Latest news with #MallowHome&GardenFestival
Irish Examiner
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Irish Examiner
Peter Dowdall: Action stations at Mallow Home & Garden Festival
As the days lengthen and the sun shines brighter, gardens have once more taken centre stage, but with the increasing unpredictability of our weather, long dry spells followed by sudden downpours, it's becoming clear that our traditional approaches to gardening may need a rethink. This year's Chelsea Flower Show echoed that sentiment, showcasing designs and plant selections that embrace resilience and sustainability. The focus on drought-tolerant plants was noticeable. The Karoo Garden, inspired by South Africa's semi-desert, showcased succulents and hardy species suited to arid conditions. More locally, the Garden of the Future featured dry-resistant plants like rock rose, Cistus × purpureus and chickpeas Cicer arietinum. Angela and Henk Veldman and Joan O'Donovan, all from Courtmachsherry, at Mallow Home & Garden Festival. Pictures: Eddie O'Hare Adding these plants to our gardens doesn't mean compromising on beauty. The Sally Holmes rose, with its large white blooms, was a highlight at Chelsea, showing that elegance and hardiness can coexist. Likewise, the Allium siculum, or Sicilian honey garlic, with its bell-shaped flowers, adds structure and thrives in drier soils. Garden design was key to water-wise gardening at the show. Naturalistic planting, gravel paths, and mulch helped retain soil moisture and cut down on extra watering. Raised beds and containers improved control over soil and drainage. Adapting gardens by starting with small changes can be effective. Adding drought-tolerant plants, using mulch to retain soil moisture, and adjusting watering routines are all practical steps. The Chelsea Flower Show illustrated that these modifications can create sustainable yet visually appealing and interesting gardens. Graham Walker from Carrigaline at Mallow Home & Garden Festival. Bringing such inspiration down to earth and into our own hands, as always, was Mallow Home & Garden Festival, which unfolded from Friday, May 23, to Sunday, May 25, at Cork Racecourse. It was a real show experience as festivalgoers walked through the gardens, smelled the flowers, and growers and designers gave us an insight into their work, before garden-lovers packed their car boots with their plant purchases. Trish O'Sullivan (left) and Tina Cronin both from Cullen. After attending, people didn't just take home tools, furniture and crafts, but clever design ideas for inside and out, as over 200 exhibitors showcased everything from home improvement solutions to artisan food and drink. The 25 stunning show gardens on display offered ideas that work in real gardens here in Ireland. The gathering of Irish Specialist Nursery Association members, in the stables area of the racecourse, provided us with the opportunity to snap up rare gems not to be seen in a standard garden centre. For me personally, one of the best parts of the weekend is the series of free gardening talks and demonstrations, and I enjoyed sharing knowledge along with my good friend Paraic Horkan as we covered everything from planting combinations to garden design, pest control to pollinator-friendly practices and taking a resilient approach to gardening. Irish Examiner gardening columnist Peter Dowdall speaking at Mallow Home and Garden Festival. All in all, as we head into the warmer months, perhaps it's time to take a leaf out of Chelsea's book and embrace this more resilient approach. All smiles: Frances and Noel Horgan, Dromahane, with Barkley, at Mallow Home & Garden Festival. After all, a garden that can weather the extremes is one that will continue to bring joy, come rain or shine. But let's be honest, the idea of a drought-resilient garden can conjure up images of dry gravel beds and lifeless, beige expanses. The reality, though, couldn't be further from that, especially if you draw a little inspiration from the likes of the show gardens at Chelsea this year. Dressed to impress: Laleh and Ariobanzan O'Sullivan from Castletroy. There was colour, texture, and even romance in many of the drought-leaning plant choices, with designers managing to capture wildness and beauty without sacrificing resilience. Adham Jaber and Barra O Donnabhain from Aghabullogue at the Mallow Home & Garden Festival 2025. Take, for example, the widespread use of achillea in warm golds, apricots, and pinks. This plant not only thrives in dry, free-draining soil, but it also attracts pollinators in droves and holds its own structure beautifully well into autumn. And then there were the swaying grasses, things like Stipa tenuissima and Sesleria autumnalis, both light and airy, drought-hardy, and full of gentle movement that brings a garden to life even when everything else seems to be wilting. One of the key things to understand is that drought-resilient doesn't mean bone dry. It's more about reducing the need for constant intervention. Instead of daily hosepipe sessions and feeding schedules, you're building a system that's balanced, where plants cope, soils retain just enough moisture, and every drop of water does its job. The soil, really, is the foundation of it all. In much the same way, a healthy gut leads to a healthy body; good soil will set you up for a thriving garden with far less effort. Adding organic matter, compost, leaf mould or well-rotted manure not only improves the structure of the soil, allowing it to retain more moisture during dry periods, but also helps it drain properly when the