Grow on ya good things

11 garden designers strike gold as Bord Bia Bloom celebrates 20 years in business

- BY DANNY DE VAAL

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ELEVEN outstanding garden designers struck gold in Dublin's Phoenix Park yesterday as the 20th annual Bord Bia Bloom festival officially opened its doors.

Celebrating two decades of Ireland's premier gardening and horticulture event, the top prizes championed displays with powerful messages about protecting the environment, improving urban living, and caring for our mental health.

Taking the top prize for the overall large garden category was the 'Recycled, Reused and Refilled Sculptural Garden'.

Designed by James Purdy and sponsored by Repak, the garden perfectly captured the festival's focus on sustainability.

Meanwhile, the overall medium garden award went to the thoughtful 'Future in Mind' garden. Designed by Joe Eustace and sponsored by the Mental Health Commission, this space reflects the vital theme of caring for our health and wellbeing.