Garden Digest: Outdoor painting, vibrant visits and fabulous foraging

We check out the garden tours, fairs and online resources available give you ideas to boost your room outside this summer

Summer-flowering sweet peas. File picture

• Paint outdoors in the historic gardens at Annes Grove House & Gardens, Castletownroche, Co Cork, today, June 27, 8.30am-5pm. The event features an on-easel exhibition and prizes of up to €500. Entry is €25; register at Eventbrite. 
• Future Orchard Cork’s head gardener, Chris Troy, will teach the basics of thinning apples from trees to promote the best fruit crop. The event takes place at Future Orchard Cork, Glanmire, Cork, today, June 27, from 12pm-2pm, €10. Enjoy learning about and practising the key skill of apple tree thinning in an informal and welcoming setting. See Eventbrite.
• Galway Garden Festival takes place on July 4 and 5 from 11am-6pm, at Claregalway Castle, Co Galway. Multiple Bloom gold medal winners will present, with Oliver Schurmann, Mount Venus Nursery, Dr Jason McElligott, director, Marsh’s Library, Dublin, Seán Ó Gaoithín, Glenveagh National Park, Donegal, Marina Levitina, filmmaker, and Neil Porteous, plantsman and historic garden consultant, speaking on various gardening topics. With plant suppliers and nurseries, live music, fine food and more, it’ll be a weekend to enjoy.
• On Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12, Innishannon will again host Gardens and Galleries when local gardeners open their gates to the public, and artists and craftspeople display their creations. Register at the parish hall, €10.
• Carlow Garden Festival returns from Saturday, July 25, to Sunday, August 2, this year, bringing together some of the most respected names in gardening from Ireland and the UK for nine days of talks, tours, workshops and unique garden experiences across Co Carlow. See Carlowgardentrail.com.
• The Saturday morning gardening club at Stonewall Gardens, Carrigaline, offers advice and a chance to get your hands dirty by planting and pruning. The €12.50 fee includes seeds, compost, tools, and tea/coffee. Book at Eventbrite.
• The Gather Together: Foraging Walk by Ferment Forage Grow takes place at Fitzgerald Park in Cork city on August 15 from 11am-12.20pm. Fermenter, forager and gardener
  Chloe Dempsey (@fermentforagegrow) will lead a gentle walk through Fitzgerald Park, guiding participants on how to identify common edible and medicinal plants. Snacks will be provided and the event is suitable for beginners; see @corkonaforkfest.
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