Month: February 2017

The Irish Specialist Nursery Association (ISNA) holds the first of its Plant Fairs for 2017 at St Anne’s Park, Raheny, Dublin 5 on Saturday 25 March 10.00 to 15.30. The Plant Fair will be held in conjunction with the popular Farmer’s Market at The Red Stables. Admission is free. Over twenty ISNA members will participate, featuring perennials, trees, shrubs, exotics, alpines and garden paraphernalia. Contact: susanmiriamharford@gmail.com

Growing Organic Vegetables with Paula Pender offers a hands-on practical guide to vegetable gardening through the season, from preparing your raised bed, sowing seeds, raising seedlings, planning your crop, right through to harvesting. Develop growing skills in both polytunnel and outdoor small scale vegetable production.

Course commences in March and continues through until July 2017.

How to grow your own cut-flowers with Fionnuala Fallon is a one-day course on growing cut-flowers for the home or as a supplement to a floristry business – the best, most long-flowering and floriferous varieties to grow, seed suppliers, propagation, growing under cover, and how to beat weeds, pests and diseases. Course date: 25 March. Contact: sales@altamontplants.com

The hand-forged Charleston Rose Pillar from Classic Garden Elements gives rose blooms the support needed to create colourful, scented displays. Made of galvanized steel and powder-coated black finish, it has a 10 year no-rust guarantee. Height 230cm, diameter 50cm. For more details 087-2306128, www.classicgardenelements.ie

Victorian Garden Buildings are handmade by skilled and experienced craftsmen, to order, and customers can be assured they’ll get exactly what they want. ?There is a ?Victorian Garden Buildings model? to suit every garden and all tastes. Practical and built to last! Visit www.victoriangardenbuildings.com or 087-2306128.

The Gardens of Ireland Trust recently opened for membership. The response has been excellent with comments such as ‘that is a great initiative’ and ‘great to see a marketing organisation for all the Gardens of Ireland’.

It is intended to launch the marketing website as soon as possible to take advantage of the coming season.

While the closing date for membership was mid-February please note that anyone interested who has not already joined will be most welcome. Please get in touch with Hester Forde, email: hester.gardenireland@gmail.com.

Wes-Chem has launched two new products. Organic Weed & Moss Buster is a liquid product that treats any broadleaved weeda and moss on concrete, brick and tarmacadam. The effect is seen almost immediately with treatment of moss taking 2 to 3 days.

Lawn Buster is a product used for the treatment of moss in lawns, a fast-acting product. It will also strengthen the lawn and it will help to maintain its green colour. Moss Buster is still growing in popularity and removes moss, algae, lichen and fungi from all hard surfaces including brick, patios, concrete, timber, roofs and tarmacadam, and contains no bleach or acids.

The new 52cm wide, 56v lithium-ion powered self-propelled mower from EGO Power+ offers the greatest cutting width in the EGO lawnmower range. It features a durable polydeck and three adjustable handle heights. EGO Power+ lawnmowers make significantly less noise than petrol powered mowers, with zero emissions during use and almost no vibrations. The LM2102E-SP has a central deck-height adjustment with six stages from 28mm up to 94mm, and features Automatic Variable Speed which delivers optimal cutting speed to maximise battery runtime. More at: www.egopowerplus.ie

Westland Safe Lawn is a new organic fertiliser with added lawn seed, made with only natural ingredients. It nourishes lawns, greening them up within a week and then continues to feed as it naturally breaks down. It helps grass grow and outcompete moss and weeds, and also contains special naturally-occurring bacteria which converts dead moss and thatch to nutrients to feed the grass. Its formula guarantees results, in garden centres.

Viano BIO-Press is a 100% natural liquid fertiliser for lawns with indirect action against moss, reducing moss within 24 hours after application. BIO-Press is certified for use in organic horticulture and is ideal for lawns with moss infestation and before scarification. Apply when temperature is above 1°Celsius, 100 % vegetable base, do not mix with other products and 2 litres treats 250 square metres. Contact: www.nad.ie

Fernhill Gardens saved!

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) has recently acquired Fernhill Park and Gardens and intends to develop the property as a Regional public park. Fernhill is a former substantial family residence with ancillary buildings on 34 hectares of land: gardens, parkland, woodland and agricultural land, just south of the Enniskerry Road at Stepaside, County Dublin.

