A blooming success for locals

AN estimated 119,000 people descended on Phoenix Park over the bank holiday weekend to visit this year’s Bloom Festival where Gold medals were awarded to several talented Northside garden designers, nurseries and floral artists.

This year’s festival featured 20 exquisite show gardens, 13 postcard gardens, 28 nursery displays and a feature garden called ‘Sculpture in the Park’.

Alan Rudden from Westmanstown received a Gold Medal and the Best Planting award for his ‘Life is Rosé by Santa Rita ‘Living la Vida 120’ garden.

The garden, which brought a flavour of Chile to Bloom, is a contemporary space that blends arid and Mediterranean planting with strong architectural forms inspired by a visit Alan made to central Chile. 

Niall Maxwell and Marina Andreeva, from Oldtown, also received a gold medal for their work on FBD Insurance’s ‘Deep Play’ Garden.

The local duo, who also scooped a Gold Medal and ‘Best in Category’ at Bloom in 2017, chose a planting scheme in the style of the new perennial movement, inspired by nature and intended for the urban garden and broader urban appeal.

Fingal County Council and Institute of Technology Blanchardstown also received a gold medal for their inspiring ‘The Greener Way for Fingal’ garden.

The garden was a representation of the Fingal Way, a planned pedestrian and cycling network linking communities throughout Fingal.  

One of the first visitors to The Greener Way was President Michael D Higgins and his wife, Sabina Higgins.

On their arrival on opening day, they were greeted by Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Mary McCamley, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, Paul Reid, Senior Parks Superintendent at Fingal County Council, Kevin Halpenny and Designer Jane Corkrell.

Welcoming the award, Mr Kevin Halpenny said: “We are delighted to be given a gold medal.

“The collaboration between Fingal, ITB and ETB allowed for the creation of a beautiful garden that highlights the potential we have in Fingal to develop public spaces that can be used for cycle routes, pedestrian routes, wildlife habitats, urban drainage systems and play areas and this is all vital to allow us increase sustainability.”

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Mary McCamley described The Greener Way for Fingal as “a celebration of the natural beauty found in our county”.

“I’m delighted that the creativity, skills and hard work of Fingal staff, the ITB students and participants of the ETB have been recognised and rewarded,” she added.

Other local winners included garden designer, Dominic O’Donohue, who received a Silver-Gilt medal for The Sanctuary Nurture Garden in association with The Phoenix Park Specialist School.

The Nursery & Floral Pavilion at Bloom hosted more than 30 leading Irish nurseries and Gold Medals in this category were awarded to Northside nurseries Heritage Bulbs in Glasnevin and Mr Middleton, Dublin 1.

Bronze medal winners at the festival included Louise Jones, Teagasc, Glasnevin (Education) and Terri Kennedy, Dublin 9 (North Dublin Flower Club).