Paddy, Author at Irish Garden Plant Society

The Irish Garden – Jane Powers and Jonathan Hession

Jane Powers’ new book, with husband photographer Jonathan Hession, The Irish Garden, will be published next April. With 400 pages and describing approximately 60 gardens it will be the biggest treatment of Irish gardens in 15 years. We are familiar with Jane’s writing from her years with the Irish Times, now with The Sunday Times […]

Iris unguicularis ‘Kilbroney Marble’

Iris unguicularis, commonly called the Algerian Iris, is one of the delights of the winter garden. It is a perennial plant, growing from rhizomes which spread with ease when planted in a soil which is free-draining and in full sun. It grows to about 30cm. high and though generally described as being evergreen it is […]

‘In the Footsteps of Joseph Hooker, An Expedition to the Himalaya‘ – A talk by Seamus O Brien.

‘In the Footsteps of Joseph Hooker, An Expedition to the Himalaya‘ On Thursday, 23rd October Seamus O’Brien, Curator of the National Botanic Gardens at Kilmacurragh, came up north to give us a most interesting lecture ‘In the Footsteps of Joseph Hooker, An Expedition to the Himalaya‘. It was an excellent talk and attracted an attendance […]

The Plant Lover’s Guide to Snowdrops by Naomi Slade – A Review.

Naomi Slade has extensive writing experience, many years with Gardening Which – and won three silver-gilt medals at the Chelsea Flower Show in the Science and Education Section while with them. She has also written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, The English Garden and The Garden. I mention this background because it adds to my […]

The Holistic Gardener by Fiann O Nuallain – A review.

Fiann O Nualláin’s book, “The Holistic Gardener”, gives a list of first aid treatments which we can make from the plants in our gardens and other to-hand materials. There are the usual suggestions for nettle burns and wasp stings along with suggestions for potions for relaxation and general wellbeing with some recipes to tempt our […]

IGPS Members’ Garden is Blooming Beautiful

Victor and Roz Henry have just won the Belfast Telegraph’s “Blooming Marvellous” competition in the “Large Urban Garden” category which brought with it a £1,000 prize. Well done to Victor and Roz! Initially, Victor and Roz had to submit a set of photographs and a written description of their garden. This led to their garden […]

IGPS Leinster visit Carmel Duignan’s Garden

Carmel Duignan’s Garden – A visit by IGPS members A visit to Carmel Duignan’s garden, incredible selection of rare and unusual plants, expertly grown and placed. many thanks Carmel for a wonderful tour. Stephen Butler

IGPS North – Garden Visit to Adrian Walsh’s Garden.

IGPS Northern Group Garden Visit to Adrian Walsh’s Garden at Stranmillis, Belfast on September 3rd A report from Jenny Constable. There was a very good turnout of members and guests for our visit to Adrian’s garden. Around forty of us met on a beautiful balmy September evening. Adrian’s property is a red brick house in […]

IGPS Munster at Blarney in Bloom, Summer 2014

IGPS MUNSTER AT BLARNEY IN BLOOM The Munster branch of the IGPS had a fantastic day at Blarney in Bloom . A huge thank you to Blarney Castle & Gardens, to those who donated plants and books, lent furniture, volunteered their time, and to all those who came by to say hello. Well done everyone! […]

IGPS Leinster Visit to Russborough Gardens. Summer 2014

Visit to Russborough The Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland kindly invited the Irish Garden Plant Society to their walled garden restoration project at Russborough House. Members were treated to a guided tour of the remarkable volunteer-led work in progress, with an incredible showcase of fruit, vegetables, and wonderful herbaceous plantings, all the more inspiring as […]

The Atlantic Coast of Ireland – Photography by Jonathan Hession. Text by John Grenham – A review.

It was the photography of Jonathan Hession which attracted me to this book but on reading it I was delighted by the text of John Grenham. The photographs and text cover the west coast of Ireland, the Atlantic coast, from Donegal in the north-west to Cork in the south-west, illustrating the terrain of mountains, sea […]