FIRE’NESS launch

The first FIRE’NESS was made in 2016 and the design has been trialled and perfected over recent months. Each FIRE’NESS is handmade from Marine Grade 2mm Stainless Steel and measures 100cm in height x 50cm in width at base. Its shape is decorative and it is functional. Contact : Grant MacEwan, 086-2431811.

Dee Brophy new shop

Dee Brophy Decorative Antiques has a new showroom selling a large selection of gardenalia from old garden gates to plant stands. Pictured here are some lovely hand-thrown terracotta pots that have just been rescued from a house clearance. Open Wed – Saturday. www.deebrophy.com 087-6812761.

Tyrrelstown House Garden holds a special Daffodil Day on Friday, 24 March, 3pm to 6pm with proceeds to Irish Cancer Society. Contact: 01-8213206.

Nemasys expands

Nemasys products now include a control for slugs, leatherjackets, ants, vine weevils and chafer grubs, as well as a combined product containing number of different nematode species which will protect a fruit and vegetable garden from a wide range of pests. The nematodes seek out their particular prey and kill them. The packs are kept in a refrigerator until they are used and can be safely stored alongside food and drinks without the remotest possibility of contamination.

Tree Week 2017

Tree Week, organised by the Tree Council of Ireland since 1985, is a week-long programme of events to celebrate trees, held in association with Applegreen and Coillte. Tree Week 2017 runs from Sunday 5 March 5 until 12 March. Register an event for Tree Week 2017, or check out the programme of events by county. The Tree Council has been directly engaged in getting 15,000 to 18,000 native trees planted per year, all donated by Coillte, distributed through their members, schools throughout the country, Tidy Towns, and other events.

Botanic Network Ireland

Taking place on 21 April, 7.30pm in the Blarney Castle Hotel, Blarney, Cork, is the official launch night of Botanic Network Ireland. A little introduction to what BNI is all about, followed by Bleddyn Wynn-Jones from Crug Farm, giving a talk on his collections of hardy plants from Northern Vietnam. There is a raffle of some very special plants after the talk, drinks and snacks on arrival. Contact: botanicnetworkireland@gmail.com.

Jimi Blake garden tour

Jimi Blake is running a garden tour on the 31 March to 2 April, 2017 to Great Dixter for the Spring Plant fair – an ideal opportunity to purchase great plants and to hear some of Europe’s prominent nursery people give informative talks. The tour will also visit the gardens of Sissinghurst and RHS Wisley. Contact: jimi@huntingbrook.com

Fota opens early

Fota House has announce the house will be re-opening a little earlier this year, on Saturday 25th March at 10am. The Café will be open, serving hot drinks and tasty treats, so why not pop down and say hello! Our Fota House shop will showcase a fresh range of gardening, home wares and quality craft products for 2017, perfect for those little gifts for someone special.

Mount Venus hellebores

Hellebore Days at Mount Venus Nursery, Dublin, are on 25 and 26 February from 10am to 4pm. Hellebores are long-lived, easy to grow, flower reliably from as early as December till mid-April. There seems to be no end to variation in colours and shapes from yellows to nearly black, cup-shaped singles to daisy-like doubles. There will be a wide range of selections and new cultivars on display and for sale. www.mountvenusnursery.com

Kells Bay House & Gardens

Kells Bay House & Gardens hosts a lecture by Sir Tim Smit, KBE, on Saturday, 8 April, in The Dining Room at Kells Bay House, commencing at 10.30am. Titled ‘Kells, Eden and the art of making magic’ , the lecture will highlight various aspects of his career, including the discovery of the Lost Gardens of Heligan and the launch of The Eden Project. Sir Tim will officially open Ireland’s longest rope-bridge in the gardens on Friday, 7 April, and he will be available to guests from 10.30am. Places are limited. For more information: www.kellsgardens.ie

Courses at Altamont

Growing Organic Vegetables with Paula Pender offers a hands-on practical guide to vegetable gardening through the season, from preparing your raised bed, sowing seeds, raising seedlings, planning your crop, right through to harvesting. Develop growing skills in both polytunnel and outdoor small scale vegetable production.

Course commences in March and continues through until July 2017.

