WHEN THE owner of Cullellen moved to this house 18 years ago the first thing he did was plant a wisteria, which he'd seen at Ballymaloe House, and the following spring he planted his first lawn.

He began to build a year-round garden and learned by visiting gardening centres and reading gardening books such as The Jewel Gardenby Monty and Sarah Don and an invaluable reference book the RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plantsby Christopher Brickell.

Thinking Butterstream, Sissinghurst and Hidcote Manor, he went to Murphy and Wood garden centre (01-285 4855) to buy perennials. The owner Brian Wood started him off with a few low-maintenance varieties. He put a lonicera hedge on one side and griselinia on the other. A beech hedge was planted on the laneway and there is miles of box hedging. Then he added yew and played with the contrasting colours of hedges.

He has also planted hundreds of mostly white tulips.