With bloom 2013 being a signature event of the gathering it is worth noting that the Irish diaspora and the throng of home-grown gardenistas are not the only ones visiting… The inspiring gardens team, Fiann Ó Nualláin and Lisa Kelly, return to bloom with witty b-movie interpretation of Ireland’s alien invasive species dilemma… a crash land garden with some of Irelands worst invasive culprits. Yet it is a real dilemma and they urge gardeners across Ireland to be plant wise and proactive. Learn more here.
The garden is designed to generate some smiles and Fiann and Lisa hope to see some retro 50s outfits and cosplay at bloom this year in support of the Garden and the idea of gardening as fun and interactive. So geek chic and ray guns galore. The main aim is to raise awareness to some of Irelands most problematic invasive plants and garden escapees and to promote the work and support systems offered by invasive species Ireland (http://invasivespeciesireland.com) and the National biodiversity data centre (http://www.biodiversityireland.ie). The garden will seek to engage with the public on reporting alien sightings, and supply tips in how to play a role in the war on the weeds, garden escapees and accidentally introduced species, in a fun and dynamic manner and be a visual spectacle in its own right. Fiann hopes to find a permanent home for the spaceship post bloom so suggestions on a postcard please.
Fiann Ó Nualláin is an author, award winning garden designer, outreach horticulturalist, ethnobotanist and functional foodie. His gardens have previously won best in show at bloom and prestigious honours from the RHS. Fiann’s botanical projects and narrative gardens have often featured on BBC gardeners world and RTE nationwide. He is co-presenter with gardening guru Dermot O’Neill on RTE’s Dermot’s secret garden. Fiann’s latest books ‘The edible year– a month by month guide to growing harvesting and enjoying a kitchen garden’ & ‘The proverbial gardener – gardening with the wisdom of the seanfhocail’ are due for release later in the year.
Source: Bloom – Destination Bloom | Concept Gardens | Bloom 2013
