Seaforde Butterfly House and Gardens

I've been so busy working the last three weeks that I haven't had the time to publish some of my travelling experiences and I'm going to share some now.

Seaforde Tropical Butterfly House, Gardens and Tea Room.  
Seaforde, UK

http://seafordegardens.com/

This is one of those places on the eastern coast of Northern Ireland that has more hidden treasures than what might be apparent from the unassuming entranceway just north of the tiny village that has the estate's name.  Known more to local and European tourists, this is an extraordinary little gem of a retreat that has been lovingly cultivated by the Forde family and generously shared with visitors from late April until the end of September each year.

We stopped first at the tearoom, a cheery wooden structure built onto an ancient stone wall.  Heated by a wooden stove, the menu featured homemade soup, sandwiches, and an array of homemade cakes, tarts, crumbles, and tea cookies.  There is a play area for children, which speaks to the wide age range of visitors to the gardens, and all are made welcome.

Peacocks roam the gardens, and they are definitely the cock of the walk in their attitude.  We came during mating season so the males were in full display mode, and when we approached they would favor us with their plumage for a photo.  I don't know how intelligent these birds are, but when we asked one particularly savvy bird if he would turn around and give us his back view, he quickly complied, long enough for us to snap away.

I'm just sayin'.....

The butterfly house is a delight - and while we were there in the early stages of many of the species (new ones are delivered as pupae every week), there is nothing more relaxing than watching these beautiful creatures of every size and shape flutter around, feast on fruit (their favorite meal) and occasionally land on your shoulder or hand.  If you blow on one gently as they perch on a leaf, they may open their wings and provide a stunning photographic opportunity.

We were fortunate enough to be given a private tour of the adjoining gardens, reached through a vine-covered stone opening, and it is clear this collection of rare plants is best viewed with relaxed and curious exploration.  Many of the plants, some of which only grow in this small eco-system provided by sheltering the environment of an enclosed garden are currently being catalogued by experts as the the late Mathew Forde, original garden architect, was more apt to describe each of the thousands of specimens by memory.

In the middle of the formal area of the gardens is a large, hornbeam maze, and it's just high enough to provide a real puzzler experience for those who want to find their way through to the leafy and sheltered gazebo in the center.

The experience at Seaforde Gardens is truly like being in the privileged enclave of a private estate, not a buttoned-up tourist destination. The stone walls, small gazebos for resting, foot pathways meandering through forests (including a giant redwood planted decades ago by Forde), offer a solitude and closeness to nature can be enjoyed by all.  With plenty of picnic seating and lawns to bring a blanket and basket to, this is a lovely way to enjoy the timeless beauty of cultivated Ireland.