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Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘Lots of colour, great atmosphere': Sunshine returns to Bord Bia Bloom as thousands turn out for second day
While the opening day had been hit by rain, 'real Bloom weather' as some called it, returned yesterday and brought with it a smell of sunscreen in the air. It was the first day of Bloom for Aisling Newe, from Co Galway, who praised the 'vibes' and the exhibits on display. 'I'm loving the show gardens – judging them as if I know, like an expert here. But they're really good, to see what they could do with such small spaces. It's really inspiring.' She found the Bee Happy wildlife garden – which won a silver medal and was the winning garden on RTÉ One's Super Garden – the most inspiring. Ms Newe said she came to the festival for a 'bit of inspiration for the future'. 'I don't have green fingers, but I like to think I have. I love a lot of indoor plants, so I am interested in plants… I'd love a really nice garden like this.' Fionnuala and Emmet Savage from Dublin, who were wandering through the gardens with two big bags of plants, most definitely do have green fingers. 'I can't believe the amount of vendors since I was here first, which was probably about six or seven years ago,' Mr Savage said. 'Feels like it's about 10 times larger than the first time we were here, between food and natural producers, and then, of course, plants. 'I enjoyed walking through the model gardens, but I just enjoy walking through the place and absorbing the summer atmosphere.' His wife, Fionnuala, who was looking for gardening inspiration, said: 'It's elevated again this year. More space, bigger, and everything is just fabulous. Very impressive.' ADVERTISEMENT The best show garden for Anita Deane and Margaret Deane Carolan was Nature's Symphony: Celebrating Organic Growth, which pays homage to the Bloom patron, President Michael D Higgins. 'The Michael D Higgins garden is fabulous, you can smell seaweed,' Ms Deane Carolan said. 'Lots of colour, great atmosphere.' Always the biggest attraction of the festival, the 21 show gardens were all designed with sustainability in mind and incorporating environmental measures. Many visitors admiring them were chatting with their designers and asking for gardening advice. The Repak Most Sorted Garden won the overall large garden category award and was very popular with the public, and designer James Purdy said winning the gold feels like a 'recognition for your hard work'. 'It's not normal to put wine bottles, crushed cans and old brick in a garden and make it look beautiful. So I'm glad I've got it over the line well,' he said. In his garden, he wanted to 'look for the beauty in recycled, refined and reused materials'. Another winner was The European Commission's Renewed Blooms Garden, designed by David Negus from Suffolk, England, who won the overall medium garden category award. It is his first time at Bloom, and he said it felt 'surreal' to win the award for his garden, which features a discarded railway track. 'When you're self-employed, like I am, it's actually really nice, because I haven't got anyone telling me if I'm doing well. It's just me, my own brain,' he said. 'So it's really nice to do an event like this and say: 'Oh, I kind of know what I'm doing'. It kind of reaffirms that.' Designer Alan Rudden, who created The Pot Gallery Garden, won the overall small garden category award – his ninth gold medal in 10 years of attending the festival. The Rainbow Brick Balcony Garden, designed by Gary Kirwan as a tribute to Lego, and the How To Train Your Dragon Garden, designed by Tunde Perry and Barry Kavanagh, were especially popular among the visitors. Benny Magennis, from Co Monaghan, designed The Early Bird Catches the Worm garden, sponsored by the Marie Keating Foundation, and won a silver-gilt award. 'Bloom is a great day out. It's very inspiring for people. They're asking for advice all the time. That's all part of it,' Mr Magennis said.
Irish Daily Mirror
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
RTÉ's Super Garden winner confirmed as design set to showcase at Bloom
The winner of RTÉ's Super Garden said it 'means the world' that her creation will be showcased to over 100,000 people at Bloom. Debbie Brophy was elated as she was announced as the winner of the coveted television competition on Tuesday night. Originally from Laois but based in Kildare, the garden enthusiast wowed judges with her 'Bee Happy' wildlife garden. Inspired by a honeybee colony that moved into her own backyard last year, Debbie created a fun and vibrant garden for young family Anju, Jaison and their three-year-old, Steve. The homeowners asked for a low-maintenance garden that could be enjoyed by their son and his friends - and that's exactly what Debbie delivered. She paved the front of the garden for entertaining space and designed a series of hexagonal flower beds filled with pollinating plants to fit with the theme. The gardener showed off her artistic flair as she studied fine art painting at Limerick School of Art. However, at the age of 41 Debbie decided to shift her talent elsewhere and completed a postgraduate diploma with the Garden Design Academy, all while raising her young daughter, Poppy. Now she is the envy of every amateur garden designer in the country as her 'Bee Happy' wildlife garden will be showcased at Ireland's biggest garden festival - Bord Bia's Bloom. Speaking after she proudly held her trophy in her colourful garden, Debbie said: 'It's an immense feeling; there will be 100,000 people coming to see our garden and it means the world." Show Garden Manager for Bord Bia Bloom Kerrie Gardiner said Debbie is 'a worthy winner of Super Garden 2025'. She added: 'She truly delivered for the homeowner, creating the 'Bee Happy' garden filled with colour and family-friendly elements that also encourage pollinators and biodiversity. There was great attention to detail in the garden bespoke insect hotels, and the water butt harvesting waster from the pergola roof all contributing to promoting environmental sustainability. 'The design further includes engaging play areas and interactive installations that foster creativity and outdoor learning for the younger member of the family. Overall, the garden reflects the personality and desires of the homeowners, making it a well-rounded design delivery.' This year's competition on RTÉ saw five designers battle it out to be crowned the winner of Super Garden and have the chance of showcasing at Bloom. All contestants were matched with a family of a new build home in Baker Hall in Navan, Co Meath and given €15,000 and three weeks to complete their masterpiece. Each episode saw judges Brian Burke, Monica Alvarez and Carol Monks cast their expert eye on the gardens and give feedback to the designers. Judge Brian, who represented Woodies, said Debbie was the deserved winner because she incorporated all the elements he looks for in a garden. He said: 'People often ask me what makes a winning design in Super Garden. The answer is that it is a combination of things - originality, flow, dynamism, interesting plant combinations, strong built elements, an eye on sustainability, a full and faithful response to the homeowner's requirements. This year Debbie provided all of those things, and more.' Judge Monica, who is a former Super Garden winner herself, said there was 'good quality' across all the gardens. Speaking about Debbie's design, she said: 'Debbie's garden makes a perfect addition to Bloom, having demonstrated her ability to carry out good quality work and produce a garden with a strong message. I am very proud of what she has created.' The four other gardens were Jorge Aragon Cano's 'Failte Fiesta' design, Eileen Sung's 'New Beginnings' garden, Chris Walsh's 'Culinary Canopy' creation and Rosie Alabaster's garden inspired by WB Yeats' Lake Isle of Innisfree. Bord Bia's Bloom takes place in Dublin's Phoenix Park from May 29 to June 2, where Debbie's 'Happy Bee' garden will be on display.
