There was a full house for the talk by Bob Brown in Antrim Old Courthouse on 21st March. Called My 30 Best Plants, Bob described plants from Anisodontea ‘El Royo’ through Helleborus ‘Anna’s Red’ to Yucca rostrata in his usual entertaining and forthright manner. Membership Secretary Nichola Monk was kept busy with two new members […]
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Grottos and Shell Cottages
‘Grottos and Shell Houses in 18th Century Ireland and England’ Gerald and Margaret Hull. NBG Glasnevin January 12th 2.30pm How many times when visiting a garden is it a novel aspect that stays in the memory – the odd plant, or the unusual building? Grottoes, often built around a natural spring, made to look ‘natural’, […]
From Show Gardens to Real Gardens
Here are some photos from our meeting on Wednesday evening when Oliver Schurmann delighted us all with his lecture ‘From Show Gardens to Real Gardens’ in Malone House, Belfast. As well as enjoying his inspirational and thought-provoking lecture, we also enjoyed the ambience of the venue with its elaborate Christmas decorations which Belfast Parks kindly […]
Cor van Gelderen – at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin
Cor van Gelderen, owner of Esveld Nurseries in Boskoop, The Netherlands, gave an entertaining talk on garden design, plant use and association. He is well known in Ireland as he has been a judge at Bloom, and has several books to his name – and more planned. His nursery is a family affair – he […]
Book Launch at Old Courthouse, Antrim
In the Footsteps of Joseph Dalton Hooker – A Sikkim Adventure by Seamus O’Brien. It was a super evening in the Old Courthouse in Antrim and was attended by 100 people. Seamus, who was introduced by Lady Anthea Forde of Seaforde Gardens near Newcastle, Co Down, gave an enthralling lecture. Many thanks to Maeve […]
Book Launch at Fota House
What a wonderful event! This afternoon we had the book launch of Seamus O’Brien’s “In the Footsteps of Joseph Dalton Hooker – A Sikkim Adventure”, organised by the committee of IGPS Munster and hosted by Fota House. It was a wonderful venue, a great attendance, a delightful introduction by Kristen Jameson and an outstanding talk […]
Flying the Flag at Rowallane Plant Fair
The new IGPS banners were given an airing at the recent plant fair at Rowallane Gardens on what turned out to be a great day with excellent weather, most generous donations of plants and very brisk plant sales. Another successful and enjoyable event. Check out our Events Listings and come along to join us at […]
In the Footsteps of Joseph Dalton Hooker: A Sikkim Adventure – a review.
A fabulous adventure and a wonderful book – read a review in the Society’s Blog Check the Events listings for related events – launch dates in each region.
The Lismacloskey Rectory Garden
The Lismacloskey Rectory Garden, in the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum at Cultra, east of Belfast, is maintained by volunteers from the Irish Garden Plant Society and Museum volunteers. It is planted in a style suited to the era of the rectory, pre 1900, with plants of Irish origin incorporated as much as possible. The […]
In the Footsteps of Joseph Dalton Hooker: A Sikkim Adventure
Seamus O’Brien with Mary O’Neill at JFK Memorial Park after Seamus’ talk last week on plant hunting in Sikkim and China. Seamus gave an insight into the contents of his forthcoming book, “In the Footsteps of Joseph Dalton Hooker: A Sikkim Adventure” and it promises to be a fabulous volume. Seamus will deliver a talk […]
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra, County Down
Many thanks to Stephen Weatherall who forwarded this set of photographs from the day at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum on August 8th. – a garden themed visit to the museum with various craft demonstrations and a plant sale.
The Dillon Garden
IGPS Leinster organised a visit to Helen and Val Dillon’s new garden at Monkstown, Co. Dublin, on Saturday last, the 28th of July. It was wonderful to see the new garden as we all longed to see what Helen had done in the short time she had been there. The property is perfectly secluded from […]
Garden visit to Castle Dobbs
Garden visit to Castle Dobbs on 30th June In dazzling sunshine, a great turnout of members and guests were treated to a wonderful garden visit to Castle Dobbs, near Carrickfergus, County Antrim. The house itself is a beautiful mid-18th century Palladian mansion, overlooking Belfast Lough and the County Down shore across the lough. The demesne […]
A New Blog Entry – This Hot Weather!
This present hot weather and drought are a challenge to gardeners but some plants seem to thrive in the conditions. Read the blog!
Stephen Butler’s Retirement Lunch at the Zoo
Stephen Butler has been the senior horticulturalist at the Zoo in Dublin’s Phoenix Park for the past 37 years during which time he made major changes to the style and planting of the grounds – animal enclosures and amenity areas. The development in recent years of the Savannah areas was innovative in the world of […]
Thank You, Stephen!
IGPS members gathered at the Zoo recently to thank Stephen Butler for the many occasions he hosted visits for members and brought us round the wonderful planting he has created there. Planting at the Zoo has developed to such a degree under Stephen’s care that has long since gone past being simply functional and has […]
AGM Weekend 2018 – A Report from Billy McCone, IGPS Chairperson
Organised this year by the Northern region, a great weekend was enjoyed by over ninety members and guests at our 37th AGM held at the Burrendale Hotel, Newcastle ,County Down. After the meeting on the Saturday the delegates were bused to Castlewellan Forest Park where they had a guided tour of the internationally famed Arboretum […]
Annual General Meeting 2018
Read a full report on the Annual General Meeting weekend from Dennis and Jennie Constable in the Society’s Blog
A Visit to Montalto Estate
Garden vist to Montalto Estate on 10th June Montalto, near Ballynahinch in Co. Down, is a beautiful privately-owned demesne which dates back to the early 1600s, with the mansion Montalto House built around 1765. The estate now opens as a private-hire venue for weddings and a wide range of corporate events. Almost 50 IGPS members […]