The following are a selection of show or display gardens – or – ones that are just that little bit different if you will – that you may or may not have seen before. Some sat in shop windows or were part of festivals, whilst others were are actually real gardens that didn’t or won medals and awards.
Whilst there are about 14 years of ’em with my name, here, I simply chose but 8. No apparent reason. Apart from the fact that I tried to make them very different. And they all made me smile in their own unique way. Now I sound like my Mom. More importantly and of note, it was really tough to pick just one image that represented each garden.
Enjoy. Peter x
1. Brackenstown House Gardens
This 27 acre 17th Century estate won 3 awards with an Award of Merit for Best Landscaping, 2 for Best Private Garden Maintenance including Overall Winner and an award under my own name as its designer.
- further info – Brackenstown House
brackenstown house
2. The Pink Boat
A ship wreck when it was first donated to me, this 1957 33 foot pleasure cruise boat became the main feature of one of my show gardens at Bloom In The Park. After, it found a new permanent home at The Electric Picnic Music Festival where it lives to this day.
- More detail – The Pink Boat
3. Newport Farm
The 18th Century 55 acre Estate of Newport Farm won an award of merit for its landscaping and I got a siny certificate as its designer. This above, one of the many gardens within the grounds.
- Further details – Newport Farm
4. Casa Garden Malahide – RTE
As part of an overall project built on RTE with John and Francis Brennan for the At Your Service Christmas Special 2013, this garden was one of them that most definitely made my smile that extra little bit happier. That for the most part because of the people I made it with.
- more detail – CASA Malahide Garden
5. The Repak Recycle Week Garden
Before you even say it…. even I would prefer it if I had been substituted for a more attractive tree, but alas this ‘garden’ was unusual solely for the fact that no living organisms could be used as it sat for one week in a shop window in Dublin City Centre to mark Repak Reycle Week.
6. Cappagh Hospital Courtyard Garden – RTE
I wish every garden in a hospital were as colourful as this and though it rained almost every single day of the build for this courtyard space outdoors, I don’t think anyone can argue that its metamorphosis was one the more colourful ones.
- further detail – Cappagh Hospital Garden
7. A Recycled Urban Garden
Built in the middle Dublin City’s cobbled Smithfield area for just one day only as part of a festival the putting together of this garden was as important as its aftermath; as every single piece of this garden was before and afterwards recycled, reused or re-recycled.
8. The Morris Minor Car Garden
A 1965 Morris Minor in the middle of a show garden at Bloom in the Park. It was built by Donegan Landscaping and I won a Silver Medal for it as its designer. As always and as with all of the others, it is the people and the journey with them that make the memories that much sweeter.
- further info – The Morris Minor Car Garden
And yes, for the record, I’m seriously thinking of it…. 😉
Source: Peter Donegan Landscaping – Peter Donegan Landscaping – Not The Usual, Gardens
