The Corkman

HOMES & GARDEN FIESTA TO BLOOM IN MALLOW

- BILL BROWNE

THOUSANDS of green-fingered enthusiast­s are expected to flock to the Cork Racecourse in Mallow next month to take in the sights, sounds and smells of the south of Ireland’s premier home and garden festival.

The event, which will run for three glorious days over the first weekend in June, will feature more than 20 garden displays and more than three million plants

Last years Mallow Home and Garden Festival proved to be a huge success with record numbers of gardeners from across Munster and beyond taking in its varied and many delights.

This year’s event will have all of the garden related attraction­s of the past including specially constructe­d garden displays, exotic plants, expert horticultu­ral advisors, decking specialist­s and free demonstrat­ions and presentati­ons from well-known personalit­ies and flower arrangers.

The permanent gardens at the Racecourse have undergone a complete transforma­tion under the watchful eye of expert landscaper Darren Drummond and while some will retain their original features, all but one will have additional new plantings. His stunning new ‘Children’s Christmas Garden’, will offer fans of the movie ‘Frozen’ an insight into the magical world of snow and Arctic landscapes.

There will also be flashes of brilliance from designer Larry Lynch while another gifted gardener, Chris Heffernan, will construct a special interest display on the site of the old Turtle Mound garden.

If garden security is a concern, Ger Baker’s trellis-topped aluminium fencing, outdoor storage bins and summer houses will be of interest to visitors.

Other attraction­s over the weekend will include demonstrat­ions and presentati­ons in the pavilion, a vintage car and motorcycle display, arts and crafts, an artesian food hall, an active retirement area and a pet show.

A team from RTÉ will also visit the festival on Saturday to film for the popular ‘A Taste of Success’ series.

With free parking at the site and an admission price of €10 (children free), the Mallow Home and Gardens Festival promises to be a wonderful event for all of the family.

The Mallow Home and Gardens Festival will run from Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 7.

 ??  ?? Carol O’Connor with her children Ria, Abbie and Ben O’Connor from Mallow enjoying the Mallow Homes and Garden Festival last year.
Carol O’Connor with her children Ria, Abbie and Ben O’Connor from Mallow enjoying the Mallow Homes and Garden Festival last year.

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