How to grow your own cut-flowers with Fionnuala Fallon is a one-day course on growing cut-flowers for the home or as a supplement to a floristry business – the best, most long-flowering and floriferous varieties to grow, seed suppliers, propagation, growing under cover, and how to beat weeds, pests and diseases. Course date: 25 March. Contact: sales@altamontplants.com

Consumer goods fairs

The three international consumer goods fairs Christmasworld, Paperworld and Creativeworld, as well as the new Floradecora trade fair reported 2,938 exhibitors from 63 countries with countless new contacts and well-filled order books. More than 85,400 trade buyers from 154 countries attended the 5-day Frankfurt fair to order goods for next season and establish important trading relationships. The products range from Christmas ornaments and seasonal decoration in conjunction with fresh flowers and plants, to hobby, craft and art supplies, and extends to gift items.

Woodville Walled Garden

Woodville Walled Garden, Kilchreest, Loughrea Co. Galway is open at week-ends for the month of March 11am to 5 pm with guided tour each day by head gardener Marie. Stunning display of spring blooms with the highlight of our Spring Festival on Saturday the 11th of March. Guest speaker is Hestor Forde, followed by heritage daffodil identification by Bartley Boyle. www.woodvillewalledgarden.com

Clare Garden Festival 2017

On 30 April, at Ennis Showgrounds, Ennis, Co. Clare, Clare Garden Festival is a treat for gardeners and a great day out for all the family. Quality garden and food stalls from all over Ireland join the popular festival every year, and the festival offers a series of talks from an accessible stage, and show gardens. Information: www.claregardenfestival.com

Sports and lawn surfaces

Irish Institute of Sports Surfaces reports many unfortunate scenarios where poor advice has led to the making of poorly thought-out decisions for improving the performance of playing surfaces, parks and lawns alike. Failure to follow best practice creates maintenance issues, such as poorly drained surfaces in winter to becoming rock
hard in summer. Contact: www.irishsportsurf.ie

Irish Seed Savers

Irish Seed Savers has expressed concern about vegetable shortages in Europe and imports from further afield. The main objective at Irish Seed Savers is to protect Ireland’s rich food crop heritage by preserving rare varieties of vegetables, grains, potatoes and heritage apple trees. To help the work of Irish Seed Savers, join www.irishseedsavers.ie.

Waterford Regional Gardening Club offers a tour to Gardens of Kent 5-day, 11 to 15 June 2017 for more details or to request a full itinerary. Please contact Anne on 087-6502067.

Macroom Flower & Garden Club: Spring Gardening Talk and Demonstration with D. J. Murphy (Bandon Garden Centre),on 9 March, at Coolcower House, Macroom, Co. Cork. Plant Sale. All welcome: 087-9821708.

Cork Alpine/Hardy Plant Society: Fionnuala Fallon, Co. Wicklow will lecture on Autumn Flowering Perennials on 23 March. Plants for sale. Lavanagh Centre, Blackrock, Cork at 8 pm. All welcome.

Balbriggan and District Horticultural Society: 23 March, Spring Garden by Christopher Heavey from the Botanic Gardens in the Scout’s Den, Market Green, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, beside Lidl, at 8.30pm.

Alpine Garden Society: 4 March, 2pm, Local Show, Members Plant Sale and workshop, in St Brigid’s Parish Centre, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin, and with Irish Garden Plants Society, 16 March, 8 pm, Jimi Blake, A Plantsman’s Pick: exciting long-blooming perennials. National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9.

Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland: Spring seminar, The Wonder of Plants, 4 March, from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm, at the National Botanic Gardens, Dublin 9. Speakers: Martin Walsh, Paul Smyth, Matthew Jebb. More information at info@rhsi.ie.

Howth and Sutton Horticultural Society: in Howth Yacht Club at 8pm, 1 March, lecture by Gary Mentanko of the National Botanic Gardens, The Flora of Arctic Canada.

County Sligo Flower & Garden Club: Charity Gala Night on 13 March in Sligo Park Hotel at 8pm. Floral Demonstration by Diane Gallagher entitled Fragrance of Springtime, admission €15. All welcome.

