Springmount Garden Festival
27 June 2009 22:45:22
Booty
I had such a wonderful day at the Springmount Garden Festival today. I highly recommend anyone in the Wexford area to go tomorrow.
I got down there early as the first talk I wanted to attend was at 10am. The whole garden centre was transformed with two large marquees, masses of large shrubs for decoration and loads of stalls. The polytunnels had been set up as talk areas with chairs and podium. In fact, it was very well organised and, despite the large numbers of people, there were lots of staff on the ground to ask you if you needed help or to politely suggest that you sit in the nice shaded seating area to eat your food.
I attended six talks in total by a variety of speakers. Dermot O'Neil did various talks but I particularly enjoyed Carmel Duignan, from the Shankill garden, and of course our own France McDonald of the Bay Garden and Paul Doyle.
Best of all was the free Design Desks, where you could bring your design, planting or landscaping issues for consideration by an expert. I went along to ask advice about re-planting my ex Rose Garden and think I now have the solution. What a wonderful service to get for free!
I was happy to bump into Joybells finally, over at the talk on Coastal Planting, and we exchanged a quick few words before rushing off to the next talks. Only when I came back did I see that Cooper was also there but didn't see her at all.
Of course there was booty. My list consists of Nepeta 'six hills giant', Anthemis cupaniana, Ligularia przewalskii, Nemesia 'confetti' (fabulous scent), 2 Convolvulis sabatius and a Polygala myrtifolia (Carmel Duignan's recommendation - I'll overwinter it in the greenhouse).
So, I'll go to bed tired but happy tonight, fortified for my kids' birthday party int he garden tomorrow, although it looks like rain : (