The solitary Irish yew tree, first identified in County Fermanagh in the 18th century, has since propagated worldwide through numerous cultivars growing in various gardens, a testament to Ireland’s impressive gardening legacy. This tradition is further inherited by the remarkable Irish horticulturists, creators of gardens, plant hunters, and botanists whose contributions significantly enriched the field of horticulture. There are quite a few suitable horticultural techniques to commemorate Ireland’s famously termed “40 shades of green”.
Cultivate an Irish Plant
Cherish Ireland’s splendid tradition of garden flora by nurturing some of the exceptional varieties that Irish horticulturists have bred or chosen amongst the hundreds available. Many of these are vintage breeds, preserved in cultivation over generations, ranging from renowned, old fruits and vegetables to ornamental trees, shrubs, and perennials. Some widely recognised instances include the Malus ‘Irish Peach’, Malus ‘Ard Cairn Russet’, and Malus ‘Kerry Pippin’ apple variants; Donegal’s winter-resilient Gortahork cabbage; the reported Irish yew or Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’; Narcissus ‘Rip van Winkle’ a treasured, star-shaped daffodil; Mahonia x media ‘Charity’, an evergreen shrub developed in Co Down’s renowned Slieve Donard nursery during the 1950s; and Anemone nemorosa ‘Robinsoniana’, a delicate spring-blooming perennial, named after William Robinson, Ireland’s most famous plantsman, author, and publisher.
More modern varieties entail the golden Primula ‘June Blake’, found in June Blake’s gardens and nursery in West Wicklow; Clematis tibetana ‘Lorcan O’Brien’, a subtle, late-blooming creeper, brought from the wild by Kilmacurragh Botanic Gardens’ main horticulturist and author, Seamus O’Brien; Magnolia ‘Adam Clayton’, grown by Michael White, the plant expert and previous curator of Mount Congreve gardens, and dedicated to the musician, garden creator, and U2 band member Adam Clayton; and the burgundy pompon Dahlia ‘John Markham’, named after the highly esteemed late gardener of the same name, known for his champion dahlia and sweet-pea growing.
Consider joining a society.
Choosing to become a member of organisations dedicated to improving and endorsing Irish horticulture allows you to aid them in their excellent work of preserving Irish gardens, Irish native plants, and biodiversity in general.
A practical example of such organisation is the Irish Seed Savers Association, located in Co Clare, which was instituted by Anita Hayes in 1996. The association, most famous for its efforts to protect traditional Irish apple species, also collaborates with garden enthusiasts, cultivators, and small independent seed makers to guard and share seeds of various heritage varieties of fruits, vegetables, herbs and grains that are particularly adjusted to the Irish climate.
In addition to its apple orchards, the association’s head office in Scariff boasts several acres of native Irish woodland funded by the public, and the association offers a range of horticulture-related courses. Another worthwhile mention is the Irish Garden Plant Society, established in 1981, recognised for its priceless contribution in studying, documenting, and preserving Irish garden plants as well as being a significant chronicler of Irish garden history.
Working jointly with members, voluntary workers, and other garden owners and public organisations sharing the same interest, in recent times it has played a crucial role in setting up a series of significant public collections of Irish garden plants across the country including in the National Botanic Gardens Glasnevin, Blarney Castle in Co Cork, Lismacloskey Rectory Gardens at the Ulster Folk Museum and Pogue’s Entry in Co Antrim.
The esteemed Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland must not be neglected; a group defined as “a collection of like-minded individuals possessing a profound love for Earth, a fascination for plant life, and dedication to green gardening.” The society, traced back to its inception in 1816, has several prominent gardens arranged across the country recently, which includes locations at Blessington in Co Wicklow and at Bellefield in Co Offaly. The society also offers an impressive online collection of discourses and lectures via Zoom, and organises garden visits and trips.
Plant some potatoes!
Dating back centuries, Ireland has had an enduring relationship with the versatile potato, or ‘práta’. Known for their distinctive traditional lazy beds filled neatly with rows of these nutritious vegetables, Irish gardeners have also incorporated a measure of ingenuity by using foraged seaweed as a natural growth stimulant and disease deterrent. Over time, a broader spectrum of growth techniques have evolved, incorporating large tubs, grow-bags, elevated beds and typical drills. The commencement of the planting season aligns with St Patrick’s Day, building momentum with the introduction of faster maturing, early varieties, followed by the slower growth of main crop varieties come April. Although historical varieties such as ‘Queens’, ‘Home Guard’, ‘Kerr’s Pink’ and ‘Arran Victory’ still maintain their appeal, more recent varieties distinguished by high blight resistance are increasingly favored.