Dublin Five Horticultural Society: on 9 March, at 8pm, Niall Hatch of Birdwatch Ireland will give

a talk on Birds of Prey at Artane Beaumont Family Recreation Centre, Kilmore Road, Artane, Dublin 5.

€5. Light refreshments and a raffle, all welcome ring 087-2423020.

Irish Garden Plant Society (Munster): Cork Nature Network will talk on Nature in the Garden,

at 8pm, on 7 March, at Northridge House (on the grounds of St Luke’s Home), Castle Rd/Ferney Rd, Mahon, Cork. Plant sale & raffle on the night. €5 for non-members, all welcome.

Templeogue Horticultural Society: Joe Tulie will talk about Spring Gardening in Our Lady’s School, Templeogue, Dublin, on 15 March, at 8pm. €7 for non-members.

Galway Flower & Garden Club presents With a Little Imagination, with Derek Armstrong, Director of NAFAS, UK, in the Westwood Hotel, Galway, on 21 March, at 8pm. Admission is €15 to include tea/coffee and door prize. All are welcome. Contact: mariancolohan@gmail.com.

Foxrock and District Garden Club: on 28 March, New trends for the garden with Vandra Costello at Foxrock Church Pastoral Centre, Dublin, at 8pm. €7 for non-members.

Ballinasloe Flower and Garden Club: 8 March, at 8pm, in Gullane’s Hotel, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, a Flower Arranging Demonstration by Maeve Duke, Rathfarnham, AOIFA.

Kenmare & District Garden Club: A Plant Explorer’s Journal in Myanmar by Billy Alexander of Kells Bay Gardens, Kerry, at 7.30pm in Gateway, Killarney Road, Kenmare on 2 March. All welcome. For directions contact Geraldine 086-3935965.

Maynooth Flower and Garden Club: Angela Jupe will give an illustrated talk on Gardens that impressed me and my favourite plants, on 21 March, at 8pm, in Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, €5.

Clontarf Garden Society: on 30 March, at 8pm, in St. Johns Parish Centre, Seafield Rd, Clontarf, Dublin, Sharon O’Sullivan gives a practical demonstration of flower arranging for Easter. €10 includes light refreshments.

From Westland Horticulture, Gro-Sure Smart Cover is protective, weed-supressing, decorative and locks together to stay in place. Wind, animals and sloping ground can cause other mulches to look messy quickly. GroSure? Smart Cover uniquely locks together, staying neat and tidy for longer, and is claimed to offer 75% better weed protection than bark.

 

Made from wood fibre, Gro-Sure? Smart Cover is easier to handle than conventional mulching materials. A similar volume covers 50% more ground and provides protection against frost and drought. It will be available from Westland stockists this spring.

Bloom is on this year in Phoenix Park, Dublin, 1 to 5 June. The Bloom Postcard Gardens consist of small but perfectly formed 2m by 3m plots which can be used to represent your garden club, your locality or perhaps even a special person from your community. Contact Kerrie Gardiner at kerrie.gardiner@bloominthepark.com or 086 130 4170 for application details.

Order any Gabriel Ash cedar greenhouse in January and February 2017 and receive 500 worth of accessories from the stunning Gabriel Ash cedar accessories collection including water butt, cold frame, blinds, seed trays, cedar planters and potting trays. For more details: 087-2306 128.

The Green Barn restaurant is located just inside the front gates of Burtown House and Gardens, Athy, Co. Kildare, set in the front parkland overlooking the walled kitchen garden. It is easily accessible as a quick lunch stop, or for a more relaxed luncheon, or for dinner on a Saturday night. Open from February to December.www.burtownhouse.ie

The 6th annual Snowdrop Gala and other Spring Treasures will be held on 4 February, at Ballykealey Manor, near Altamont, Co. Carlow. The day draws together an exciting programme of speakers, bulb and plant sales, and tours of the beautiful garden at Altamont. Speakers on the day include, Julian Sutton of Desirable Plants ?Snowdrops in Context’ and Kevin Hughes of Kevin Hughes Plants, ?Glories of the Spring Garden’. Booking: Hester Forde 086-8654972 and Robert Miller 087-9822135.

