For the very first time and exclusively for the Ranelagh Arts Festival, Helen Dillon will open her world-famous garden
and house for free.

Within a walled rectangular garden, typical of Dublin's Georgian townhouses, Helen Dillon has spent the last 34 years creating one of the most beautiful town gardens in Ireland. Set around a newly created canal surrounded in Irish limestone, the mixed borders of shrubs and herbaceous perennials reveal unusual plants and exciting colour combinations.

Exploration unveils a necklace of secret rooms with raised beds for rarities, such as lady's slipper orchids or doubledflowered Trillium. On the sunken terrace, terracotta pots sprout more rare plants. Clumps ofangel's fishing rods (Dierama) arch over the sphinxes and a small alpine house and conservatory shelter the choicest species, including what is considered the most beautiful climber in the world, the national flower of Chile, Lapageria rosea (named after Napoleon's wife). The front garden has recently been paved in pink Chinese granite.

The Dillon Garden is open to the public in March, July and August (on a daily basis, 2pm-6pm) and in April, May, June and September (on Sundays only, 2pm-6pm).