The island of Ireland boasts some of the world’s greatest show gardens, and when they burst into bloom in spring a kaleidoscope of colour awaits the curious and the horticulture lover alike.
The gardens of the great historic houses are always impressive and none more so than the multi-award-winning Powerscourt Estate in County Wicklow. Its 47 acres of landscaped grounds include rose and kitchen gardens, ornate Italian and Japanese designs, ornamental lakes, woodland walks and over 200 variations of trees and shrubs.
Voted Ireland’s most romantic garden, Mount Usher, also in County Wicklow, is a world-class example of a Robinsonian flower garden, with its relaxed informality and natural layout which enchants thousands of visitors every year.
In County Kildare Ireland’s famous National Stud surprises with its Japanese gardens, considered the finest of their kind in Europe, and laid out to symbolise the ‘Life of Man’ through trees, plants, flowers, lawns, rocks and water.
The celebrated gardens of Northern Ireland’s magnificent Mount Stewart Estate in County Down present a mixture of grandeur and eccentricity, while nearby Rowallane Gardens showcase plants from across the world including a rare and exotic handkerchief tree.
While many of the grand stately homes provide wonderful garden experiences, others are to be found in more unusual spaces. In County Cork, for example, the subtropical micro-climate of Garnish Island has allowed for the creation of a stunning display of exotic species within a woodland setting. The short cruise to the island from Glengarriff includes a visit to a colony of harbour seals.
At the excellent National Botanic Gardens in Dublin, visitors can discover a variety of flower and plant species and also get expert advice at lectures and practical workshops.
Irish horticulture is also celebrated at an array of inspiring gardening and outdoor living festivals that combine fabulous flowers with all the fun of the fair.
Among them is the country’s largest garden event, Bloom, taking place this year in the Phoenix Park in Dublin (31 May – 4 June). This is a must for those keen to see spectacular show gardens and it also provides the opportunity to sample local produce and enjoy a packed programme of entertainment.
Equally popular is Garden Show Ireland (4 – 6 May), set in the stunning grounds of Antrim Castle Gardens in Northern Ireland and presenting gardening, crafts, food and family activities.
Look out also for Belfast’s Rose Week at the Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park, home to the City of Belfast International Rose Garden which pulls in thousands of gardening fans every July.