Enniskerry Gardening Club, on Wednesday, 1st February, at 8 pm in the Parochial Hall, Enniskerry, will be having an illustrated talk by renowned Botanical Artist, Yanny Petters. ‘Depicting a year in an artist’s garden in Wicklow’. Her recent exhibition of Verre Eglomis? panels was dedicated to her mother, Wilma Petters whose garden was the inspiration for twelve paintings. All welcome – visitors 7, with tea/coffee and biscuits after the talk.

Garden club events

 

 

Galway Flower & Garden Club: Frances MacDonald talks about Plants & Gardens at Home and Abroad at the Westwood House Hotel, Newcastle, Galway on 17 January, at 8pm. Admission: 10 visitors and 5 members includes door prize and light refreshments. And there is a Floral Demonstration The Joy of Spring with Samantha Foran, same venue and admission, on 21 February, at 8pm. Further info:mariancolohan@gmail.com

 

Clontarf Garden Society: The Making of a Plant Anorak, a talk by Carmel Duignan will be held in St. Johns Parish Centre, Seafield Rd., Clontarf on 26 January, at 8 pm, and will include tea/coffee and home-made cake. Admission is 5 and all are welcome.

 

Dublin Five Horticultural Society: on 9 February, at 8 pm, Paul Maher of the National Botanic Gardens will talk on Plants For All Year Colour in Artane Beaumont Centre, Kilmore Road, Artane. Admission 5. All welcome, ring 087-2423020. And on 23 February, at 8pm, there is a talk on Hedges by Christopher Heavey, same venue and admission.

 

Foxrock and District Garden Club: on 24 January, The Restoration of the Salutation Garden by Steve Edney, and on 28 February, Creating a North Yorkshire Garden with Martin Fish. Venue for both meetings Foxrock Church and Pastoral Centre.

 

Doors open at 7.30pm. Admission 7.

 

Waterford Regional Gardening Club: on 19 January, at 7.30pm, The Edmund Rice Centre, Barrack Street, Waterford, The Pearls of Lake Como, an illustrated talk by Paddy Tobin, and on 16 February, Five Historic Gardens of the Blackwater Valley by Kristen Jameson, owner of Tourin House & Gardens. Contact: Noreen 086-4083419, Anne 087-6502067

Garden visit

Waterford Regional Gardening Club, on Saturday, 20 August, visits the garden of Sandra and Derek Higgins, Mahon Bridge, Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford which has a mixture of deciduous trees & shrubs, many fruit trees and extensive vegetable patch. A water feature and poultry.

Entry: 5 donation to Dogs for the Disabled

Further information: 086-4083419

RHSI Bicentenary Gala 30th September 2016. Along with the Floral Art Demonstration and the three lectures there will be Trade Stands on site on the day with specialist garden plants and associated merchandise available for purchase. RHSI office: 01-4937154.

 

RHSI Garden Russborough Workshops: 17 September – Lifting & Dividing Perennials; 20 September – Pelargonium Propagation and Care. Booking essential through RHSI office: 01-4937154

 

Foxrock and District Garden Club: on 27 September, at 8pm, at Foxrock Pastoral Centre, Kill Lane. Brian Wood of Murphy and Wood Garden Centre talks on Planning a Small garden. Admission 7 for non-members.

 

Howth and Sutton Horticultural Society will hold its Autumn Show on 3 September 2016, from 2.00-4.30pm. Entry forms and show rules are available on www.hshs.ie or from the secretary Ann Campbell 8394578. The show is held in St Nessan’s Community School, Moyclare Road, off Warrenhouse Road, Baldoyle, Dublin 13.

 

Macroom Flower & Garden Club presents Autumn Splendour by Betty Holden AOIFA on 8 September at Coolcower House Macroom Co. Cork. Club Competitions and Sales Table. Visitors most welcome. Enquiries 087-9821708.

 

Ballinasloe Garden Club: on 14 September 2016, Flower Arranging Demonstration by Ann Slattery,AOIFA, Ennis, Co.Clare. Arrangers’ Competition: Nature’s Bounty-Foliage Only. Grower’s Competition: Variety of Home Grown Fruit in Gullanes Hotel,Ballinasloe at 8pm. Non-members 5.

 

Waterford Regional Gardening Club: on 15 September, at 8pm, in the Edmund Rice Centre, Barrack St. Waterford

Malachy Doherty, Horticulturist at Glanbia Country Life, Dungarvan will talk about plants that are suitable for long term container-growing. Non-members 5. Contact: 086-4083419.

