Inspiration at Lip na Cloiche

April 20, 2012 by outofmyshed

This is the second time that I’ve visited Lucy Mackenzie’s Lip na Cloiche garden and nursery on Mull. I was originally wowed by this hillside haven and its phenomenal planting about a year ago, but since then, the island has been battered by the worst storms in 30 years, with salt-laden winds hitting the land at over 120 miles an hour.

Salt and wind burn are easily in evidence on some of the plants. However, ceaseless rain since last August, unlike our drought in the South, has also done for a fair amount of perennials too.

After a brief sunny spell, the rain was back in force on the day we visited, but had its compensations as it looked rather gorgeous captured on the hairy leaves of this Meconopsis.

Despite, or maybe because of some gaps left in the planting, there are some great sculptural developments in the garden. I love the fork heads climbing their way up the slope amongst the ‘London Pride’ (Saxifraga x urbium),

and the teapots filled with various bulbs are a fabulous quirky delight. Along with the stunning planting, Lucy Mackenzie’s outsider art credentials seem even stronger than before.

Found objects have been artfully recycled throughout the garden,

and beachcombed treasures displayed with panache.

Spade heads echo the fork head pilgrimage ,

and teapots are reprised as planters at other points in the garden.

Bedsteads define the border at the top of the garden at Lip na Cloiche,

whilst willow has been woven to mask off the compost area half way down.

There’s so much artistry to feast your eyes on, from Fritillarias in colanders,

to trees in trunks and much, much more,

that I know I’ll be drawn back to visit this spectacular garden again and again.

P.S.

Prompted by a comment by Jono at Real Men Sow (a fantastic veg growing blog), adding a couple of pics of Lucy’s gorgeously chunky raised vegetable beds. They’re tucked in, in front of the greenhouse area,

and nice and deep, allowing for plenty of veg planting choices. There are also some trained fruit trees and raspberry canes on the other side of the hedge, heading towards the shoreline. Heaven!

Posted in Apples, Bulbs, Gardens to visit, Gardens to visit in Scotland, Panters and pots, Perennials, Plant combinations, Plant Nurseries, Pots, Raspberries, Seaside, Simple but briiiant, Spring plants, Trees, Vegetables | Tagged besteads as garden fencing, compost area, feast your eyes, Found objects as art, Fritillaria meliagris, Garden Sculpture, gardening on a hillside, gardens on Mull, heavenly gardens in scotland, hillside haven, inspirational gardens, Lip na Cloiche garden on Mull, london pride, London pride en masse, Lucy Mackenzie, Make do and mend garden sculptures, nature, outsider art, plants, recycling in a garden, salt and wind burn on plants, Saxifraga x urbium, Scottish gardens to visit, Sculpture in gardens, Teapots as planters, Uk gardens to visit | 21 Comments

21 Responses

on April 20, 2012 at 3:46 pm | Reply Veronica Peerless

I love the teapots, and the bedsteads – such a great idea. And willow is a fantastic way to cover a compost heap!
- on April 20, 2012 at 4:10 pm | Reply outofmyshed
  
  Hi Veronica, yes, the garden is packed full of creative ideas. Want to go back later in the year as I’ve only seen it around Easter and want to see more of Lucy Mackenzie’s plantings during summertime too! Nx
on April 20, 2012 at 6:58 pm | Reply Anna

I love the creative containers, especially the trees in trunks. Very inspirational!
on April 20, 2012 at 8:44 pm | Reply wellywoman

What a great place. We didn’t get the chance to stop off there when we were on Mull last year. I admire gardeners who persevere in extreme locations. I have enough problems on my allotment and yet the weather is benign in comparison with the conditions in places like the Western Isles. Hope to get back up to Scotland next year so maybe will get the chance to visit then. I love all the sculptures, especially the forks and the teapot planters are inspired.
- on April 22, 2012 at 7:15 am | Reply outofmyshed
  
