In Bloom: Kilkenny amateur gardeners urged to get their green fingers out

Green-fingered Kilkenny gardeners with an eye for talent are being urged to take part in this year’s Bord Bia Bloom festival.

The festival returns on the June bank holiday weekend from May 28 to June 1 at the Phoenix Park, Dublin.

Bord Bia Bloom is calling for budding gardeners from Kilkenny to submit entries for the popular Postcard garden category.

Postcard gardens offer passionate amateur gardeners, garden clubs, community and GIY groups a chance to showcase their talents to over 115,000 visitors attending the event.

Festival oragnisers said: “The Postcard gardens are small but perfectly formed 3m x 2m plots which can be used to represent a club, locality, special person or character from your community.

“Last year schools, communities, day care centres and resource centres from around Ireland brought themes such as autism, mental-wellbeing, climate change and children’s literature to life through flowers, planting, art and woodwork.

“Longford Town Guild, Irish Countrywomen’s Association received ‘Best in Show’ for their Postcard Garden ‘Fork to Fork’ which demonstrated how we can turn the tide on unsustainable consumption by using the earth around us to feed ourselves.”

Bord Bia Bloom Show Garden Manager Kerrie Gardiner added: “The Postcard gardens are such a special part of Bloom and are a personal favourite of mine! They offer emerging gardeners and community groups a chance to showcase their talents, while also inspiring other amateur gardeners to get out into nature and experience the joy of gardening”.

The Postcard Garden application form can be downloaded from http://www.BloominthePark.com. The closing date to apply is Monday, March 2.