heavens do finally open. Mulching that improved soil with bark, straw, or even gravel, depending on your preferred look, helps to lock that moisture in and reduce evaporation. Marguerite and Eimear O'Farrell from Dripsey. There's also something to be said for planting density. In many of the Chelsea gardens this year, we saw a move away from the isolated specimen planting of decades past, in favour of layered, naturalistic groupings. When plants grow close together, they create a microclimate at soil level, with less exposure to sun and wind, and more retained humidity. Think of a patch of Salvia nemorosa underplanted with Erigeron karvinskianus, and flanked by Lavandula Hidcote. All are sun lovers, all cope well with dryness, and together they create a tapestry that looks stunning while working to support itself. Another subtle but important tip: water less often, but more deeply. A light sprinkle each evening encourages shallow roots, which are far more vulnerable during hot weather. But a deep soak once or twice a week, ideally in the early morning or late evening, teaches roots to grow downwards, tapping into moisture further below the surface. It's about changing our habits as gardeners, not just changing the plants. Una Tierney, Mallow, Teresa Hogan, Waterfall, and Mary Weir, Mallow. And while we're changing habits, it's worth taking a moment to think about the thirsty parts of the garden we've accepted without question. Lawns are a good example. They're often the most water-demanding part of the garden and arguably the least useful to wildlife. Instead of a monoculture of grass, could that space become a mini meadow? Or at least tolerate a bit of clover and selfheal, which not only require less watering, but also support pollinators and improve soil health? Pam O'Regan, Vicarstown, with Coco, and Bernadette Moran, Waterfall, at Mallow. One of the show gardens this year took exactly that approach. Rather than presenting the perfect green lawn, it featured a blend of native wildflowers, yarrow, and low-growing thyme, creating a soft and textured mat that hummed with life and barely needed a drop of extra water. There was also a noticeable emphasis on Mediterranean-style planting. It makes sense, countries like Spain and Italy have been managing dry summers for centuries, and many of the plants that thrive there do just as well here, provided they have good drainage. Rosemary, sage, oregano, phlomis, euphorbia, all of them performed well at Chelsea and could perform just as beautifully in a dry border at home. Ultimately, gardening with the climate rather than against it isn't a compromise. It's a philosophy that leads to healthier, more vibrant gardens and to gardeners who aren't constantly battling the weather.
Irish Examiner
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Peter Dowdall: Next stop Mallow for home and garden festival
What I love about this time of year is the buzz. You can feel it in the air. Everything is bursting into life again, from the fresh green leaves unfurling to the energy in the soil and the excitement among gardeners. Whether you are a seasoned expert or planting for the first time, May is when the garden starts calling you outside. Right at the heart of that buzz is the Mallow Home & Garden Festival. It takes place this year from Friday, May 23, to Sunday, May 25, at Cork Racecourse. It comes at the perfect moment. The week before, all eyes in the gardening world turn to London for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. We all watch it on TV or scroll through the photos online, inspired by the beauty, the creativity, the show gardens that seem to defy imagination. There is something a bit distant about it, too. It is glamorous, certainly, but also a bit out of reach for most of us. What I love about the Mallow Home & Garden Festival is that it brings that inspiration right down to earth, right into your own hands. Mallow gives you the real show experience. You can walk through the gardens. You can smell the plants. You can chat to the growers and the designers. You can go home with plants, tools, and ideas that are actually ready to be planted in your own back garden that very weekend. It is a proper gardening show, with soil under your boots and the warmth of real conversations with people who love what they do. This year's festival promises to be better than ever. Once again, the team at The Pavilion Garden Centre in Ballygarvan, Co Cork, is behind the 25 stunning show gardens on display. These are not just for show. They are designed to give you real ideas that work in real gardens here in Ireland. Whether you are thinking of redoing a corner bed, adding a bit of structure with some new planting, or completely redesigning your outdoor space, the show gardens at Mallow are a brilliant place to find your spark. One of the highlights for me every year is the gathering of specialist nurseries. The Irish Specialist Nursery Association, or ISNA as you may know it, will be back in full force, and I could not be happier to see it. You will find its members in the stables area of the racecourse. If you are serious about plants, that is where you want to spend your time. This is where you will find the rare, the unusual, the hard-to-find treasures that you will not see in a standard garden centre. You will also find the well-loved classics, the old favourites that bring comfort and familiarity to any garden. Perhaps most exciting of all, you will find brand-new plant introductions that are just making their way into the Irish market. The variety is incredible, ranging