My name is Joan Ganley, and I live and garden in Calgary, Alberta (Zone 4). But today I would like to share pictures taken during a trip to Ireland in May 2016. While visiting family in Dublin, I had the opportunity to visit The National Botanic Gardens of Ireland. Founded in 1795, the gardens cover 48 acres and contain over 20,000 plant species. Here are a few highlights from my visit. May the luck of the Irish be with you!
The Teak House is located near the botanic garden entrance and provides space for floral fairs and exhibits. A cape primrose (Streptocarpus hybrid, Zones 10–11 or as a houseplant) shows off here.
A framed vertical succulent garden on display in the Teak House during the Dublin and District Cactus and Succulent Society show in May.
Steps away from the Teak House is the Alpine House. Alpine plants could easily rot if left outdoors in Dublin’s climate. This alpine table has captured my young cousin’s interest!
Good drainage and protection from the elements keeps these plants on the alpine table happy.
The Viking House and Garden with the Great Palm House in the background. Based on archaeological evidence, the Viking House is an accurate recreation of 9th- and 10th-century houses excavated in Dublin in 1961. The Great Palm House, originally built of wood in 1862, was damaged by a storm and rebuilt in 1883 using iron.
The Cactus and Succulent House (aka the Flowering House) at the west entrance to the Great Palm House features a collection of over 1,000 species of cacti and succulents.
Strolling beyond the Great Palm House, you reach the Rockery, which was installed in the 1880s. This view from the Rockery looks back toward the herbaceous borders.
There’s much more to see at The National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, including The Curvilinear Range; The Victoria Waterlily House; an arboretum; beds and borders featuring herbaceous plants, grasses, fruits, and vegetables; a rose garden; a tea room; and a library. It’s definitely worth a stop—and you might even see a leprechaun!
For more information, visit the garden’s website: botanicgardens.ie
Have a garden you’d like to share?
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!
Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
Bee Watering Station with Vivid Flower Design
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Thoughtful Combo: You will receive a bee feeder and 30 glass marbles. This thoughtful combo can provide clean water for the bees, you just need to put the marbles into the bee watering station, add water (note: the water level should not exceed the height of the marbles) and hang them in the right place. The round, colored marbles can provide a place for the bees to stand and prevent them from falling into the water, effectively keeping the bees safe. Fine Material: This exquisite bee bath is made of high quality iron material, smooth surface, rust and weather resistant, not easy to fade, sturdy and reliable. Bee cups for garden can well meet the drinking water needs of lovely bees, and it can also provide food for bees, such as sugar water, nectar, etc., attracting more bees to your outdoor area and making your garden full of vitality. Perfect Size: The butterfly watering station has an overall height of 13.4 inches, a bowl diameter of 9.4 inches, and a weight of 0.44 pounds. The bee cup serves the needs of the bees well without plunging them into dangerously deep water or taking up unnecessary space in your garden, and this compact and efficient design makes it a practical addition to any outdoor space. Elegant Design: Our bee watering cups are designed in unique flower shapes with vibrant and realistic colours to attract lovely bees to your garden and patio, bee feeders for outside are not only functional but can also be used as a landscaping element, their vibrant floral patterns enhance the beauty of your garden. Multicolored Decoration: Colorful bee water stations look like flowers in a garden, flower bed or pot and attract bees and butterflies. They can drink or bathe in bee feeders, which are highly decorative and practical.
Monarch Butterfly Rescue Wildflower Seeds 4 oz.
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
HIGH QUALITY SEEDS and EXPERT GUIDANCE: Experience the quality seed difference. We are committed to providing the highest quality, open-pollinated, non-GMO/non-GE seeds to our customers, guaranteed. A trusted source of high quality seeds since 1985. ATTRACT MORE MONARCHS: We know seeds and we know pollinators! Our expertly crafted botanical garden seed mixes contain a wide variety of both perennials and annuals that are specifically designed to attract pollinators. Attract more Monarchs and Butterflies in general. Gardener tested, pollinator approved! All Of Our Wildflower Varieties Are 100% Pure Seed, They come with complete planting instructions. Compare and see the quality value. This Wildflower Seed Mix will make the perfect gift for those gardeners in your life.
SHOWA Atlas 370B Nitrile Palm Coating Gloves, Black, Medium (Pack of 12 Pairs)
Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Lightweight and close-fitting for excellent dexterity. Machine washable. Breathable back of hand to reduce perspiration. Designed for easy movement and continuous wear. Ideal for aerospace, assembly, automotive, construction, final fix, gardening, manufacturing, operating machinery, packaging, precision handling, tiling, warehousing.
Comments
Beautiful . That last picture would make a pretty nice backyard , yes ????????
is anyone else wishing the herbaceous borders were going to be the upcoming photo after the pathway shot?
Thank you, Joan, for sharing your snaps of this very interesting place!
Re: herbaceous borders
Love them!
Thinking of a trip to Sissinghurst and Great Dixter this summer...
Beautiful tour, I'm just amazed at the Viking house recreation, that roof is a work of art!
Cool! Hope to visit one day.
I love, love, love seeing overseas gardens.
I have sometimes wondered if anyone who posts here regularly would want to meet at a public garden for a few hours to talk about plants and garden design. I am not on e.g. FB and have not organized people on e.g. Meetup - but I could envision e.g. a very informal meet in Buffalo https://www.gardensbuffaloniagara.com/garden-walk-buffalo or ? Just throwing the idea out there...
Joan - loved the photo of the day. Thank you for sharing!
Love this - especially the Viking building and that vertical succulent "wall." Thanks for sharing!
Damn!, this is fascinating and beautiful. Thank you for sharing this tree planting
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in