It’s summer — it’s the Mallow Home and Garden Show

There is something grounding about the garden; there’s a certain comfort and solace in seeing the seasons come and go each year.

We reawaken when spring sends growth bursting out of dormant growing shoots. So too in the autumn we are inclined to head indoors as the trees shed their leaves and nature prepares for hibernation.

The seasons act like a giant clock to all of us and not just gardeners — when it’s late October we all know it must be time to go inside. For me I know its summer as soon as the roses start blooming; when I have enjoyed my first bowl of locally grown fresh strawberries and the hanging baskets are up.

One of the highlights of the summer gardening calendar in this part of the world is the Mallow Home and Garden Show. This is a ‘real’ show.

Not so much about aspirational design but more about actual gardens that you can visualise in your own space. Over 20 landscaped gardens will be on display and of course what makes this show different and special is that the gardens are permanently on display and the maturity that this has given to the site and to the show gardens, is something that can’t be replicated.

Gardeners are great to talk, never tiring of imparting their knowledge and enthusiasm and if you are looking for inspiration to create your own horticultural masterpiece, then a visit is a must. So many different styles of garden and design are on show.

Dominic Cullinane’s gardens have a particularly native, traditional and soft feeling to them, show excellent use of ferns, grasses and flowers and work with nature and water masterfully to create spaces in which you cannot feel anything but relaxed.

Darren Drummond, on the other hand, has created gardens with much more defined areas. Structure, lines and shapes are more evident with clever little design tricks and again excellent use of plants.

Last years ‘Best in Show’ winner was Larry Lynch and once more his garden will be a sight to behold, using striking foliage and mature plants to great effect. Of the smaller gardens, Chris Heffernan’s, is always one to have a look out for. His excellent eye for ideas in small spaces and attention to the tiniest details, with clever use of design, mean his creations always deserve a second and then a third and fourth look.

Each time you will spot something new. The best time to view the gardens is early on either Friday or Saturday (open 11am – 6pm, Fri — Sun) when the crowds are easier to negotiate and the designers and landscapers will be accessible and you can easily corner them to talk about your own needs and desires.

Sunday is always a great day at the show but realistically you will be among a sea of people and won’t have as good an opportunity to stop and talk. If you don’t know what your preference is when it comes to garden design and you’re unsure whether you want traditional or contemporary, formal or informal; and you have yet to decide on hard landscaping features and materials, then exhibitions like this are invaluable. You can’t fail to be inspired and get ideas from the gardens on show and the age of many of the plants will help you see how certain things will look as they get older.

The show is now in its 16th year and that gives it a true feeling of maturity — to me, Mallow is like a visit to plant Nirvana, the ultimate child-in-a-sweet-shop moment. Gardening can become an addiction and for many like myself, it is all-consuming. You have true specialist growers at Mallow and many of these do the circuit of shows including many in the UK and Bloom, amongst others.

Try and get to speak to any of these producers at higher profile events and you won’t get next nor near them, but at Mallow you will have their ear and they will be only too happy to impart their expert knowledge to help you get the best out of your new acquisition.

Keep an eye out for Phil Havercroft of Leamore nurseries whose Peonies and Alliums once again stole the show at this years Bloom. Gerry Havercroft from The Potting Shed in Camolin will also be on hand to help — along with Caherhurley Nurseries and many, many others.

The great thing about buying from local and specialist nurseries is that all their plants are grown in Ireland and so you can be certain they will not just tolerate but thrive in your garden. Indeed sometimes when leaving the specialist nurseries area I feel like I am taking home their little babies such is the care and attention that has gone into raising these plants.

I could go on and I haven’t even mentioned the garden centres, furniture displays, garden machinery and other ancillary stands that you will find in Mallow.

Enjoy the Mallow Show next weekend and you will be certain that indeed, summer is here at last.