For the last 10 years or so, The Irish Garden Plant Society have played a role maintaining and developing Pogue’s Entry Garden, the property of Antrim and Newtownabbey Council. The property marks the birthplace of Alexander Irvine in 1863, whose claim to fame lies in his authorship of ‘My Lady of the Chimney Corner’, a […]
Author: Marie Curran
A walk in Ardgillan Castle Gardens with IGPS member Paddy Tobin
Ardgillan Castle and grounds are in the hands of the local authority, Fingal County Council, and provide a fabulous amenity to the people of north Co. Dublin with great space for walking as well as giving access to excellent gardens. There is an artist collective in residence at the castle with regular exhibitions. A range […]
Report from the 41st Annual General Meeting: 20th May 2023
Last Saturday, approximately 50 IGPS members gathered at Ardgillan Castle and Gardens for the first AGM to be held in person since 2020, due to Covid-19. The attendees heard a positive report from Chairman Mary Forrest, who covered a wide range of activities which had occurred throughout the year, including a number of new developments […]
Osteospermum ‘Lady Leitrim’
Osteospermum ‘Lady Leitrim’, is an attractive, long-blooming perennial which can flower from late spring all the way through to the autumn. Its daisy-like flowers are blush-white deepening to a lavender-pink as they age while each petal has a blue-mauve back giving a very attractive two-tone effect. The flowers open and close depending on the light. […]
Pittosporum ‘Nutty’s Leprechaun’
The profile of Pittosporum ‘Silver Queen’ in issue 153 mentioned that it occurred as a sport of Pittosporum tenuifolium and could reach more than 30 feet. At the opposite end of the height spectrum is another Irish cultivar of the same parent, Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Nutty’s Leprechaun’ which originated at the nursery of the late Fred […]
Aspidistra ‘Irish Mist’
On Plant Heritage’s 2021 shortlist for Threatened Plant of the Year, was an Irish plant, Aspidistra ‘Irish Mist’. Though not the eventual winner, it was voted People’s Choice. I have in the past cited A. ‘Irish Mist’ as an example of a cultivar which may not have a large fan club because of its yellow […]
Malus ‘Irish Peach’
There are many wonderful Irish apple varieties; an excellent one is Malus ‘Irish Peach’, sometimes known as M. ‘Early Crofton’ as it is thought to have originated in Sligo as part of the Crofton collection. This is a fine dessert apple described as having fruits that are small and round with a smooth pale yellow […]
Presentation of Zelkova carpinifolia ‘Glasnevin’ to Castlewellan Arboretum
As part of its aim to preserve and celebrate Irish plants, the Irish Garden Plant Society (IGPS) has identified some of our rare trees and assisted in getting them propagated. A noted specimen of Zelkova carpinifolia grows at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin and recently, about a dozen young trees have been raised by […]
The 29th annual conference of the Northern Ireland Heritage Gardens Trust
A date for your diaries: 5-7th October 2023: The 29th annual conference of the Northern Ireland Heritage Gardens Trust. This year in County Donegal, on the theme ‘Robinsonian Gardening – a living legacy’. Sometimes called ‘the father of the English flower garden’, William Robinson (1838-1935), the Irish gardener, journalist, and publisher, had a profound impact […]
REMINDER: IRISH GARDEN PLANT SOCIETY VACANT POSITIONS
The positions of Vice Chairman, a Munster committee Representative and for a further committee member are currently vacant. Nominations are sought these positions. Nominations may be sent by email to igps.ireland@gmail.com or by post to IGPS, Honorary Secretary, c/o Áine Máire Ní Mhurchú, Croí Áirmid, Slanduff, Walterstown, Navan, Co Meath C15HKD1, to arrive no later than close […]
Highlights of the visit to Kilmacurragh Botanic Gardens
On April 15th a large group of lucky members from Co. Down and Waterford visited Kilmacurragh where magnificent rhododendrons were in full flower. Philip Quested, our guide, a self professed Tree Man, shared his depth of knowledge about the remarkable trees in Kilmacurragh. No sooner had we passed through the entry gates, he was pointing […]
Highlights of the visit to Old Balloo House and Barn
On Saturday April 1st, members of the IGPS and public visited the garden through the National Garden Scheme. Moira and Lesley used to live next door to each other in Belfast. Lesley escaped to Balloo in 1986 but Moira followed in 2004 by converting the barn across the yard. Today, they garden the whole one […]
An Exciting New Initiative
The work of the society in preserving our Irish Heritage Plants (IHPs) is integral to our aims and distinguishes us from other horticultural societies. Over the years members have diligently propagated plants, brought them to our plant sales and spread our IHPs around. Other than the database which records the Dispersed National Collection of IHPs […]
Spring at the Rectory Garden (Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Holywood)
The garden at the old rectory, relocated by the museum from the townland of Lismacloskey, has been planted and maintained since 1987 by IGPS volunteers. It is a cottage-style garden in keeping with a residence of a clergyman living around 1900. By custom, the volunteer gardeners begin their year at St Patrick’s Day and garden […]
Congratulations to our Honorary Secretary, Áine-Máire Ní Mhurchú!!
In Áine-Máire Ní Mhurchú’s fist year as an exhibitor, she has achieved success at the Alpine Shows held in Dublin and Belfast during April. She not only won prizes for some of her individual plant exhibits, but also won first prize at both Shows for her beautiful floral arrangements which in each case featured Irish […]
RHSI Bellefield Open Weekends 2023
RHSI Bellefield will be open from 11am to 4pm for four weekends in 2023: April 1st & 2nd May 20th & 21st July 8th & 9th September 23rd & 24th Tours with head-gardener Paul Smyth take place daily at noon and 2pm. Tea/coffee is also available. Book your tickets here. Members free. Non-members €7. […]