Grow Your Own’ is a central theme to the event, which has attracted over 100,000 visitors since its inaugural staging in 2007. As part of this year’s show, Bord Bia will build a replica of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Whitehouse Garden to promote the importance of healthy eating and to educate visitors on planting, harvesting and cooking your own food.
Flora and Fauna
Bloom 2009 will include 25 show gardens from Ireland’s top horticultural talent, complemented by a spectacular floral pavilion featuring the best of Irish plants and flowers. Both the show gardens and the floral displays will be judged by international independent judging panels, including Chelsea Flower Show adjudicator, Andrew Wilson. Gold, silver gilt, silver and bronze medals will be awarded based on strict guidelines addressing both horticultural skills and design superiority. In 2008, 48 medals were awarded.
Bloom 2009 will also include a garden designed by Rosa O’Connell from Cork, former vet and winner of RTE’s Super Garden series, which aired in 2008. Rosa beat off strong competition to win the first series of the show and is currently building a career as a garden designer. Rosa’s Bloom garden is inspired by a WB Yeats poem entitled ‘In the Seven Woods’.
Whitehouse Garden comes to Phoenix Park
Bord Bia will recreate the recently launched Whitehouse vegetable garden at Bloom. The garden will incorporate a range of the vegetables chosen by Michelle Obama, in addition to some of Ireland’s favourite vegetables such as potatoes, cabbage and turnips. Bord Bia also plans to feature a ‘Best In Season’ plot and a community garden with a number of helpers to provide top tips and advice.
Fun for all the family
Bord Bia is encouraging families to come along and enjoy a day long stay at Bloom. This year, kids can enter free of charge and the event will incorporate many more family orientated attractions and activities. Children’s workshops and classes will include everything from pottery making and basket weaving to how to build a bird table and tips on growing organic food. Imaginosity, the children’s museum based in Sandyford, Co. Dublin, will also be onsite running story telling tents among other interactive activities.
Crafty Work
For the second year running, the Crafts Council of Ireland will bring a mix of craft experiences to Bloom. Unique large-scale sculptural pieces by five designer-makers will be on show, while the Craft Village will see up to 30 craft makers showcasing a variety of disciplines including glassmaking, woodturning, ceramics, jewellery, candle-making and more. In addition, the Irish Craft Guilds will host daily demonstrations such as felt-making, basket-making and calligraphy.
Food Glorious Food
From relishes and pies to breads and farmhouse cheese, Bloom will host a large artisan food market with over 40 traders selling quality artisan produce. There will also be a Food Village offering family meals, food on the go and it will incorporate a large picnic area.
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