Enniskerry Gardening Club: on 5 October, at 8pm, in Parochial Hall (next to Poppies) a talk Deer Out! Bees In! will be given by Liam McGarry, president of the Deer Society and beekeeper. Admission 7 for non-members.

 

Ballinasloe Garden Club: on 12 October, presents a Gardening talk by John Miland, Miland’s Garden Centre, Co. Galway. And on 9 November, there is a Flower Arranging Demonstration by Ethel Mitchell, Co. Westmeath. Both take place in Gullanes’ Hotel, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway at 8pm. Non-members 5.

 

Waterford Garden Plant Society: Winter Lecture on 5 October, 8pm, lecture by Des Doyle, head gardener, Lavistown Gardens on My Twenty Favourite Plants in St. Joseph & Benildus Parish Centre, Newtown, Waterford. New members welcome.

 

Dublin Five Horticultural Society: on 6 October, at 8pm, resumes its fortnightly gardening talks in the Artane Beaumont Centre, Kilmore Road, Dublin 5. Ring 087-2423020 for details of the club and talks.

 

Macroom Flower & Garden Club: Annual Charity Gala Floral Demonstration by Candy Holten (AOIFA) entitled Noel, Noel! on 10 November, at Coolcower House, Macroom, Co. Cork. Doors open at 7pm. Demonstration at 8pm sharp. Enquiries and tickets at 087-9821708.

 

Cork Alpine/Hardy Plant Society: on 27 October, nursey owner Tim Ingram lectures on Our Garden At Copton Ash, Faversham, Kent. And on 24 November: Peter Korn, a noted horticulturist from Sweden will speak on Plants from the US West Coast. The Cork Alpine/Hardy Plant Society meets in the Lavanagh Centre, Blackrock, Cork at 8pm. All welcome.

 

Galway Flower and Garden Club presents a floral demonstration titled Let’s Celebrate with James Burnside, NAFAS, Northern Ireland, on 18 October, at 8pm, and Richard Haslam for a Gala Christmas Demonstration on 15 November at 8pm. These events takes place in the Westwood House Hotel, Upper Newcastle, Galway. Admission: members 10, non-members 15. including light refreshments and raffle. Further information: mariancolohan@gmail.com

 

Foxrock and District Garden Club: meeting on 25 October at 8pm. Tim Ingram speaks on Our garden at Copton Ash, Kent, at Foxrock Parish Pastoral Centre. Admission 7 non-members.

 

Waterford Regional Gardening Club: on 20 October, at 8pm, at the Edmund Rice Centre, Barrack Street, Waterford, Japanese Gardening by Ingrid Swan, MGLDA Landscape & Garden Designer. And on 17 November, at 8pm, Tales from Other People’s Gardens by Shirley Lanigan, gardening writer. Non-Members 5, insurance cover. Refreshments and Raffle to follow. Further details: 086-4083419.

 

If you wish to get publicity for a garden club or society event, please note that deadlines are the 7th day of the month before the month of the event, so 7 May for a June event, except 7th Sept for October and November and 7th December for January and February events.

Please send in the format used above and send to: gerrydaly@theirishgarden.ie

Thurles Flower and Garden Club: Christmas Gala Flower Demonstration by Helen Lucas AOIFA Demonstrator supporting The Irish Association for Cancer Research 8pm is on 30 November. Admission 15 includes refreshments Raffle and Sale. The CBS Primary School, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Foxrock and District Garden Club: on 22 November in Foxrock Church Pastoral Centre, It’s all about the Plants by Hester Forde, Coosheen Garden, Cork, and on 6 December, same time and venue, Christmas Unfolding, a demonstration by Roisin Graham, followed by Christmas Party. Admission 7 for non-members. www.foxrockgardenclub.com

Dublin Five Horticultural Society: on 1 December at 8pm in The Artane Beaumont Centre, Kilmore Road, Artane, Dublin 5, Festive Floral Art by Bernadette Palminteri. All creations to be in the free raffle. Admission 10. Call 087-2423020 for further details.

