Into the West
By Brothers of Charity Galway East
Amy Ní Bhranagáin, Art Coordinator at Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB), worked with over 50 people supported by the Brothers of Charity Galway East services alongside their staff to create this Postcard Garden. The garden is a snapshot of the West of Ireland, inspired by the region’s traditional skills, native plants, and cultural ties with the ocean. A traditional Galway hooker is woven from willow gathered in south Galway and lined with a variety of plants grown in the West. Bringing a piece of the West to Bord Bia Bloom, it shows that nothing is unachievable if you set your sail in the right direction.
Visit west.brothersofcharity.ie.
Plants in Concert
By Common Ground – Edible Bray
Plants in Concert is a collaboration between Klinkerdin Arts Salon and a community garden, Edible Bray. Together they have created a horticultural sound art installation where enthusiastic gardeners talk to their plants. Technology allows you to hear the plant’s response through a webcast accessed by a QR code. This multi-sensory experience enables you to see and smell the plants and hear their voices as they grow and respond to their environment. A second QR code links to an audio description of the garden’s layout which is available to visitors who are visually impaired.
Visit commongroundbray.com.
Whatever’s on your Mind
By Dublin Samaritans
Brought to Bord Bia Bloom by the Dublin Samaritans, this Postcard Garden illustrates that ‘Whatever’s on your Mind’ or whatever you are struggling with can be eased by a Samaritan listening in confidence. The garden features a display of tumbling water, which represents the thoughts and troubles of people in distress. It symbolises the peace and tranquillity that can be gained by someone talking, and in turn being listened to by a Samaritan. You can call the Dublin Samaritans on the 24-hour, freephone helpline at 116123.
Visit dublinsamaritans.ie.
Farming Rathcroghan – Pastures New
By Farming Rathcroghan
This Postcard Garden illustrates the ground-breaking developments in sustainable farming in Rathcroghan, Co. Roscommon. Farming Rathcroghan is an exciting new initiative with enormous potential for the future. It supports farmers to maintain and enhance this legendary and important national and international archaeological landscape, promoting sustainable and ecologically sound farming practices while benefitting biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and water quality.
Visit farmingrathcroghan.ie
Look Within
By Hermes Trismegistus School of Self Knowledge
Humanity generally does not consider questions like “Who am I?” or “Why am I here?” Instead we are bound by the many worries and duties of daily life. With this garden, the Hermes Trismegistus School of Self Knowledge shows a path to represent the process of looking within. It uses the mirror of self-observation and our own individual consciousness to help us become more aware of who we are; to reflect and to learn to live more wisely.
Visit htsk.ie.
The Experiential Learning Garden
By National Learning Network Ballyfermot
Following the success of their inaugural Postcard Garden last year, the students and staff of National Learning Network Ballyfermot are returning to Bord Bia Bloom with a new Postcard Garden, The Experiential Learning Garden. The garden represents the learner’s growth, with two planters framing a desk which is planted with salads, herbs and root crops. The planters include clear panels which show the root growth of the different plants featured, from seeds to juvenile and mature plants.
Visit nln.ie.
Mother Earth
By New Cross College Creative Team
This Postcard Garden’s design centres around a relief mural which was created by a group of female students who are members of New Cross College’s Creative Schools team under the direction of artists Yvonne Byrne and Ian Harte. The mural is made of plastics and objects that were found in the Finglas school’s environment and were otherwise destined for landfill. The work is based on a mandala design, named Maeve, which represents Mother Earth. It invites the viewer to contemplate how they engage with our planet and how we can create beauty through upcycling.
Visit newcross.ie.
A Sustainable Garden on Wheels for Nursing Homes
By St Kevin’s Community College
This mobile garden has been created by students of St Kevin’s Community College in Clondalkin. They intend to bring the garden to nursing homes in the hope of spreading some joy and creating some nostalgia for residents. The students wish to inspire residents to reconnect with nature and enjoy the colours and scents of the herbs, vegetables and flowers planted in the garden. The residents can then rearrange the display as they see fit as everything in the garden is planted in recycled containers that are fitted on wheels.
The Colour Purple – A Journey of Substance Misuse Recovery
By Substance Misuse Service – Social & Therapeutic Horticulture Programme, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
‘The Colour Purple’ Postcard Garden has been developed by service users in recovery. It portrays life stories and lived experiences where the service user absorbs the evolution of knowledge and a willingness to embrace the light. This garden encapsulates a substance misuse journey of recovery, depicted from left to right in the planting scheme. It illustrates a pathway of discovery on the journey of social and therapeutic horticulture. While this involves hard work, physical activity, and learning, there is always time for a cup of tea.