The illustrious National Botanic Gardens situated in Glasnevin, Dublin, present a proud lineage, founded back in 1795 by the Royal Dublin Society and now overseen by the Office of Public Works. Within its realm reside exceptional plant collections, along with significant contributions, in the form of papers and herbarium, from Ireland’s prominent gardeners, botanists, plant collectors, and botanical illustrators, including prominent names like Augustine Henry, Robert Lloyd Praeger, Ernest Wilson, and Charlotte Wheeler Cuffe. This botanical sanctuary also showcases its restored Palm House and Curvilinear Range of glasshouses, the brainchild of Dublin native Richard Turner, seen as architectural gems amid the well-curated green expanses. The grounds also house Teagasc’s College of Amenity Horticulture. Since 1996, an annex garden at Kilmacurragh House in East Wicklow, particularly known for its expansive array of Ericaceous plants, has been a part of the Botanic Gardens. Both these horticultural sites, operating year-round, offer the public access to a wide range of workshops, classes, tours and talks.
Ireland’s horticultural calendar is punctuated with noteworthy events, with Bord Bia’s Bloom headlining over the June bank holiday weekend. Other notable dates include the Galway Garden Festival happening at the start of July, and the Carlow Garden Festival celebrated throughout the latter part of July extending into early August. Both have become essential markers in the Irish gardening year.
The Festival of Gardens & Nature, a novel event brought to life by Catherine FitzGerald and Minnie Preston, is set to grace Ballintubbert House & Gardens in Co Laois on the weekend of April 20th-21st. This event will be enriched by a diverse roster of speakers hailing from Ireland, the UK, and the US. Among these are perfume makers Sadie Chowen and Cath Kidston, advocates for sustainability Shane Connolly and Emily Thompson, the Land Gardeners Brigitte Elsworth and Henrietta Courtauld. Renowned kitchen garden experts Kitty Scully, Tom Petherick, and Kate Gatacre will contribute, as well as Manchán Magan, a writer passionate about the environment, actor Dominic West, and several Irish gardeners and authors. Johnny Flynn, an environmentally conscious singer, and natural pool designer David Pagan Butler are also among the speakers (festivalofgardensandnature.com).
This week in the garden
It’s an apt time to plant the first and second-early potato varieties out in open, sunny, and shielded conditions. Preferably use weed-free beds filled with decomposed manure or do-it-yourself garden compost, supplemented by a sprinkling of slow-release organic fertiliser. Maintain a depth of 12-15cm and a gap of 25-30cm when planting the seed tubers in rows, ensuring a minimum separation of 40-50cm between each row.
Towards the end of March, it is advised to uproot and separate large, developed clusters of snowdrops while they are “in the green” (covered in leaves), prior to planting the smaller sections back in the garden or potting them to gift to loved ones. Fertile, moist, but freely-draining soil beneath the intermittent shade of deciduous trees and shrubs are the preferred conditions for Snowdrops.
Dates for your diary
Michael White, an accomplished gardener, author, and professional breeder, will deliver a ‘Memoir of a Woodland Garden’ Zoom talk on Wednesday, March 20th (7.30pm-9pm) on behalf of RHSI. White was formerly the curator of Mount Congreve gardens (rhsi.ie).
On Sunday, March 24th (11am-4pm), RHSI Bellefield gardens in Shinrone, Co Offaly, will host the RHSI Plant Fair 2024. Head gardener Paul Smyth will guide tours of the garden at 12 noon and 2 pm (rhsi.ie).
On the forthcoming Sunday, 24th of March, there’ll be an insightful half-day workshop taking place at The Grinding House, situated within June Blake’s Garden in Tinode, Blessington, Co Wicklow. The event commences at 9.30am and wraps up around 1pm. Be prepared to gain in-depth understanding on nurturing one’s own cut flowers, thoroughly on a budget, through seedling, cuttings and divisions. Fionnuala Fallon will conduct this hands-on plant propagation session. To reserve your spot, get in touch via @theirishflowerfarmer on Instagram.