An important diary date for Longford gardeners

Always popular with Longford gardeners, the gardening paradise of County Carlow, best described as one county, one garden, will open its garden and castle gates to gardening enthusiasts for the Carlow Garden Festival at the end of July.

This annual festival, organised by Carlow Garden Trail, and renowned as one of Ireland’s finest garden festivals, takes place from Saturday, July 29 until Saturday, August 5.

Now in its twenty-first year, this week-long event will see eighteen acclaimed gardeners and garden designers from Ireland and the UK deliver an inviting range of events that includes specialist talks, garden tours and workshops. Long-table supers, afternoon tea and evening meals along the Carlow Garden Trail are all part of this mouth-watering mix on offer in County Carlow.

Launching this year’s programme, Robert Miller, chairperson of the Carlow Garden Trail said, “Visitors to this year’s festival will gain practical information and advice from renowned gardening and horticultural experts, many from the UK, whom Irish gardeners would not have access to unless via their TV screen. From the amateur to the expert, there is something for everyone, which will marry traditional garden values with biodiversity to create an ideal garden space.”

While the extensive listing of events is posted on the Carlow Garden Festival website, of particular note is the visit of BBC Gardeners' World presenter Nick Bailey. His presentation in Duckett's Grove Walled Gardens and Pleasure Grounds on Sunday, July 30 is entitled "365 Days of Colour in Your Garden - Plants, Tips and Techniques for Year-Round Colour".

Monday, July 31 will see gardener and writer Alasdair Moore visit Huntington Castle where he will trace Thomas Hanbury's remarkable life and passion for horticulture.

"Making Magic in My Garden" will be the theme of June Blake’s presentation in Delta Sensory Gardens on the same day.

Carlow Garden Festival caters for everyone from the novice to the garden connoisseur and with special accommodation packages available for the festival. For more info and tickets visit www.carlowgardentrail.com For a copy of the event brochure call 059-9130411