Welcome to a heaven on earth
The absence of Bloom this year has not deterred gardeners from creating great beauty at home, as Alan Caulfield reports
THE nation’s greenfingered gods and goddesses have had to concentrate on their own little corners of heaven this year, with Irish gardening Glastonbury, Bloom, cancelled because of Covid.
With stunning May weather, there is a small chink of light, with RTÉ and sponsors Bord Bia asking the public to post pictures of their colourful gardens, from the most sprawling show gardens to the most carefully tended of windowsill displays, on social media today with the hashtag #BloomWithRTÉ to be in with a chance of winning prizes.
Instead of the Phoenix Park, events kick off on Bloom’s Facebook and YouTube channels at 11am, with a livestreamed address
I USE BEER TRAPS FOR SLUGS... I THINK THE PLANTS LIKE IT THAT WAY
from the event’s patron, President Michael D Higgins, followed by a panel discussion with three designers on what it takes to build a show garden; while there will be cookalongs using Irish produce with TV chefs Nevin Maguire and Donal Skehan.
Gardeners around the country have already been getting into the spirit early.
Alice Ní Mhuiris posted a picture of her tiny balcony garden in Galway, while fellow Galwegian Sylvia Black showed off her back garden in Aughrim.
Eco-conscious Cork woman Eva Corbett posted pictures of her garden before and after she made it over. ‘It’s come a long way on a tight budget – free bricks, slips, cuttings, bulbs and Aldi! During lockdown it’s been my saving grace.’
She added that her garden is 100% chemical free.
‘I hand weed and use beer traps for slugs (my nemesis)... I actually think the plants like it that way, the little creatures certainly do.’
One die-hard fan, twitter user Richy Phanterros, posted pictures of their deck, writing: ‘I have been at every Bloom since it started. This year it will have to come to me!’
And Rhonda Lavery in Co. Clare clearly knows that the Bloom judges appreciate themes, with pictures of her space entitled ‘Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, Heart.’
Organisations too, are getting involved.
The Irish Girl Guides posted a picture of a fairy garden created by guides Jessica and Rachael in Drogheda in support of frontline workers, saying: ‘Their Frontline Fairy is kitted out in full PPE gear, including a carefully crocheted mask.’
But Georgie Stynes perhaps summed matters up, with snaps of her stunning array, saying: ‘From the wild patch to the bug hotel, rose garden to the fragrant yard, apple orchard to the lily bed, the garden is a joy this time of the year.
‘I will miss the Bloom festival, our annual family trip which brought such colour to our garden, but we will #BloomwithRTÉ instead.’