Business blooming as gardeners head for Phoenix Park

THE sky’s the limit, the Earth is the canvas, natural materials are the tools and the imagination is the architect.

Such was the theme of the Irish Pre-School Play Association’s (IPPA) exciting Garden of Possibilities at the Bloom Festival at Dublin’s Phoenix Park.

Designed by the IPPA’s Carol Duffy and Thurles architect Donal Ryan, it focuses on using natural materials to create play possibilities in the garden.

The rationale behind the design is that young children learn best through play. This was clearly evident when, as Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister Mary Hanafin visited the garden yesterday, children had hay castles to conquer, dens to build, wood and stone to design, water to manipulate, grasses and trees to lose themselves in and flowers to examine.

Above all it provided children with freedom to safely explore the outdoors and re-connect with the earth. It also revived happy memories for parents of summer days in rural Ireland.

Meanwhile, the food market at Bloom is a showcase for Irish artisan food and drink, with almost 50 companies taking part. Organised by Bord Bia and based on the idea of a large farmers’ market, the stalls are all run by the producers.

They were on hand to give advice, provide a recipe or two and offer food tastings to tickle the taste buds.

Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith, who also visited the festival yesterday, praised Bloom’s commitment to enhancing the food offering and introduction of new food-related features that reflect the traditions, quality and diversity of Irish food production and presentation.

“Bloom, in its short history, has already demonstrated its hugely positive contribution to the horticultural sector,” he said.

Mr Smith said Ireland is extremely fortunate to produce food of such high quality and diversity and has some great advantages in terms of production.

“We have tremendous resources at our disposal and we must ensure that future productivity is sustainable, a theme that is central to the Sustainable Garden at Bloom 2010, showcasing Irish ornamental and fruit- vegetable crops,” he said.

Bord Bia, co-ordinator of the event, was delighted with the estimated 8,000 attendance for opening day on Thursday. That was 3,000 more than the same day last year.

Over 60,000 people are now expected to attend the festival, which continues until Monday, boosting what manager Gary Graham described as Bord Bia’s mission to convert reluctant gardeners into passionate gardenistas.

Traders in general are also reported to be doing good business at the festival but one exhibitor couldn’t resist a touch of ironic humour in the wonderful sunshine. “I’m selling nothing,” she joked, “but everybody is smiling.”