World-famous gardener dies
Ambrose Congreve, CBE, was 104 and owner of the world famous Congreve Gardens and Estate in Waterford.
Fourteen years ago he was awarded ‘the greatest garden in the world’ medal by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. His gardens have won numerous other awards including 13 Gold Medals at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Mr Congreve, who turned 104 last month, died in hospital in London on Tuesday night after being admitted there on Monday. He had not been ill and it is believed he died of a heart attack.
Mr Congreve’s gardens are home to the biggest collection of rhododendrons in Europe, occupying around 75 acres of the 575-acre estate.
His desire was that his vast gardens on the banks of the River Suir would eventually be left in trust to the State.
