As a festival that has gardening, food and sustainable living at its heart, here’s our pick of the best of Bloom …
Bord Bia Bloom returns to the Phoenix Park in Dublin over the June bank holiday weekend. For its 19th year, the festival promises glorious gardens, fabulous food and more than 300 live performances. The festival is expected to welcome over 100,000 visitors to the 70-acre site, growing in import and inspiration each year.
1. See the Show Gardens: This year, there will be 21 show gardens that will each tell stories on a range of themes. These include the Make-A-Wish Foundation Garden designed by Linda McKeown, GRÁ designed by Kathryn Feeley for Dogs Trust, Tusla Fostering Garden designed by Pip Probert, The Circular Economy Garden designed by David Negus for the European Commission and the Plant Lover’s Garden designed by Patricia Tyrell for Bord Bia’s Easy Steps To Dream Gardens’ initiative. Sarah Cotterill, winner of Bord Bia Bloom’s Cultivating Talent initiative will also unveil her garden, Into The Wood, as a tribute to the unique Atlantic rainforests of Ireland.
Caragh Nurseries, Ireland’s leading grower of mature trees and plants, will showcase a special garden called Nourish, a collaboration with award-winning garden designer and bestselling author Leonie Cornelius (pictured). This Mediterranean-inspired courtyard garden is designed as a sanctuary, with sensory planting. Andrew Wilson, one of the UK’s leading garden design experts will return as the Chief Show Garden judge. Look out too for the popular Postcard Gardens, sponsored by Tirlán CountryLife, which are built in one day by community groups and schools from across Ireland.
2. Learn how to design and grow the garden of your dreams: Head to the Garden Stage where television presenters Diarmuid Gavin and Adam Frost of BBC’s Gardeners’ World are headlining a busy programme of expert talks and demonstrations. Visitors can ask for specialist advice in the Ask the Expert Plant, Tree and Garden Design Clinics.
3. Gather advice for a more sustainable life: At the Conservation Area visitors can chat with leading conservationists and environmentalists about how to protect the environment. Here you will also find the inspirational Sustainable Living Stage, sponsored by Certa (official supplier of HVO to Bord Bia Bloom) which will host talks on a wide range of topics, from the circular economy and renewable energy to gardening with fewer chemicals and sustainable fashion advice.
4. Have fun with your Budding Bloomers: The children’s area includes face painting, crafting and a line-up of performances from some of Ireland’s best entertainers. Children can also visit the playground and get their hands dirty in the Westland Horticulture Potting Shed. Two children aged 16 and under can enter for free with every adult ticket.
5. Enjoy craft demos and workshops: With 300 talks, demos, performances and workshops to choose from, there’s ample opportunity to enhance your skills, whether that’s learning how to care for houseplants or make a floral crown in the new Botanical Hub Demo Space. Also recommended are the simulators at the Horticulture is Life area, finding out how to grow abundant kitchen gardens in the Eat Well Garden and farming demos at the Agri Aware Farm.
6. Indulge in Taste of Bloom, Curated by Neven: The Taste of Bloom package costs €79 per person, which includes entry and a three-course lunch designed by the MacNean House chef-proprietor using the very best ingredients from quality Irish producers. For more dining options, head to The Seafood Terrace, Country Crest Restaurant or choose from more than 60 food trucks serving a wide variety of cuisines in the Picnic Area and Bloom’s grill zone, BBQ Bliss.
7. Refuel in the Food Village: The Food Hall within Bloom’s buzzy Food Village is a great spot to take a break, soak up the atmosphere and sample some produce from more than 100 artisan producers. From chocolates to cheese and oysters to teas, there’s plenty to tantalise your tastebuds.
8. Watch your favourite chefs in action: There are 30 live demos planned for the weekend. Donal Skehan, Neven Maguire, Aishling Moore and Catherine Fulvio are some of the culinary stars appearing on the Dunnes Stores Quality Kitchen Stage this year, while seafood fans should also make a beeline for the new Seafood Kitchen where chef Trisha Lewis is hosting three demos each day.
9. Soak up the sounds of summer: Don’t miss the Entertainment Stage to watch an eclectic collection of artists perform, while you can watch RTÉ’s outdoor broadcast to see presenters broadcast live, including Louise Duffy, Derek Mooney, Philip Boucher-Hayes, Marty Whelan, Simon Delaney and more.
10. Indulge in some retail therapy: From food to fashion and plants to paintings, there’s something to tempt everyone at Bloom. For plants visit the Nursery Village, in association with Elite Garden Products and The Plant Emporium, in association with Arboretum Garden Centres, Kildare Growers Association and Bord Bia. If you buy too many to carry, you can store them in the Plant Crèche, sponsored by Certa Renewables, until it’s time to go home. Discover the full exhibitor list here.
Olwyn Burke, Caucasian Wingnut, Pterocarya Fraxinifolia.
Need to know: The Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) is also running a must-visit Irish Craft Village where you’ll find 52 stands from textiles and printing to jewellery, woodturning and home décor. I’m also looking forward to the 11th Annual Botanical & Floral Art exhibition opened by Robin Hall, owner of Primrose Hill House and Gardens, which features works by many of Ireland’s foremost botanical artists, running until June 22.
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