Horticultural highlights for spring
HORTICULTURAL HAPPENINGS AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR GARDEN LOVERS
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The Irish Specialist Nursery Association runs plant fairs throughout the year, which are great hunting grounds for beautiful and unusual plants. This year, the fairs take place on the following dates: March 10: St Anne’s Park, Raheny, Dublin 5 April 1–2: Farmleigh Estate, Phoenix Park, Dublin 15 April 8: Claregalway Spring Fair, Claregalway Castle, Co Galway April 15: Airfield Estate, Dundrum, Dublin 14 May 25–27: Mallow Home & Garden Show, Co Cork irishspecialistnurseriesassociation.com
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Visit the beautiful walled gardens of Glenarm Castle in Co Antrim, which reopens for the season on St Patrick’s Day. The castle’s Bloomfest (May 5–7) will feature thousands of tulips and spring flowers, as well as craft stalls and expert advice from professional gardeners. glenarmcastle.com
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Getting ready to plant the garden for spring? You’ll find a superb collection of unusual her- baceous perennials and grasses at Mount Venus, Walled Garden, Mutton Lane, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16. Plan the trip carefully as it can be tricky to find, but it’s worth the adventure. mountvenusnursery.com; mountvenusnursery@gmail.com
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The National Botanic Gardens in Dublin’s Glasnevin are always worth a visit in spring as the bulbs, shrubs and trees burst into blossom. Apart from the stunning gardens and collection of plants, they run great events throughout the year, many of which are for children, such as pond dipping and flower pressing. botanicgardens.ie
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My home county of Wicklow is chock-ablock with spring delights, from Mount Usher Gardens by the River Vartry to the 17th-century formal gardens of Killruddery and the majestic vistas of Powerscourt. Include a visit to the Arboretum branch in Kilquade incorporating the National Garden Exhibition Centre: a nicely matured collection of styles by some of Ireland’s most innovative garden designers. mountushergardens.ie; killruddery.com; powers court.com; arboretum.ie
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Former head gardener at Airfield, Jimi Blake’s beautiful garden in Hunting Brook, Lamb Hill, Blessington, Co Wicklow, is always worth a visit and it opens to the public from April. This year’s guided trips with Jimi include a visit to the spring gardens of Scotland (May 1–3) and the Lake District (May 22–25). Contact Jimi Blake on 087 285 6601 or jimi@huntingbrook.com
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When touring the southwest, don’t miss the subtropical garden at Kells Bay House & Gardens on the Ring of Kerry. It specialises in tree ferns, Dicksonia antarctica and other hardy exotics. billy@kellsgardens.ie or 066 947 7975; kellsbay.ie. See Kells Bay’s display at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show (May 22–26)
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Visit the Kilsaran Exhibition Centre in Dunboyne, Co Meath, for stacks of gardening inspiration. The site includes a growing series of show gardens, which demonstrate how to use paving to create
With 22 acres to explore, pick a sunny day and pack a picnic
pathways, seating areas and water features. kilsaran.ie
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Join the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland. The society organises events, lectures by well-known personalities, garden outings and tours. And put a pencil in your diary for this summer — the RHSI Floral Art Exhibition at Russborough House in Blessington, Co Wicklow, on July 8 and 9, and the RHSI Russborough Garden Show on July 29. rhsi.ie
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Bloom in Dublin’s Phoenix Park hosts its annual celebration of horticultural delights on the June bank holiday weekend, May 31 to June 4, from 9am–6pm. There will be a host of exhibits including show gardens, sculptures, botanical art and craft displays, as well as open farmyards available to the public. Early-bird discounted tickets are now on sale; bloominthepark.com
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Burtown House & Gardens in Athy, Co Kildare, are hosting a Rare and Special Plant Fair on Sunday May 13, with more than 40 stalls of rare and unusual plants, and expert advice from growers. Burtown House is an early-17th-century house set in 10 acres of flowers, woodland and vegetable gardens. Treat yourself to a delicious lunch afterwards at the award-winning Green Barn Restaurant. burtownhouse.ie
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Make sure to catch the remarkable rhododendrons in flower this spring at the National Botanic Gardens Kilmacurragh, Co Wicklow — they are as tall as trees and covered in vivid red blossoms. Open daily; admission free. Tel. 0404 48844
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Malahide Castle & Gardens, Co Dublin, are best described as mini botanic gardens — the castle’s estate has more than 5,000 different species and varieties of plants. With over 22 acres to explore, pick a sunny day and pack a picnic. Open daily; admission €12.50. malahidecastleandgardens.ie
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Go for a forest walk and appreciate the stunning carpet of spring flowers that emerges each month — wild garlic, cow parsley and beautiful bluebells in May. Open daily; admission free! coillte.ie/our-forests/explore