HortiTrends Weekly Comment and News Digest - May 17th

In Irish Plants for an Irish Climate - Paul Kirwan is passionate about Irish grown plants versus imported and he appeals to plant buyer's to support Irish Grower's. Niamh Tully also gives a good few reasons why they should.

Read more: HortiTrends Weekly Comment and News Digest - May 17th

Knowledgable Advice and Customer Trust are the Key to Sustained Sales: David Shortall MGLDA

In a recent article commissioned by the Irish Hardware Journal, GLDA Chairman, David Shortall provides some insight into the successful sale and use of Irish garden products. 

Read more: Knowledgable Advice and Customer Trust are the Key to Sustained Sales: David Shortall MGLDA

Keelings' Launch Their Love To Grow Garden at Bloom 2013

Keelings, Ireland’s leading producer and supplier of fresh produce, is delighted to announce the launch of their “Love To Grow” garden at this years’ Bloom In The Park. Keelings sponsored Meath based landscape architect and five times gold medal winner at Bloom, Jane Mc Corkell to design this year’s entry.

Read more: Keelings' Launch Their Love To Grow Garden at Bloom 2013

Irish Plants for an Irish Climate - Paul Kirwin

"As one wanders around the full aisles of your local Garden Centre it is quite easy to forget exactly where the plants on display actually come from. You might assume that the Garden Centres propagate the plants themselves-and some do-but there is another hidden side of Horticulture in Ireland that rarely gets a mention in the main stream media.

Read more: Irish Plants for an Irish Climate - Paul Kirwin

UK Horticulture: An Industry at Crisis Point

‘Horticulture Matters’ report calls for Government action to close skills gap. More than 70% of horticultural businesses cannot fill skilled vacancies, nearly 20% are forced to recruit overseas and almost 70% say career entrants are inadequately prepared for work.

Read more: UK Horticulture: An Industry at Crisis Point

The Sodshow Meets Margaret O’Farrell , Caítríona Redmond, Belle Norman and David Corscadden

The SodShow, Dublin's only garden radio show. Live every Friday @ 3pm – or after tea-time in podcast.

Read more: The Sodshow Meets Margaret O’Farrell , Caítríona Redmond, Belle Norman and David Corscadden

Alert Over Caterpillar Pest in London and Berkshire

People in parts of London and Berkshire are being reminded by the Forestry Commission, Public Health England and local authorities not to touch caterpillars of the oak processionary moth, which are beginning to emerge in oak trees in these locations. They are also advised to keep children, pets and livestock away from the caterpillars and their nests, and to report any sightings.

Read more: Alert Over Caterpillar Pest in London and Berkshire

The Secrets of the Irish Landscape - Episode 1

New series. Derek Mooney follows in the footsteps of one of Ireland's greatest unsung scientists, Robert Lloyd Praeger, to uncover the flora and fauna of the island's landscape.

Read more: The Secrets of the Irish Landscape - Episode 1

Quick Pic of the Day - Greenside Up - Dee Sewell

Whilst we huddle indoors out of the rain, outdoors the sunshine and downpours have encouraged the flowers to begin their display. Apple trees, sage, chives and thyme are all bursting to bloom in Goresbridge Community Garden and with them our hopes for good growth and magnificant harvests.

Read more: Quick Pic of the Day - Greenside Up - Dee Sewell

Chelsea Plant of the Century - 1993 - 2002: Geranium Rozanne ('Gerwat')

Plant Champion: Henry Grub, 15 from East Grinstead
Henry is a former finalist for RHS Young School Gardener of the Year. His wealth of knowledge and flair for presenting impressed the judges for his category so much they dubbed him a 'mini David Attenborough'. Henry has a soft spot for geraniums as they are his mother's favourite.

Read more: Chelsea Plant of the Century - 1993 - 2002: Geranium Rozanne ('Gerwat')

Teagasc Forestry eNews May 2013

Ash dieback public information meetings
Ash dieback (Chalara fraxinea) is a serious concern for one of Ireland’s most important native trees. Forest owners are asked to attend one of a nationwide series of information meetings to learn more about the disease and how we can all work together to eradicate it.

Read more: Teagasc Forestry eNews May 2013

1600 Jobs to be Created by Glanbia

Taoiseach Enda Kenny today unveiled details of Government support for Glanbia Ingredients Ireland Limited (GIIL) which will create over 1600 direct and indirect jobs and contribute an estimated €400 million pa to the economy – with particular benefit to farm families and rural communities.

Read more: 1600 Jobs to be Created by Glanbia

The Inspire Zone: Pushing the Boundaries at Chelsea

This year, we’re introducing four distinctive 'zones' to the show, each with its own special atmosphere and flavour. One of the zones, Inspire, pushes the boundaries of garden design with cutting-edge ideas and concepts. It's all about innovation, aspiration and fresh ideas.

Read more: The Inspire Zone: Pushing the Boundaries at Chelsea

Bord Bia Launches Bloom 2013

Bord Bia recently announced the return of Bloom, its hugely successful gardening, food and family festival, which will take place within a 70 acre site in the Phoenix Park, Dublin this June bank holiday weekend. Now in its seventh year, the event attracted over 80,000 visitors last year.

Read more: Bord Bia Launches Bloom 2013

Calling Start-Ups to Become Investor Ready and Compete for €280k Cash Prize Fund

InterTradeIreland is calling on new start-ups and early stage companies to enter the island’s largest business competition, the InterTradeIreland all-island Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition. The new look competition, which has a cash prize fund of €280,000 with no equity stake, aims to transform equity raising businesses into first-class investor ready companies.

