Is design

26/08/2025

We should always garden with nature and aim for minimal inputs but the drought tolerant garden I planted 10 years ago is now struggling in our Irish summer! If things can change this fast should we really be spending more researching what we can sustainably grow in 10, 20 and 50 years time?

We’re gardening in a time of change and extremes, but here are practical ways to prepare our plants to cope in both drought and deluge

05/10/2023

Back to Hummelo with the ever lovely 🏵️ I have never visited during the Autumn. It was fantastic to see the start of the Autumn colour. It gave me a better sense of how the planting progresses and interacts through the seasons. Loved it! Huge thank you to Anja and Piet for being such gracious hosts.

20/09/2023

All about the trees today at Nangle & Niesen's!
Really interesting morning. Great to see the soil regeneration programme in operation. The quality of the trees is always amazing. Fantastic hospitality and always great to hear from Ronan's incredibly skilled and knowledgeable staff.

09/09/2023

Apparently, you can't grow anything right beside the shoreline! Never got the memo.....there are plants for every situation, in every soil type!

22/08/2023

Bedtime reading! Detroit fascinates me. It's a cautionary tale of putting economics before social responsibility. No one rescued this city that once encapsulated the capitalist dream. It was allowed to falter and fail. Yet, social responsibility is exactly what is raising the city like a phoenix from the ashes. It will take time but funnily enough plants, art and design are playing a huge part in enticing people back to invest and rebuild. Lavender Landscapes provided the Power of Plants....well plants have to be in the reading list somewhere!

22/08/2023

Delta Centre Carlow is a very worthy stop on a garden road trip. Beautiful garden by Paul Martin has long been a favourite of mine!

13/07/2023

Check out this before and after. .ie pictorial meadow 'year after year' mix with a few extra species that I added to the mix. As some of you know, I have been working with Cluid Housing on biodiversity & sustainability projects across the country. The residents in this scheme in Charleville were very divided over the appearance of a grass meadow that they had created. The pictorial meadow has been warmly received. It offers foraging for pollinating insects & will diversify with native species over time. Vitally, the residents feel positively about the visual effect. If people love it, it will always be more sustainable. .ie #

22/06/2023

I have some racist, ageist & xenophobic comments to make😬......snails are faster and stronger than slugs. Young slugs are more ferocious eaters than larger, older slugs! I also wish they would jog on to another garden and leave my Kirengeshoma palmata alone!!!

17/06/2023

Thrilled with article about the Landscape and Biodiversity Guide for New Developments' in today's Examiner. I really hope that this will assist with the design of biodiversity enhancing landscape. It is grounded in reality, and takes on board each design team members constraints and opportunities. There are years of experience working on all types of planning submissions poured in this guide. Not just mine but the wealth of experience of different consultants I have worked with to gain planning for.new developments; engineers, architects, landscape architects, planning consultants, ecologists, arboriculturalists horticulturalists, nursery growers and farmers! This is a team sport and each has an important role in securing the future of our flora and fauna!

17/06/2023

05/06/2023

The Moritz -Fidalgo inspired mini succulent tray! I think it's coming along nicely

03/06/2023

Every year I look forward to catching up with the lovely Yuko Nagamura. There is a lovely relaxed easiness with old friends! I have huge respect for Yuko's opinions and views on all things garden design but especially planting design. It is always a learning experience when we chat plants❤️ hope.to see you soon Yuko Chan!