Something for everyone at ‘Bloom’
I'M NOT a great lover of crowds. Man Friday would make me feel claustrophobic. So a trip to Bloom in Phoenix Park last week wouldn't be something I would relish.
I chose to go on the opening day, Thursday, and to be honest despite it being busy the site is large enough for free flowing access without too much toe crushing. You have to admire the effort that goes into putting on a show of this size and it is a great advertisment and shop window for Irish gardening and food which is only to be applauded. It has come a very long way since its inception.
On arrival it was drizzling so I headed for the ‘Flower Pavilion'. Entering these tents is always very redolent , both in memory and smell, of village flower shows way back in my childhood. A humid mix of flower, foliage, fragrance and murmuring voices in the half light of the tent, the closest you can get to being chlorophyll. You feel encapsulated in plant life.
While many exhibitors had gone to great lengths with creative displays of wonderful flowers and plants on their stalls others appeared to be solely interested in selling. The overall feeling in the tent was one of retail not creativity. While I fully understand that business has to be done I feel all exhibitors should have to create something more than a sales area. This is Irelands gardening show piece after all. This is possibly only my own puritanical view, because there were plenty of people buying. So maybe give the people what they want.
Particularly good was the stall of Allium [flowering onions] and Amaryllis by W.S Warmenhoven, simply but spectacularly displayed. Mount Venus nursery had a lovely mix of shrubs, of which through out the show there wasn't enough, and perennials carefully selected and arranged.
As did Kilmurry Nursery from Gorey with its wide ranging selection of perennials. I also liked an unatteneded display of ferns that was just a series of pots with name labels on a black stepped stall. Whether by design or apathy, and it could have been either, it was very effective and botanical.
Another interesting exhibitor was Orla of Gobramble whos mission it was to take down peoples favourite garden/ green space suggestions then head off in her VW Camper visiting and blogging about what she has found. This is a very interesting concept as I'm sure there are plenty of hidden gems out there that are unknown or perhaps in peoples private gardens.
It had stopped raining so out to the show gardens. Now just to clarify these are or supposed to be show gardens. This to me means that they don't have to be totally practical but should be innovative and not overly commercial.It is great to see the opportunity used to promote charities and help organisations in many cases.
In my opinion there was a mix of some good, some bad and some ugly. I understand that it takes a lot of effort to plan and install any show garden, I worked at Chelsea a few times, so hats off to everyone who got out there and did it. But the gardens are there to be judged. We'll all have different favourites and opinions which is what it's all about.
My favourite was the unashamedly angular ‘You listen I'll Talk' Samaritans garden. Very strongly boxy in shape the designer resisted the temptation of adding blocks of strong colour instead deciding to create a near colourless planting scheme. This gave the over all impression of viewing the garden in sepia, almost dreamlike, which linked very well to the gardens theme. The over all effect was bravely surreal.
Another brave garden and one that definitely falls into the ‘show garden' ideal was ‘Messenger' a garden for the Jack and Jill foundation. It consists of just four plants the majority of which is a variegated grass. There are no open spaces at all and nowhere to enter but perched in the middle of the grass on a
“Despite it being busy the site is large enough for free flowing access without too much toe crushing”
pedestal is a stuffed peacock. I'm not sure I understand it but you don't have to to admire it.
Finally one more garden of note was ‘Sowing the Seeds of Magic' a garden for Barretstown. This had something that other gardens lacked which was access through it with the centre piece being a huge red door. This was hugely popular with paying visitors and should be incorporated more wherever possible. There were many places this could have been utilised. This garden said come in, not keep out. There is something laudable in that.