  HI WW, putting aside the storms (if you can), the west coast does have a mild climate and Lucy Mackenzie has some fantasic plants that you might think were a little on the tender side. This trip we saw Echiums happily growing away and there was also a rather tasty Euphorbia stygiana (originally from the Azores) that I lusted after too.Now gardening on a steep slope will keep you very fit and Lucy has created terraces all over the garden only in the last 7 years. Massively impressive. Hope you get a chance to visit on your next trip.
on April 21, 2012 at 5:45 am | Reply PJ Girl

What a magical place! I love the use of the old spade heads and rope… and it makes me want to plant up some teapots right now!
on April 21, 2012 at 2:36 pm | Reply Fennel and Fern (@fennelandfern)

What an amazing garden! I love those forks: so many clever little ideas to steal.
- on April 22, 2012 at 7:04 am | Reply outofmyshed
  
  Hi F&F, Anna and PJ Girl, V.inspirational indeed and planning to steal a few ideas already!
on April 24, 2012 at 6:26 am | Reply stevensjono

Hi Naomi, that really is an inspirational post. I love the willow and the teapots. And that path looks amazing.

Lots of ideas to steal!

Was there any veg growing at all?
- on April 24, 2012 at 7:04 am | Reply outofmyshed
  
  Hi Jono, yes, there’s veg too! Plus chickens! Prompted by your pertinent question, have added a couple of pics to the post of gorgeous veg beds with sculptural additions too.Thanks for great prompt. Naomi
on April 24, 2012 at 12:16 pm | Reply louise simmons

What an amazing garden – SO inspiring!
on April 24, 2012 at 5:47 pm | Reply outofmyshed

Hi Louise, was completely blown away by all the found objects. Read in another article that Lucy Mackenzie spends winter months beach combing and excavating old farm tips to find her treasures. Dedication that certainly pays off!
on April 25, 2012 at 10:53 am | Reply Charlotte's Plot

It’s completely heavenly! What a fabulous place. We are off to Islay this summer – now wondering if a trip to Mull is feasible…
- on April 25, 2012 at 8:04 pm | Reply outofmyshed
  
  Hi Charlotte, Not sure how near Islay is to Mull, but Lip an Cloiche garden certainly worth making a detour to. Would love to go in summer too to see how the planting changes through the seasons.Looking forward to reading your post already!
on May 1, 2012 at 7:44 am | Reply Alison

The fork and spade handles are great, really like the use of the old bedsteads too. What a beautiful garden.
- on May 1, 2012 at 8:36 pm | Reply outofmyshed
  
  Hi Alison, If I was writing a Nick Hornby-esque list, Lip na Cloiche would definitely be in my top 10 gardens! Thanks for dropping by.
on May 11, 2012 at 2:55 pm | Reply SmallHouseBigGarden

My hope is to travel to the UK within the next year. (I’ve never been) Seeing a nursery this beautiful makes me want to visit all the more.
Thank you for sharing this lovely location…I’ve decided to follow your blog based on this one post!
- on May 11, 2012 at 4:04 pm | Reply outofmyshed
  
  Hi Karen, Glad you liked the post. Lip na Cloiche is most definitely one of a kind and one of my all time favourite gardens.Thanks for following my blog. V.jealous of your Big Garden! Naomi
on June 7, 2012 at 4:31 pm | Reply Isle of Mull « Out of my shed

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on September 19, 2012 at 5:05 pm | Reply Sick as a Parrot? Tales of a Tulip « Out of my shed

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on May 5, 2014 at 3:47 pm | Reply Sue Oswald

Have just returned from a week on Mull and visited this garden – an absolute delight, and because we are creating our own hillside garden in the West Highlands, very relevant and full of ideas. Bought several plants as we know they will do well here. The winter has been mild here, but quite wet, so the garden was blooming last week…lots to look at and admire. We loved all the scavenged objects all over the place. Lucy must be so dedicated and spend all day every day in the garden, there wasn’t a weed in sight!