Bloomin' fun in the park
26 May 09

This weekend, Bloom, Ireland's largest and most spectacular garden show, will take place in Dublin City's Phoenix Park (May 28th - June 1st).

Bloom 2009 will include 25 show gardens from Ireland's top horticultural talent, complemented by a spectacular floral pavilion, featuring the best of Irish plants and flowers.

'Grow Your Own' is a central theme of the event and, as part of this year's show, Bord Bia will build a replica of First Lady Michelle Obama's Whitehouse Garden to promote the importance of healthy eating and to educate visitors on planting, harvesting and cooking your own food.

Irish garden designer Fiann O'Nuallain, a medal winner at Bloom 2007 and 2008, has joined forces with UNICEF Ireland to create a garden aimed at encouraging the younger generation to learn more about horticulture and climate change.

Bloom 2009 will also include a garden designed by Rosa O'Connell from County Cork, a former vet and winner of last year's Super Garden series. Rosa's Bloom garden is inspired by WB Yeats' poem, 'In the Seven Woods'.

The OPW (Office of Public Works), which provides the 70 acre site for Bloom, will open its walled kitchen garden to the public.

The Crafts Council of Ireland's large-scale sculptural pieces by five designer-makers will be on show, while the Craft Village will see up to 30 Irish craftmakers showcasing a variety of disciplines including glassmaking, woodturning, ceramics, jewellery, candle-making and more. The Irish Craft Guilds will host daily demonstrations such as felt-making, basket-making and calligraphy.

Bloom will also host a large Irish artisan foods, with everything from relishes and pies to breads and farmhouse cheeses. There will also be a food village, with family meals, food on-the-go and a large picnic area.

Other key features at this year's event include daily cookery demonstrations, live entertainment, and seminars on a wide range of topics, including recycling and allergy-free planting. There will also be a 'plant clinic' so visitors can bring their home plants for inspection by a panel of experts.

Tickets are on sale via www.bloominthepark.com