Tickets for the GLDA Seminar on Saturday 24th February are on sale now on the GLDA website. Space to grow – How our gardens and open spaces can help us achieve a liveable future These questions are the focus of the Garden and Landscape Designers Association Seminar 2024, entitled ‘Space to Grow – How our gardens and open spaces can help us achieve a liveable future’, which will take place on the 24th of February 2024 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry, Dublin. The event is organised in association with Bord Bia, organisers of Bloom. Tickets are available to purchase online at www.GLDA.IE ..read more

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  (From left to right: Conall O’Caoimh, Áine-Máire Ní Mhurchú, Paul Smyth, Siobhán O Mahony, Mark Cooke, Carol Melody and Phillip Hollwey. Image and text courtesy of Áine Máire Ní Mhurchú) Gardening for the Future was held on Saturday, November 11th, 2023, at the beautiful RHSI Bellefield, Shinrone, Co. Offaly. It was a Joint activity of RHSI and IGPS, which included a garden skills workshop demonstrating practical skills-based training, focused on enabling gardeners to implement methods at home.  The post Gardening for the Future Saturday November 11th, 2023 appeared first on I ..read more

(Image courtesy of Maeve Bell) Congratulations to Kevin Halpenny, Fingal County Council’s Senior Parks and Landscape Officer, who has received the prestigious World Urban Parks Distinguished Individual Award. Kevin has been a contributor to IGPS activities, and at our last AGM in May 2023 we were pleased to present Kevin and Ardgillan Castle, with a selection of Irish Heritage Plants (pictured here).   The post Congratulations to Kevin Halpenny appeared first on Irish Garden Plant Society ..read more

On October 22nd, the IGPS Leinster Committee held their annual plant sale in Blackrock. As can be seen from the images, a vast selection of wonderful plants, many of which were of Irish heritage, went to deserving homes. Thanks to all the volunteers for such a wonderful day. Image Courtesy of Andrew GeeImage Courtesy of Andrew Gee The post Recent IGPS Plant Sale appeared first on Irish Garden Plant Society ..read more

Plants raised in Ireland by gardeners and nurserymen are a particular focus of the IGPS. As such, we’re constantly asking ourselves: Are these plants freely available, or are they rare – requiring propagation and later distribution among members? This fundamental question is the purpose of “The Strategy for the Preservation of Irish Cultivars,” first published by the Society in 2004 and updated in October 2023. The Strategy has taken the categories used by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) in their Red Data books and adapted them for use in determining which cultiva ..read more

The Alpine Garden Society has extended a kind invitation to the Irish Garden Plant Society on Saturday 11th of November at 2.30pm at St Bride’s main hall, Derryvolgie Avenue, Belfast, BT9 6FP where Neil Porteous will deliver a talk on the topic of “Australasian and New Zealand plants for Irish Gardens- a new cast of characters “. There will be a plant stall before the talk and tea afterwards with all IGPS members welcome.     The post Australasian & New Zealand plants for Irish Gardens with Neil Porteous appeared first on Irish Garden Plant Society ..read more

On the October bank holiday, the Irish Society of Botanical Artists will celebrate Ireland’s twenty-two native trees with an exhibition at the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin. The Society launched the project in 2022, inviting their members to illustrate native trees and their botanical details. Over the past two years, the painters have gathered botanical information and scoured the countryside for examples of these native species in all seasons. They have produced a set of paintings for each tree, enlarging the smallest of details and providing a record for identification and appreciat ..read more

Galway Flower and Garden Club presents a garden talk with Paul Smyth, Plantsman, Author and Head Gardener for RHSI Bellefield, Shinrone, Co Offally. Venue – Clybaun Hotel, Galway Date – Tuesday October 17th, 2023 Open – 7.30pm Admission is €15.00 Tea/Coffee and plants raffle on the night. The post RHSI Galway Flower and Garden Club Talk appeared first on Irish Garden Plant Society ..read more

Glenveagh in the rain The theme of the 29th NI Heritage Gardens Trust Conference 2023 was Robinsonian Gardening.   Thankfully the wet weather didn’t dampen spirits at the event which was held in Letterkenny, Co Donegal from the 5th to 7th of October.   It was attended by quite a number of IGPS members who enjoyed visits to Glenveagh and Carraghblagh Gardens.   Charles Nelson (right) first Chairman of the IGPS and Honorary Member, with Seán O’Gaoithín, head gardener at Glenveagh (left), and John Anderson, (centre), Keeper of Windsor Great Park and the Savill Gardens and former he ..read more