Month: April 2017

The Irish Specialist Nursery Association announce the fourth of its Plant Fairs for 2017 at Mallow Homes and Gardens, Mallow Racecourse, Cork. This Fair has become an important part of the Mallow Homes and Garden Show over the last number of years, and attracts a large audience to the show. Mallow Homes and Garden Show is held on 26 to 28 May from 11am to 6pm each day. For more information: www.irishspecialistnurseryassociation.ie or 053-9383629.

The Tendence show in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, from 24 to 27 June 2017 will show a host of ways in which life can be breathed into outdoor areas of all kinds – from mini-balconies, via roof terraces, to park-like gardens. Under the title Outdoor Living, the international trade fair is devoting a prominent special area to this future-oriented subject. The spacious outdoor area in front of the entrance to Galleria 0 opens up to visitors when they walk through the Japanese Gate.

Diarmuid Gavin, award-winning gardener and TV personality, brings his critically acclaimed Chelsea Flower Show Garden to Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin, this summer on 20 May. Watch out for this spectacular garden, which was one of the highlights of the 2016 Chelsea Flower Show, emulates pure childhood fantasy, and will be on display in Dundrum Town Centre’s Pembroke Square from May. The traditional garden features beautifully preened conical trees and topiary balls, colourful planting and an elegant brick folly which takes pride in front of a sunken rectangular pond.

Classic Garden Elements offers an exceptionally well-made range of rose and climbing plant supports. Hand-forged in the company’s own workshops, all supports are made from hot-dipped galvanized steel and powder-coated black, and other colours, and have 10-year, no-rust guarantee. The range includes obelisks, arches, arbours, wall trellises and pavilions. See www.classicgardenelements.ie or 087-2306128 to visit the display in Dublin.

The forthcoming series of RTE’s Super Garden is to see the introduction of a new judge – Monica Alvarez. As the Cuprinol judge, Monica will feature on the judging panel alongside Woodies DIY’s Leonie Cornelius and Gary Graham of Bloom in the Park. Now in its ninth year, the outdoor garden design show has hugely grown in popularity with the Irish public. RTE’s Super Garden airs on RTE One from Tuesday, 25th April at 7pm.

The Skywalk is a rope bridge with a length of 112 feet, Ireland’s longest rope-bridge. It spans the Delligeenagh River, at a height of approximately 36 feet, on the river’s course through Kells Bay Gardens, Co. Kerry. The inspiration for the rope-bridge derives from the rainforest and jungle plant exploration trips made by Billy Alexander, the current owner of Kells Bay House and Gardens. All the site preparation, foundations and steel work from which the bridge is suspended was completed using local materials and expertise, the bridge was fabricated and hung by a team of specialists from abroad.

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross recently launched multi-lingual audio guides at Powerscourt Estate in Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, the first visitor attraction in Ireland to use the multilingual guides in five languages: English, Chinese, German, Spanish and French. These tours with a difference are narrated personally by the owners of Powerscourt over the past 800 years. Delivered as they would normally give a private tour, the family share anecdotes and stories of the estate’s intriguing history at beautiful vistas throughout the gardens.

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross recently launched multi-lingual audio guides at Powerscourt Estate in Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, the first visitor attraction in Ireland to use the multilingual guides in five languages: English, Chinese, German, Spanish and French. These tours with a difference are narrated personally by the owners of Powerscourt over the past 800 years. Delivered as they would normally give a private tour, the family share anecdotes and stories of the estate’s intriguing history at beautiful vistas throughout the gardens.

Irish Orchid Society: on 6 May, at the National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, an Orchid Potting Workshop. Price: €20 per person, mail info@irishorchidsociety.org to book. Times: 10.30am and 2pm

Cork Alpine/Hardy Plant Society: on 25 May, Bob Brown, Cotswold Garden Flowers, Worcestershire, renowned plantsman, will speak on Plain Jane or Supermodel. Plants for sale. Lavanagh Centre, Blackrock, Cork at 8 pm.

Ballinasloe Flower and Garden Club: on 10 May, at 8pm, in Gullane’s Hotel, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, a Flower Arranging Demonstration by Maureen Fagan,Maynooth, AOIFA.

Galway Flower & Garden Club: Flower Festival “Jewels of the West” in St. Nicholas Church, Galway, on 5 to 7 May. Adm: €8.

Macroom Flower & Garden Club: Floral Demonstration with Angela Heffron AOIFA, April Showers, 27 April, at Coolcower House,
Macroom, Co. Cork. All are welcome. Enquiries 087-9821708

Dungarvan Flower & Garden Club: Hester Forde lecture, It’s all about plants. 3 May in The Park Hotel, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, at 8pm. Non-members welcome, 087-7982056.

Dublin 5 Horticultural Society: on 11 May, at 8pm, Christine O’ Flynn on The Continental Approach to Gardening. And on 25 May, at 8pm, Nick Egan on Fuchsias and Pelargoniums. Both in Artane Beaumont Family Recreation Centre, Kilmore Road, Artane, Dublin 5. Adm. €5 .All welcome, 087-2423020.

Templeogue Horticultural Society: Jackie Flood will demonstrate hanging baskets and containers for summer colour in Our Lady’s School, Templeogue, Dublin, on 17 May, at 8pm. Admission €7 for non-members. All are welcome.