Kevin Dennis from Raheny, Dublin was celebrating this morning as his Renault ZOE: City Life Garden received the top prize at Bloom 2014. Inspired by the environment, the gold medal garden showcases how to make the most of green living through a city garden and enjoy the benefits that plants bring to people’s lives. Bloom, the annual gardening, food and family festival run by Bord Bia, will be officially opened by the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins at 11am today.
Bloom Medal Winners
The highly experienced and renowned team of Bloom judges, led by head judge Andrew Wilson, award winning garden designers and Chief Assessor for the RHS for show gardens, spent over two days meticulously observing and deliberating before announcing the anticipated results this morning. The judging panel awarded a total of 22 medals to show garden designers including; 7 Gold, 6 Silver Gilt, 7 Silver and 2 Bronze.
Following the medal presentation this morning, Gary Graham, Bloom Show Manager, Bord Bia said “Once again we have been blown away by the standard of gardens at Bloom this year. The designers have shown great imagination, skill and dedication in producing their breath-taking creations. From peaceful havens, lush and colourful wetlands to inspiration from none other than Mrs Brown herself, the gardens deliver not just visually, but emotionally in both the ‘concept’ and ‘show garden’ categories. I would like to thank and congratulate all of the designers on a truly fantastic job well done.”
Overall winners in each category are listed below.
- Large Garden: Renault ZOE: City Life Garden designed by Kevin Dennis
- Medium Garden: You Talk I’ll Listen designed by Andrew Christopher Dunne for Samaritans
The Samaritan’s garden is a tranquil, relaxing, social space designed to highlight the powerful effects of simply talking about your problems. The garden represents the room to breathe, slow down and think clearly, that talking to the Samaritans can offer.
- Small Garden: Facing South: The Talbot Collection at Malahide designed by Paul Foley
This small garden is a reflection of the eclectic collection of plants put together by Lord Milo Talbot at Malahide Castle Gardens. Many of these plants hail from the Southern Hemisphere and require the special micro climate made available by the gardens’ sheltered location by the sea.
- Concept Garden: Messenger designed by Paul Doyle for Jack and Jill Foundation
The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation garden is a simple, graceful amalgamation of colours and textures. Paul’s private design space, Longstone Beacon Garden in Grange Con, West Wicklow, supports Irish charities and this year is partnering with Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation.
There were 11 gold medals awarded in the Floral and Nursery Marquee, which showcases the very best of floral nurseries in Ireland. Over 45 nurseries and florists are exhibiting this year, with the Best in Show award going to W.S Warmenhoven (full list of medallists in notes to editor). The Association of Irish Floral Artist Awards also saw four gold medals awarded this year, with Martha O’Kelly winning Best in Show in the Spellbound category (full list of medallists in notes to editor).
VIP Visitors at Bloom
Bloom Patron President Michael D Higgins will officially open Bloom at 11am this morning. The President and Mrs. Higgins will tour the show gardens where he will meet the medal-winners, designers, and judges. The President will also stop by Bord Bia’s Food Village where he will deliver a Presidential address. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney TD visited the show this morning and An Taoiseach Enda Kenny is expected will visit later today.
Other VIP visitors to Bloom over the course of the weekend include Bord Bia’s Quality Mark Ambassadors; Donal Skehan, Neven Maguire and Catherine Fulvio. Each ambassador will appear on the Quality Kitchen stage for live cookery demonstrations, tastings and a chat with the host and well-known foodie Ella McSweeney.
Festival Fun at Bloom
Budding Bloomers
Budding Bloomers has a vibrant mixture of features to keep children entertained and active, from toddlers to fifth classers. Children are encouraged to play, learn and grow at Bloom! Better still, children up to 16 go free*!
Bord Bia’s Food Village
The Food Village at Bloom will once again provide visitors with a vast array of food options that will tantalise the taste buds and satisfy all visitors.
This year the Artisan Food Market returns to Bloom with over 60 artisan suppliers, showcasing the finest artisan foods that Ireland has to offer. The market stalls, which will be run by the producers themselves, will provide a unique opportunity for visitors to learn first-hand about the products on offer and how best to prepare them at home. Foodies will find a fantastic range of top quality, locally produced beef, lamb, pork, poultry and fresh fish products, all of which carry the Bord Bia Quality Assured stamp, at the Meat, Fish and Poultry Market in the Food Village this year – perfect for all aspiring chefs and amateur cooks!
Bloom Fringe 2014
New to Bloom 2014 is Bloom Fringe. Presenting Dublin City as a green, growing and activated city is the concept for Bloom Fringe 2014. The Bloom Fringe 2014 festival is an ‘on the edge’ event across the capital and its main focus is to highlight Dublin’s passion as a collaborative, creative and bio- diverse and green city, centred around the vibrant growing community gardens with offshoot events held at the many interesting and innovative shops, café’s, galleries and free event locations which promote sustainability, green infrastructure and community involvement.
A highlight in the social calendar for green fingered enthusiasts, foodies and those who enjoy a great family day out, Ireland’s largest garden and food festival will run for five days over the June bank holiday weekend in Dublin’s Phoenix Park from Thursday, 29th May until Monday, 2nd June 2014. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online at www.bloominthepark.com. Children go free!
Follow Bloom on www.facebook.com/bloominthepark or join the conversation on Twitter @Bloominthepark and #bloom