from herbaceous perennials to trees, shrubs, roses, clematis, and ferns. More than the plants, what you are really getting here is access to the people who grow them. These are the nursery owners themselves. The people who propagated these plants from seed or cutting, who nurtured them through the cold months, and who know exactly what each one needs to thrive. They will be there, happy to chat, to offer advice, and to help you choose the right plants for your own garden conditions. Whether you have a shady corner or a windswept balcony, they will help you find something that will flourish. Peter Dowdall will be at Mallow Home & Garden Festival. There is a genuine passion and a generosity of spirit in the growers who are part of the ISNA. It is not about the hard sell. It is about sharing knowledge and helping people grow. For me, that is what the best gardening events are all about. Of course, it is not just about plants. There are over 200 exhibitors expected this year, offering everything from home improvement solutions to artisan food and drink. There will be tools, furniture, crafts, and clever design ideas for inside and out. If you are working on a home project or just want to be inspired, you will find something worth taking home. The Cork Builders Providers are back again this year as festival partners, and they have played a huge part in building many of the gardens you will see. They are also running special offers across the weekend, so it is a good time to pick up quality supplies if you are planning any garden or home improvement work. One of the best parts of the weekend, for me personally, is the series of free gardening talks and demonstrations. I will be there throughout the weekend, giving talks and sharing as much as I can. My good friend Paraic Horkan will also be joining me again. Paraic Horkan will give presentations at the Mallow event. Between us, we will cover everything from planting combinations to garden design, pest control to pollinator-friendly practices. We always leave time for questions because the real value comes from the conversations we have with the audience. That interaction is what makes these events so special. The whole experience is designed to be easy and enjoyable. There is full catering on site, so you can grab a bite to eat and make a day of it. There is ample free parking, and even a shuttle bus from Mallow Railway Station for anyone travelling by train. It is family-friendly too, with free admission for children, so you can bring the whole crew along for a day outdoors. It is always a joy to see families walking around together, children exploring the gardens, and everyone coming away with new ideas and renewed enthusiasm. That is the magic of Mallow. It sends you home excited to get out into the garden, to dig, to plant, to create. So, spend the previous week swooning over Chelsea's grandeur and then take that excitement and turn it into action. Come to Mallow. Walk the gardens. Talk to the growers. Pick up something special for your own garden. I will see you there. Got a gardening question for Peter Dowdall? Email gardenquestions@
Irish Examiner
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Garden Digest: Summer shows, festivals and club events
CLUB NOTES Cobh Flower and Horticulture Club will hold its next meeting on Monday, May 12, in Cobh Community Centre at 7pm. It will be a teaching night with Sandra Jackson. Visitors welcome. Admission, €10. East Cork Flower Club will meet on Monday, May 12, at 7.30pm in St John the Baptist NS, Dungourney Road, Midleton. Speaker Susanne Raven will give a talk on 'The benefits of mowing by scythe'. The night includes a members' competition. Visitors, €7. Tea/coffee included. Clonakilty Flower Club will hold its gala charity night on Monday, May 12, at 8pm in the GAA Complex, Ahamilla, Clonakilty. Demonstrator is Harumi Langford of AOIFA. Proceeds in aid of CoAction (remembering Ella Cahill) and the AOIFA national charity, Breast Cancer Ireland. The event includes a sales table and refreshments. Admission, €20. Kinsale Garden & Flower Club will host Eileen of Brien of the club, along with Kinsale fashion boutiques Mad For Style, Ms Ellie's Boutique, and Hattitude, as they present 'Fun with Fashion and Flowers' in Actons Hotel, Kinsale, on Wednesday, May 14, at 8pm. Proceeds are in aid of the Friary Renovation Fund. Tickets available from the Friary Office, on the door, or by contacting Nicola Desmond at 086-8515371 or Eileen O'Brien at 021-4773256. Ballincollig Flower and Garden Club will host a talk titled 'Desirable Shrubs for Flowers, Foliage and Other Effects' by Mary Keenan, Gash Gardens, RHSI. It takes place on Thursday, May 15, at 8pm at Gaelscoil Uí Ríordáin (Eircode: P31 V242). All welcome. Non-members, €10. Includes light refreshments. Raffle tickets, €5. Club annual membership, €40. SUMMER SHOWS AND FESTIVALS The Garden Show is taking place in Broadford, Co Limerick, today in the local community centre (Eircode: P56 D402). It will include insightful talks from a diverse range of speakers on sustainable floristry, soil care and composting, designing and planting a mixed garden, and edible plants. There will be a guided walk to the local arboretum from Éanna Ní Lamhna, a plant auction, and much more. Mallow Home & Garden Festival takes place on May 23, 24 and 25. Cork Summer Show will offer floral art, horticulture, and fruit and vegetable competitions which are now open on The Cork Summer Show, organised by the Munster Agricultural Society, takes place on June 14-15 at Curraheen Showgrounds, Cork.
