Bord Bia is encouraging people to embrace their gardens and outdoor spaces this summer. For the second year in a row, the public can take part in #BloomAtHome this weekend via a series of virtual initiatives and events providing gardening advice and inspiration.
New this year, Bord Bia is sharing seven easy to follow garden design and planting plans to help the public create a dream garden at home. These are available on www.bordbiabloom.com/dreamgardens
“Bord Bia Bloom is our annual showcase for horticulture and gardening in Ireland, and while we cannot be physically together in the Phoenix Park, we are delighted to bring the joy of Bloom direct to people’s homes," said Tara McCarthy, CEO of Bord Bia. "The garden has experienced a renewed sense of importance over the last year as a result of the restrictions we have all had to adhere to. Connecting with the outdoors and nature has also been increasingly recognised for the role it plays in mental health and wellbeing. We are delighted to be able to offer Irish gardeners, from beginners to those with more established green spaces, with inspiration and guidance on how to create a garden they can enjoy across all seasons as we celebrate the 15th annual Bord Bia Bloom.”
Easy steps to dream gardens
Designed by award-winning Bloom show garden designers, Bord Bia is sharing seven garden designs which can be re-created either in full, or in part, at home. From an easy-to-maintain family friendly garden to an outdoor space perfect for entertaining, the garden plans feature a range of Irish grown plants that are available to purchase in garden centres and retailers nationwide. Each of the seven design packs in the series featureS a detailed planting plan and planting list that can be downloaded from BordBiaBloom.com
“The plans have been designed to suit a range of different needs and provide inspiration for transforming your garden," said Carol Marks, horticulture sector manager, Bord Bia. "A top tip is that the border details from each design are accessible for any gardener to implement, based on their garden aspect. Each garden design comes with a range of inspirational images, an animated walk-through, and a full plant list to make buying the plants as simple as possible.”
Bloom bank holiday weekend activities
Bord Bia is hosting a range of virtual activities and initiatives over the June Bank Holiday weekend. These include:
Live talk series and Q&A sessions: Hosted by RTÉ’s Miriam O’Callaghan, the live talk series will provide inspiration and advice on how to design and maintain your outdoor space, as well as explore the physical and mental benefits of gardening. The line-up will include a host of names who have embraced gardening over the last year including Irish rugby star, Peter O’Mahony, and actress and wellness expert, Aoibhín Garrihy.
Bloom barbecue ideas: As it would not be Bloom without the best of Irish food, some of Ireland’s best loved chefs and foodies including Catherine Fulvio and Rory O’Connell will offer tasty barbecue recipes, tips, and tricks as part of a series of #QualityKitchen
CookAlongs.
Competition with RTÉ: Following the success of Bloom with RTÉ last year, Bord Bia is joining forces with RTÉ for a new competition which will invite the public to share their gardening efforts on social media over the June Bank Holiday weekend.
To be in with a chance of winning some great gardening prizes, simply post a picture or video of your garden space, blooming balcony, or proud plants on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook from Thursday June 3 to Monday June 7, using the hashtag #BloomAtHome and tagging @BordBiaBloom. The winners will be announced on Tuesday June 8.
For more information on the full line-up for Bord Bia Bloom 2021 and to access the garden designs and plant lists visit www.bordbiabloom.com/ or follow @BordBiaBloom on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook.
