Plant Fairs & Garden Festivals

From an ISNA plant fair to two garden festivals within two weeks, September is going to be a busy month for the leisure horticulture sector.

Networking at these events can lead onto fruitful relationships with key figures in the leisure horticulture area.

Horticulture

Read More: Garden Festival ISNA Plant Fairs

31 August 2017

September will be a busy month for Plant Fairs and Garden Festivals. These events are crucial when it comes to seeing what other growers, nurseries, and businesses are doing to grow their operations and develop.

Fota House ISNA Plant Fair

On Sunday, 17 September, Fota House will host the Irish Specialist Nursery Association Plant Fair. These nurseries offer a wide variety of plants, services and advice. Most of the stock that they produce is propagated by themselves or sourced from other artisan producers.

They offer a large selection of plants ranging from the more common species to the rare and obscure cultivars not normally found in the bigger retail outlets in Ireland.

The Fair will run from 11am to 4pm and catering facilities
will be available in Fota House and on site throughout the day. Admission €5 including car parking. Conducted tours of the newly restored Farmyard at Fota House will be available during the afternoon.

Ashford Flower Festival

A flower Festival will be held at Nun’s Cross Church in Ashford, Co. Wicklow on Friday and Saturday, 1 and 2 September, 10 am to 7pm and Sunday, 3 September, 12.30pm to 6.30 pm.

It is anticipated that the festival will attract many visitors to view the floral exhibitions. Admission is €10, which includes tea, and also includes 2 for the price of 1 into Mount Usher Gardens in Ashford village. For further information contact: Lesley 087-2810478.

Ballymaloe Garden Festival

The Ballymaloe Garden Festival happens over the weekend of 2 and 3 September on the grounds of Ballymaloe House in Shanagarry, Co. Cork.

The variety of talks, demonstrations, entertainment and shopping offers a bumper crop for garden lovers, seasoned experts, late bloomers, families, and foodies. Among the highlights of this year’s Festival are two talks by Alan Power, head gardener at Stourhead in Wiltshire, and a Cork native.

Helen Dillon will speak about ‘Moving House – Only The Best to Come,’ focussing on the plants she simply couldn’t leave behind when moving to her new, smaller garden in Co. Dublin.

Darina Allen will launch her latest book, ‘Grow and Cook’, followed by questions and answers. Klaus Laitenberger of Green Vegetable Seeds and Ballymaloe gardener Susan Turner will lead organic vegetable walks in the walled garden.

Read More: Garden Festival ISNA Plant Fairs