Bord Bia's Bloom has officially opened in Dublin's Phoenix Park, bringing with it a dazzling assortment of food trucks, flower displays, plant nurseries, gardens and innovative vendors.
Each year the beloved flower, family and food festival bursts into colour in the park, and at its heart are the ambitious show gardens. The Phoenix Park fills with first-time show gardeners striving to impress the judges with their stunning garden creations in the hopes of winning a medal for their creations.
On the opening morning of the festival, seven show garden designers were awarded gold medals for outstanding garden displays after two days of rigorous judging.
Oliver and Liat Schurmann scooped a gold medal and were named best in category for their 'First 5 Garden of Wonder and Discovery' in association with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The imaginative woodland garden for children under the age of five was chosen as the best large garden at Bord Bia Bloom 2023.
The couple are seasoned garden designers who own and run Mount Venus Nursery in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains, and have attended Bloom no less than 14 times.
Their garden resembles a natural woodland where children can play safely and make discoveries. It features winding paths, a gentle stream, and bridges under a canopy of arching willow structures, beech and hornbeam trees. Sticks, twigs, willow canes, stones and sand are laid out throughout the garden and invite visiting children to be creative and experimental.
"First 5 Garden of Wonder and Discovery" designed by Oliver & Liat Schurmann, sponsored by the Department of Children Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
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Dedicated to the joys of outdoor play, this design recreates a woodland for children to explore, with arching willow structures and three paths that take them past waterfalls, bridges and more.
"A Breathing Space for Fingal" designed by Jane McCorkell, sponsored Fingal County Council
An ambitious design, this garden features over 3,300 perennial plants and mature trees to explore how outdoor activities in beautifully maintained natural environments can benefit us. Most of the materials used were recycled and sourced from Fingal County Council's store yard.
"Citroën Power of One" designed by Nicola Haines, sponsored by Citroën Ireland
A spin on an urban front garden design, this garden explores how making sustainable changes can help protect our environment. It features a carpet of reclaimed materials, and rain water is collected to be used in the garden. Lush plants at the front absorb pollution and clean the air. This garden also won the Best in Category medal for medium gardens.
"Savills Sanctuary" designed by Alan Rudden, sponsored by Savills
A minimal and elegant garden, this design features a sunken seating space with a cantilever pavilion to make the most of the outdoors in Ireland. A water mill was added to fill the air with the sound of trickling water, while a subtle mix of wildflowers and meadow grass brings colour.
"The Forest Balcony", designed by Kathryn Feeley and sponsored by Bord Bia
This small design showcases how much can be done with balcony space, giving inspiration to those of us living in apartments or with small gardens. It recreates the setting of a lush forest with small trees and climbers planted in layers. This garden also won the Best in Category medal for small gardens.
"Marie Keating Foundation's 'Catching Cancer Early' Garden" designed by Robert Moore, sponsored Astra Zeneca and MSD.
This dense and colourful garden is designed to spotlight early cancer screening and the positive outcomes that come with catching signs of cancer early. With charred wooden details to contrast the brightly coloured flowers - in shades representing the five most common forms of cancer in Ireland: lung, breast, skin, bowel and prostate - it tells a story of light in darkness.
"Looms & Blooms – 300 Years of Avoca" designed by Kevin Dennis, sponsored by Avoca
This garden celebrated the anniversary of Avoca and its weaving heritage with contemporary designs included in the garden space. A sunken garden with a steel pergola creates the illusion of yarn-like shadows, while a water feature mimics the visual effect of a loom.
The judging panels for Bord Bia Bloom includes 14 Irish and international horticultural experts judging Postcard gardens, nursery displays, and botanical and floral art.
Speaking about this year's show gardens, Chief Judge, Andrew Wilson said, "There’s a special polish in the gardens this year and as judges, we noticed a general uplift in quality. There is some really interesting planting, concepts and ideas throughout the show garden area, and I think this year’s show offers something for everybody."
Elsewhere, the Best in Category medal for concept medium was awarded to "GOAL's Global Garden" designed by Tünde Perry, sponsored by GOAL Global.