Connemara Garden Club: Christmas flower arrangement demonstration will take place on 19 December in the Station House Theatre in Clifden, Co. Galway with Richard Haslam, at 8pm. Further details: breandanoscanaill@eircom.net and 095-21699.

Waterford Regional Gardening Club: on 9 December, at 6.30pm, Club Christmas Dinner at the Granville Hotel, The Quay, Waterford. Friends and Non-members especially welcome. Cost 35. Booking by 17 November. Call 086-4083419.

 

Blarney Castle & Gardens new gardens

The development of Blarney Castle’s gardens continues in 2017. Head gardener Adam Whitbourn has revealed plans for two new areas – a new Jungle Garden is to be created in an overgrown area adjacent to the existing Tropical border, and following a successful collecting trip in Northern Vietnam last November, there are plans in place to develop a Vietnamese woodland garden using wild-collected specimens.

Dunmore Country School

An intensive one-day horticultural course with Tanguy de Toulgo?t will bring you through the essentials of creating a garden that is both productive and a pleasure to the senses. Learn how to grow tasty vegetables in a sustainable, intensive and cost-effective way in a typical French garden where vegetables, herbs, fruits and flowers are mixed. Contact: Dunmore Country School, Durrow, Co. Laois. Tel: 087-1258002

Plantperson’s Course

Starting on 26 February at Hunting Brook Gardens, Blessington, Co. Wicklow is a Masterclass in Planting. If you are looking to increase your skills and knowledge of plants, join Jimi Blake, owner of Hunting Brook Gardens, one Sunday per month from 10am to 4pm, 12 classes per year. Contact: 087-285 6601 www.huntingbrook.com

Early season offer from Gabriel Ash

Order any Gabriel Ash cedar greenhouse in January and February 2017 and receive 500 worth of accessories from the stunning Gabriel Ash cedar accessories collection including water butt, cold frame, blinds, seed trays, cedar planters and potting trays. For more details: 087-2306 128.

Allianz Garden Show Ireland

Dates have been announced for Allianz Garden Show Ireland 2017 and it takes place 5 to 7 May 2017 and will be held again in the magnificent Antrim Castle Gardens in partnership with Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council. The 2017 Show will be larger than ever before. Keep tuned for up-dates!

Woodville Walled Garden

Woodville Walled Garden, Co. Galway, will open daily from 11am to 4pm for the month of February. There are guided tours each day at 2 pm with the head gardener Marie looking at the varied snowdrop collection and early spring bulbs. Snowdrop Event will be on 11 February with guest speaker Assumpta Broomsfield. For further details contact Margarita at 087/9069191 or www.woodvillewalledgarden.com

Mindful gardening

Recently, Irish Garden carried out the first-ever survey done in Ireland linking gardening to mindfulness, and 89% of respondents say they have experienced mindfulness in their garden. Gardening was understood to mean the action and non-action of spending time in the garden. A massive 1,567 people responded, a wide mix of social status, age profile and gardening ability. Remarkably, 99.6% said that gardening or spending time in their garden in their experience increased well-being in their life. Visit www.irishgardensubs.com/survey.html

Art of Beauty

Old roses sometimes tend to look a little bit messy and disorderly. The Charleston Rose Column is ideal for helping roses to retain a compact form whilst supporting branches straining under the heavy burden of rose blossoms in full bloom. Contact: www.classicgardenelements.ie or 087-2306 128

Coolwater gems
Coolwater Garden in Co. Limerick features an extensive water garden. A new project to install seven new circular troughs is underway. The circular troughs are painted black, with a diameter of 42″ and made of solid concrete. Planting will be a collection of ferns, tiny rhododendrons and cushion saxifrages with some other surprises also. Visit www.coolwatergarden.com

Jelitto new catalogue

From the new Jelitto catalogue, ‘Green Twister’ is a unique and colourful selection of echinacea. This lively green coneflower shows natural variation in the colour and size of the green edge. The horizontally arranged petals are arranged around a large cone. Flowering stems are shorter in the first year but normal size, 100cm, in the second year. More information on this and a huge range of perennials flowers at www.jelitto.com

Gardens of Ireland Trust

The Gardens of Ireland Trust, the new representative body for gardens open to the public, is now inviting members from the Gardens Open and Garden Tourism sector. The Gardens of Ireland Trust aims to have a new garden tourism website targeting the garden tourist and tour groups, and will work with relevant organisations to facilitate garden tourism workshops and promotion of garden visiting, both domestically and internationally. Contact: trevor@trevoredwardsgardens.com or angelajupe@gmail.com

If you’re the kind of person who loves getting outside, taking in the fresh air and blue skies around you and don’t mind getting a bit of grass on your mat, outdoor yoga may be for you!

