Bruno Nicolai’s garden is a sub-tropical haven

Peter Dowdall is truly taken with a dynamic, exotic small garden that puts the lie to bland suburban plots.

I visited the garden of Bruno Nicolai during the week. I had met Bruno several times in the past and I was aware of his passion for plants and plant collecting and, in particular, his interest in exotics.

Feeling like I knew his garden already from seeing his regular posts on social media, I was wondering how he could possibly have so many tender and exotic beauties in such a small space, as he lives in a typical semi-d in Blackrock and the photos I have seen over the years would lead me to imagine the garden to be much bigger.