leaves. The yellow flag irises (Iris pseudacorus and Manx name 'cliogagh') were easier to spot (see sketch above and picture below) and I was able to see some tadpoles swimming in the water. The pond is a very tranquil space to sit next to and enjoy nature.
I loved how the different forms of the leaves created shadows across each other here. No wonder Pat is always creating such wonderful sketches and textile work. She really has an endless supply of inspiration!
As we progressed through the garden, Pat pointed out a patch of Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi). This pretty plant is relatively rare on the Isle of Man but can be found in the Curraghs and some of the glens (as well as in Pat's garden, of course). It's distinctive because of the divided petals that give its flowers a ragged appearance. The Manx name for this plant is 'lus ny cooag' which means 'cuckoo plant' (see the Wildflowers of the Isle of Man website for more on this plant).
Pat showed me several herb plants and we then stopped at the sweet cicely (Myrrhis odorata) plant so I could taste a leaf and seed pod. The leaf had a very subtle and pleasant sweet aniseed flavour, which I was just commenting on when Pat gave me a seed pod to try. That was much more of an aniseed punch and was quite delicious. It's a very beautiful and delicate looking plant too, so I think I'll have a go at growing some in my own garden. I've found an entry in the iMuseum archive of a pressed sweet cicely plant that was collected from Ballasalla in 1866 and catalogued as most likely being a garden escape.
Medicinally, sweet cicely has a long history of use in traditional European herbalism. It has been employed to aid digestion, relieve coughs, and reduce symptoms of gastrointestinal distress. The herb's high content of essential oils, such as anethole, contributes to its antispasmodic and carminative properties. Additionally, its leaves and roots have been used to create herbal infusions believed to support respiratory health and overall vitality. It's amazing how such easily overlooked plants can have such great benefits!
As we walked through the various trees and shrubs in the garden, Pat explained about the many types of fruit she enjoys through the year. As well as apples, cherries and plums, Pat grows things I've never, or only seldom, heard of such as Asian pears and honeyberries. Although not yet fully developed, I was able to try a small honeyberry and it was quite delicious!
Having never heard of them before, I've done a bit of research and honeyberries are particularly rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, dietary fibre and antioxidants. They've actually been found to have higher levels of the antioxidant anthocyanin than other berries, including blueberries, and so are particularly useful for reducing inflammation in the body and for improving eye health. (To read more about these tasty berries see this Better Homes and Gardens article).
Pat also grows redcurrants, raspberries, hazelnuts, filberts and other fruit such as quince. I can't remember half of the species she told me about, there were so many. It's no surprise that birdsong could be heard the whole time we were in the garden. The local avian population must be delighted to have such a wealth of tasty treats to choose from!
As someone who loves trees and is fascinated by the different forms and patterns of leaves, I was in my element in this garden. Thanks to Pat for taking the time to show me around!
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