Full bloom: garden exhibition awakens the senses
Visitors are blindfolded and guided through the garden, with shoes optional.
Sean Prior, and a group of new designers from Senior College Dun Laoghaire, said a garden of this type has never before been attempted at a garden exhibition.
“These spaces explore the non-visual senses under the familiar framework of the changing seasons,” he said.
The National Council for the Blind provided free training to all those who will guide the public through the various spaces.
Bloom ‘07 features 30 stunning show gardens, 50 vibrant floral and planting displays, 70 acres of lush parkland, a showcase of wholesome food, more than 100 exhibits and other attractions at the event.
Among these is the Five Senses Garden, designed by Max Lim of Terra Garden Ireland in Claregalway, Co Galway, with James Kilkelly as assistant designer. This is based on nature’s creativity by using earth, wood, water, fire and metal.
Max Lim, who hails from Malaysia, said that nature was a big feature of his childhood. He attended school but said his real education was in the outdoors, among caterpillars and butterflies, in the woods and near meandering streams.
“The outdoors was one big room where I could play, eat and sleep. It was this idea of the outdoor living room around which a team of designers in Malaysia built a concept garden. The idea at the core is simple — design a garden that can be lived in, stimulating all your five senses as only nature can,” said Mr Lim.
A garden designed by Simon Williams and built by Pat Doherty and artist Collette Herron, Doagh Island, Innisowen, Co Donegal, aims to raise funds for the homeless, which will go to the Simon Community.
After the show, the Bed of Roses Garden, which tells the story of famine past and present, as well as Irish history and culture, will return to Doagh Famine Village as one of its many innovative displays.
A shower of rain fell shortly before President McAleese travelled the short distance from Áras an Uachtaráin to tour the gardens and officially open the event but she saw the positive side of this.
“I know we have at times mixed feelings about Ireland’s climate but, in its defence, nature is relatively good to us and it does support a greater variety of flowers and plants than are found in any other region of Europe — so we have a lot to show and to enjoy,” she said.
Bloom ‘07, with Fáilte Ireland, Pfizer, Tesco and Keelings as premium partners to Bord Bia, will continue until Bank Holiday Monday and is expected to attract over 50,000 visitors.
Trends at the show, staged on a splendid site made available by the Office of Public Works, revealed a return to flower and vegetable gardens, an increase in natural ponds and a focus on contemporary designs with sustainable practices.
Bord Bia chairman Angela Kennedy said Bloom will be on a par with renowned British shows, bringing together the best of Irish landscape gardeners, designers, horticultural producers, artisan crafts and food.
With 300 gardens open to the public countrywide, Fáilte Ireland chief executive Shaun Quinn said it was using the opportunity of the event to showcase the diversity of Irish gardens.
“Ireland’s gardens are unique and offer a special visitor experience. While some specialist gardens are open for just one day, an increasing number are opening as part of garden festivals and many receive visitors all year round,” he said.
www.bloominthepark.com
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