Garden Digest: July events for your calendar

Festivals, demonstrations and open days

• The Conna & District Flower & Garden Club's annual garden party will take place on Wednesday, July 17. This year's hostess is Paula Mc Auliffe, near Midleton. This is one of the highlights of the club's year and they are looking forward to a great evening with Paula in her beautiful garden. Members only. Those attending are asked to please bring food.
• The annual Carlow Garden Festival takes place from Saturday, July 27, until Saturday, August 4. Now in its 22nd year, this eight-day festival will see 20 acclaimed gardeners and garden designers from Ireland and the UK deliver an inviting range of events that includes specialist talks, garden tours, and workshops. Afternoon tea and evening meals along the Carlow Garden Trail add to the mouth-watering mix on offer. The festival opens with a double line-up of two acclaimed gardeners in Arboretum Home and Garden Heaven — Ann-Marie Powell is fresh from her win of the People’s and Children’s Choice Awards in Chelsea and Alan Gray of East Ruston Old Vicarage in Norfolk who will share the meticulous process of transforming a blank canvas into one of the UK’s finest contemporary gardens. For more details and tickets take a look at www.carlowgardentrail.com.
• The RHSI Bellefield is hosting open weekends on July 20-21 and again on September 21-22. They take place at Bellefield House, Shinrone, Co Offaly (R42 NW82). The gardens are open each day from 11am to 4pm. Tours with head gardener Paul Smyth take place between 12pm and 2pm. Entry is free for RHSI members and €8 for non-members. Plants sales also take place on the open weekends.
• The Ballinskelligs Open Garden Day takes place tomorrow from on Sunday, July 7, 11am to 5pm. It will be a day filled with natural beauty and tranquillity where visitors can explore a variety of stunning gardens in the area showcasing unique plant collections and landscaping ideas.
  This event is a fantastic opportunity to gather inspiration for your own garden or simply enjoy a leisurely stroll amid colourful vegetables and fragrant blooms. Organised by the Ballinskelligs Environmental Action Group. Tickets cost €12 with all proceeds to support the group. See eventbrite.ie for further information.
• A garden painting event will take place in Carraig Gardens, Mountnugent, Lisnabrinnia, Co Cavan (A82 DN34) on Friday, July 12, from 1pm to 4pm where participants will find inspiration to paint among the beautiful garden displays.
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