Reap the benefits of practicing yoga outdoors in a beautiful setting and head to Powerscourt Gardens where teacher Eike Treanor will leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated with a weekly class which runs from July 9th to 30th each Saturday at 11am.

Rebalance and restore your body with this Vinyasa based class under the sky in Powerscourt’s Walled Gardens. Vinyasa yoga links breath to movement and builds endurance, flexibility and concentration. The class is suitable for all levels, both for beginners and those with experience. Open your senses and get closer to nature as you relax in the fresh air and natural light.

Teacher Eike has been studying yoga for over fifteen years and teaching for over ten years. Eike brings her unique style to each class and will bring you closer to your yoga goal. Book your place now on www.powerscourt.com/events and find inner peace in the great outdoors.

Bloom success

Almost 115,000 people attended Bord Bia’s Bloom festival in the Phoenix Park, Dublin over the June bank holiday weekend, a record attendance for Bloom with glorious sunshine helping to attract huge crowds to the 70 acre site. Artisans, exhibitors and garden designers reporting huge interest and buoyant sales onsite, valued at over 7 million. Sales in the Plant Village were 50% up on last year, and an increase of 80% with varieties such as Cornus “China Girl’ and Lychnis flos-cuculi “Jenny’ selling out before midday every day. The judging panel awarded a total of 57 medals to show garden designers and nurseries including; 24 Gold, 12 Silver Gilt, 13 Silver and 8 Bronze and the People’s Choice Award was won by Barry Kavanagh from Cavan for his Across Boundaries garden.

 

Cluster of coastal gardens open

A cluster of stunning, coastal gardens on the Waterford/Cork border are teaming up with Blackwater Garden Centre on Sunday, 10 July, for a showcase event, funds raised to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. Newtown House and the Blackwater Garden Centre in Kinsalebeg are teaming up with the Rock House, Ardmore, Deiseart, Rocky Road, Ardmore and the Knight’s garden in Ballynamona, Ardmore. Participating gardens will be open from 12pm to 5pm.

 

Art Exhibition at Ballymaloe House

Ireland’s Blue Book has announced that the outdoor sculptural trail exhibition FORM16 Silent Expression is taking place at Ballymaloe House, Co. Cork from 21 June to 31 August. Over 90 pieces created by 31 Irish and International sculptors, including Martin Lyttle, Sonia Caldwell and Krystina Pomeroy are sited on the front lawn of Ballymaloe House.

admission is free and this stunning exhibition will be open daily from 9am to 9pm.

 

 

Carrigtwohill Open Gardens

Two Carrigtwohill Gardens will open to the public on Saturday, 2 July, from 10am to 4pm to raise money for the Cork Association for Autism. The Sensory Garden at Greenville House will open to the public along with Noel O’Keeffes beautiful cottage garden which is situated on an acre of land. They welcome the public along to see these gardens on July 2nd. Pictured at the opening were, left to right: Noel O’Keeffe, Emma Hutchinson, Michael O’Regan, Marion Courtney and Lisa Lemur from the Cork Association for Autism with the County Mayor John Paul O’Shea.

 

Silent pair of dogs!

“Man’s best friend’ come in a pair from Dee Brophy Decorative Antiques. Dee Brophy sources antique and old salvaged items with an eye to garden decor. Anything from dove cotes to window mirrors or copper pots to French wirework benches. If you want something noteworthy and unique to grace your garden, or if you want something in particular, contact Dee Brophy on 087-6812761.

 

 

Buds & Blossoms

The Laois Garden Festival has established itself on the annual gardening calendar with a successful first show held in June. Crowds enjoyed sunshine in the Laois countryside, plant nurseries with rare plants and 10 top expert garden speakers including The Irish Garden contributors Tanguy de Toulgoet, Mary Keenan, Fionnuala Fallon and Hester Forde. Put it in the diary for next year!