On with Mallow Show

Mallow Home and Garden Show is the province’s premier garden event, Charlie Wilkins reports

IN these glorious summer days one of the loveliest thoughts is that the frosts, wind and rain of early spring are well and truly behind us. I can relax now and work in shirt sleeves trundling and dragging succulent migrants out of the crush in the overheating greenhouse. Many of the occupants are wan and pallid looking, more again decidedly yellow about the gills, but all are prone to dropping bits of themselves as the rush of fresh air greets and tosses them about. My thoughts therefore turn to replenishing the odd casualty, but where better to do this than at Munster’s premier garden event: the Mallow Homes and Garden Show.

The show opens on Friday, Jun 29, and continues through to Sunday, Jul 1. Since its inception in 1999, the Mallow Homes and Garden Festival has gone from strength to strength, and this year nearly half of the 22 permanent gardens have been completely dismantled and rebuilt to new and exacting standards under the artistic direction of landscaper Darren Drummond. Even last year’s magnificent offering by Dominic Cullinane (the Aubergine Garden) has gone the way of the snowdrops and today not a single remnant remains. Some of the fully mature trees have been felled to not alone facilitate the new gardens, but to increase light all around and of those that remain, dramatic pruning, shaping, and pleaching have opened up their branch structure and elegant canopies.

The few permanent gardens not completely renovated have been revamped and restyled with garden-worthy specimen plants to show how these can be used to full effect in the average front or back garden at home. As usual, there will be a great gathering of specialist nurseries (at least 30 outlets) selling everything from alpines to lilies and hosta to spiky palms from the Balearic Islands.

Artwork and garden sculpture will again be highlighted at the show, so too water features, decking, lawnmowers and patio suppliers. You can also attend one of the presentations held in the concourse building at pre-arranged (and fully advertised) times. At some of these there will be freebies for many, and bargains for the majority. Alternatively, one can go and have a light meal or afternoon tea.

Once again children go free and the adult admission is €10, which includes free parking immediately adjacent to the racecourse so problems with wheelchair access for the disabled and the elderly are eased. The show can also be accessed by rail to Mallow station and also by regular bus.

I daresay few gardener will be going home without a collection of plants.

Last year free hand-made bags were a welcome attraction and these were responsible for a huge surge in plant buying. If you are looking for inspiration for your garden, or are just looking for a bit of a lift from all the doom and gloom, the Mallow Homes and Garden Show is the place to be.

Of course, the best thing is that your own garden never looks as good as it does when you’ve just got back from looking at someone else’s.