Our gardening noticeboard

Cork Alpine Hardy Plant Society will host Alan Street of Avon Bulbs to talk on “The Magical Mystery Tour: Why bulbs are so special; Which to choose and how to get the wow”.

The date is September 24 at the Lavanagh Centre, Ballintemple. All welcome. Bulbs for sale.

The next meeting of the Owenabue Garden and Flower club, Carrigaline will be held on September 28 at 8pm in St Mary’s Church of Ireland school hall (entrance is beside the main gates to the Community School) The speaker will be Bruno Nicolai, Blackrock, who was the winner of the Irish episode of Sky’s “Show me your garden” competition. Visitors welcome. Enquiries to 086 322 2615.

Ladysbridge and District Flower and Garden Club will meet on September 21, at 8pm in Garryvoe Hotel with a demonstration by Malcolm Kitt. Everyone welcome.

Carrigtwohill Flower & Garden Club will host Sheila Crean from Atkin’s Garden Centre in the Community Hall, Carrigtwohill on September 22 at 8pm.

This month’s topic is “September Gardening”. Cost €5, raffle, refreshments and chat. All welcome.

A talk and practical demonstration on using spring bulbs will be held at The Secret Garden, Newmarket, on September 20 at 3pm.

It will cover everything you need to know to get the most from your bulbs — from choosing and planting, to aftercare. For more information www.thesecretgardener.com or call 029 60084. Free to attend. All welcome.

Blarney & District Flower & Garden Club welcomes you to a work night of making “Lonely Posies” plus a class in leaf manipulation on September 24 at Whitechurch Community Hall. Time: 8pm

Kilmurry Historical and Archaeological Association will present a Festival of Flowers at St Andrew’s Church, Kilmurry on September 25 at 7pm, September 26 from noon to 6pm and September 27 from 10.30am to 5pm. Entry fee €10 includes refreshments.

The Lough Flower and Garden Club welcomes the president of the Association of Irish Floral Artists,(AOIFA), Una Fleming, to give a teaching demonstration on September 22 at 8pm in the SMA Centre, Wilton. Everyone welcome. Admission for visitors €5.

Free gardening workshop at Griffin’s Garden Centre, Dripsey every Sunday at 3pm. September 20: “Top tips to Contemporary Gardening”. September 27: “Six steps to an Easy Garden Next Spring”

What’s happening in our coastal zone? Find out and help out with the Coastwatch National Survey September 15 to October 15.

The Annual Coastwatch Survey is designed to give an overview of the state of the coast and involves volunteers from all walks of life checking their chosen 500m stretch of coast. (the survey unit), once, around low tide, and jotting observations down on the survey questionnaire while on the shore.

This citizen-science work can be augmented with water tests. And because Cork has 1,100km of coastline, it would be great to have volunteers to help with this highly important work.

For information on booking a survey and getting involved contact, local co-ordinators at CEF [e-mail]. Alternatively, contact, Cork Nature Network [e-mail]  or directly with Coastwatch at www.coastwatch.org  or email: [e-mail]

You can go canyoning with Ardmore Adventures from 10am to 4pm today at Mahon Falls, Co Waterford, as part of the four-day, Comeraghs Wild programme of events.

Or join the Muddy Boots Walk around the Coumshingaun Lake Loop, tomorrow, September 20, starting at 10am.

Join botanist and author of Flora of the County Waterford, Paul Green, tomorrow too, and his leisurely botanical hunt will leave Harney’s Cross Roads, Rathgormack at 3pm.

Participation is free. All you need to bring are good walking shoes or boots and some rain gear. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Carlow’s majestic Blackstairs Mountains and River Barrow, together with the charming villages of Myshall and Borris, will feature in this year’s Carlow Autumn Walking Festival which takes place from October 2 to October 4.

The festival caters to all levels of walkers, from very experienced hillwalkers out to enjoy an invigorating mountain trek, to novices seeking some peace and tranquillity along more leisurely routes.

This well-organised event aims to make the great outdoors accessible to everyone with knowledgeable local guides from Tullow Mountaineering Club and Blackstairs Ramblers guiding visitors through the Carlow countryside.

There is a choice of 14 walks plus family activities including canoeing safari trails with Go-With-the-Flow River Adventures and bike and hike options with Bike & Hike.