
Waterfalls, wildlife and even minions; this year’s Bloom in the Park festival has it all.
Running for its eleventh year, Ireland’s biggest gardening festival spans across 70 acres of the Phoenix Park this weekend, showcasing the best of the country’s horticultural scene.
The winners were announced on Thursday morning, with victors crowned in a host of different categories. If you can’t make it along to this year’s festival, hope isn’t lost.
Take in a selection of the winning Bloom gardens here and vote for your favourite horticultural masterpiece at the bottom of the article.
Best large garden
FBD Insurance’s ‘Transition’ garden
The biggest bloom accolade comes in the form of the best large garden award. This year it was scooped by veteran Bloom duo and married couple, Oliver and Liat Schurmann.
Inspired by the Connemara coast, their garden features a large water feature with a sophisticated pump system. Designed to mimic sea tides, the water rises and falls at intervals throughout the day, revealing mini hidden islands when the water drops.
At the centre of the display is a seating area, half enclosed by glass and half open to the elements. The “smokers’ room”, according to Mr Schurmann.
The garden is tranquil, beautiful and intelligently constructed. But is it your favourite?