Read more: Calling Start-Ups to Become Investor Ready and Compete for €280k Cash Prize Fund

£8 Million Investment Creates 60 Jobs for Ballymena Including New Garden Centre

Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster, has welcomed the announcement of an £8 million investment at Galgorm Castle Estates which will create over 60 full-and part-time jobs in Ballymena, at an event this morning in Ballymena’s Braid Centre. Galgorm Castle Estates Developments, Ballymena, which, currently consists of Galgorm Castle, a courtyard housing twenty businesses and a championship golf course; today announced its investment which will see the estate expand even further.

Read more: £8 Million Investment Creates 60 Jobs for Ballymena Including New Garden Centre

RDS Allotment Awards 2013

The RDS Allotment Awards aim to recognise the hard work, dedication and attention to detail that is being undertaken by those involved in allotment gardening and also to promote an area that encourages people to become more aware of rural issues.

Read more: RDS Allotment Awards 2013

Rare Flower to have Own Security at Chelsea Flower Show

Britain’s rarest flower will be closely guarded by security personnel when it goes on display at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show next week. The Lady’s Slipper orchid was thought to be extinct until the 1930s when it was found by chance growing in Yorkshire.

Read more: Rare Flower to have Own Security at Chelsea Flower Show

'Planting Design and Planting Plans' Workshop with Patricia Tyrrell

Whatever your level of plant knowledge, this workshop is for you. The vast array of plant material available to the landscape and garden designer can be a mixed blessing. How do we choose? Not only must the designer consider plant requirements, season of interest, growth rates and dynamics but also the many considerations of site, aesthetics, style and function.

Read more: 'Planting Design and Planting Plans' Workshop with Patricia Tyrrell

'Past Times' - A 70s Retro Garden | Medium Gardens | Bloom 2013

The concept of this garden evolves from holidays we have had in recent years, due to cut backs as a result of the recession. The idea is to create a space that can allow you to travel back in time to the Seventies. This was a period when most of us spent our holidays in a caravan - not a holiday home or even a mobile home. 

Read more: 'Past Times' - A 70s Retro Garden | Medium Gardens | Bloom 2013

Appointment of Minister of State at Dept of Agriculture Overdue

IFA President John Bryan has called on the Taoiseach Enda Kenny to announce the appointment of a Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine without delay.

Read more: Appointment of Minister of State at Dept of Agriculture Overdue

Bloom 2012 Time Lapse Video

Read more: Bloom 2012 Time Lapse Video

Let's Walk & Talk Events

A Green Ribbon campaign will take place during the month of May 2013. The Green Ribbon has been established as the international symbol for mental health awareness and is being introduced to Ireland by See Change. As part of the campaign Coillte has collaborated with the IFA, See Change and Mental Health Ireland for a national programme of Let’s Talk & Walk family friendly walks which will take place at the following venues:

Read more: Let's Walk & Talk Events

Wilderness Conference Taking Place in Mayo

Over 100 delegates have gathered in Westport, Co. Mayo to attend a conference entitled ‘Wilderness in a Modified European Landscape’. The two day conference is being held by Coillte in partnership with the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht and Mayo County Council. The delegates will discuss how wilderness projects can be achieved in Europe, the potential benefits for ecosystems and people from rewilding and current European rewilding policy.

Read more: Wilderness Conference Taking Place in Mayo

SIMBIOSYS: Invasive Species Workshop

An Invasive Species & Roads workshop on May 23rd 2013 in Trinity College Dublin. Halting the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services remains a key challenge of the 21st century. Invasive species are now recognised as one of the greatest threats to biodiversity globally and in Ireland.

Read more: SIMBIOSYS: Invasive Species Workshop

The Netherlands: Flower Sales Down Because of Coldness

The cold weather in April in many parts of Europe has not been good for the prices of flowers. According to FloraHolland the turnover of flowers was 3,8 % lower than in april last year. The average price was € 0.177, which was 1.3 cent lower, while the supply was 3% higher.

Read more: The Netherlands: Flower Sales Down Because of Coldness

Chelsea Plant of the Century - 1983 - 1992: Heuchera villosa ‘Palace Purple’

Plant Champion: Felicity Crabb, 26 from Christchurch
Keen gardener Felicity runs a 'creative allotment' project in her local community. She thinks Heuchera villosa 'Palace Purple' is a plant for everyone because of its wonderful deep colours and hardy nature. She particularly likes the contrast its tiny white flowers make to its robust and dense leaves.

Read more: Chelsea Plant of the Century - 1983 - 1992: Heuchera villosa ‘Palace Purple’

John Deere 50th Anniversary

John Deere celebrates its 50th anniversary as a lawn and turf equipment manufacturer in 2013. The company entered this new market in 1963 in the US, with the production of its first lawn tractor at the Horicon Works factory in Wisconsin.

Read more: John Deere 50th Anniversary

Heritage Week 17th-25th August

There’s lots of fun in store for you during National Heritage Week! From medieval fairs, night time bat walks, classical music, poetry, theatre, traditional music, storytelling, historical re-enactments, local history walks and talks, maritime and coastal events, food fairs, traditional skills workshops and archaeological digs.

Read more: Heritage Week 17th-25th August

Gnomes Welcomed at 100th RHS Chelsea Flower Show

To celebrate its centenary year the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has announced that it is lifting its ban on garden gnomes. Gnomes, along with other ‘brightly coloured mythical creatures’ such as fairies and pixies, have been banned from the prestigious flower show for 100 years because the RHS claim that they are too distracting for visitors who have come to see the beautiful flowers and plants.

Read more: Gnomes Welcomed at 100th RHS Chelsea Flower Show