HC Summer 2016 – Horticulture news

Horticulture Inspiring NCAD Design Graduates

A number of students used a horticulture theme to present their final year projects as displayed at the Design and Degree Show at the National College of Art and Design recently and one particular project caught the eye of HC at that event. Diarmuid Mulligan’s brief for his final year project was to address a problem that had a special resonance for him as there is a history of arthritis in his family. His research revealed that there are three leading pathways to increase one’s well being; through their community, nature, and positive hobbies. A recurring hobby was gardening, which can become quite painful, and is often neglected by those who suffer from arthritis.

He designed ‘Easy Grow’ to create a way for arthritic patients to garden with the least amount of pain possible. Outputs include a raised gardening bed which has three varied heights to accommodate all users, whilst the joinery of the bed uses a pin-in-hole technique designed to make the assembly arthritically friendly. Additionally, a set of ergonomic tools eliminate the regular pain acquired when using traditional gardening tools. More at diarmuid96@hotmail.co.uk. ✽

ALCI training days at the Botanic gardens

The ALCI has organised a number of one day Invasive Weeds Identification and Control courses with Teagasc at the National Botanic Gardens in mid-August. They follow on from Soft Landscaping training days held there for ALCI members earlier in the year and are part of an ongoing continuous professional development (CPD) programme.

The timing of the courses is particularly apt given the recent media national reportage about the problems caused by Japanese Knotweed and it will enable participants to recognise this and other invasive weeds such as Giant Hogweed, Himalayan balsam, Rhododendron ponticum, Buddleia, Gunnera waterway weeds and more. They will also learn how invasive weeds can be controlled, including methods, timings, programmes and environmental issues. The courses will be presented by Dr. Paul Fitters and Dr. Michael Gaffney.

Separately, the ALCI and Teagasc are discussing setting up an apprenticeship scheme whereby Teagasc students will take internships with ALCI member companies while still in college to gain practical working experience, benefit from on the job training and help them to further their careers. It is hoped to progress this scheme during the 2016/17 academic year.”. ✽

Outdoor Demonstrations Return to SALTEX for 2016

The organisers of SALTEX have announced that outdoor working demonstrations will be returning to the 2016 exhibition, which will be held on 2 and 3 November at the NEC, Birmingham. The return of this feature will once again provide exhibitors with the opportunity to showcase their products in an outdoor setting. The decision to bring back outdoor working demonstrations was made based on the SALTEX 2015 post-show feedback surveys. Although more than 70% of SALTEX’s 2015 visitors rated their overall show experience as being excellent, the survey also revealed that the show could benefit even further from the addition of outdoor demonstrations. From working demonstrations to new ideas, products and machinery, along with exciting new features and an enhanced education programme, SALTEX 2016 will offer better than ever opportunities for visitors to find the products, advice and support they need. More at iogsaltex.com ✽

Tully Nurseries Presents Extensive Collection and New Varieties at GLAS

The team is introducing new to Ireland varieties of Laurel hedging: Prunus laurocerasus ‘Greenpeace’ and Prunus laurocerasus ‘Genolia’. These are already tried and tested on the continent and have proven to be much harder, and more importantly, require less maintenance. The collection of shrubs, perennials, grasses and alpines is selected to keep garden centre benches full of colour all year round. They are also excited about a new range of Helleborus exclusively grown in Tully Nurseries for their Irish customers.

The team will be on hand to offer advice and as ever are looking for suggestions of what they should be growing to meet your customer’s needs. More at tullynurseries.ie  GLAS stand #E16 ✽

Nangle & Niesen Return to Bloom

Nangle & Niesen ventured back into Bloom for the first time in a number of years when they collaborated with garden designer Hugh Ryan on his ‘Well Centred Garden’ in the
Phoenix Park. The garden, which featured 65 Himalayan birch supplied by the Cork-based tree nursery received a silver award.

Ronan Nangle tells HC that their involvement in the garden was to promote that fact that far from being just a regionally based Munster supplier, the business now trades across the 32 counties of Ireland and even further afield into the UK market. More at nangleandniesen.ie. ✽

Exciting Lineup of Speakers on Stage at Plantarium 2016

On Friday 26 August, Plantarium and the Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society will be holding a seminar which focuses entirely on the inspirational plant offerings.

Pete Kruger, Director of New Products and Licensing at Star Roses and Plants (USA) will get the day off to a good start at 9 am and will be repeating his presentation at noon. In his talk entitled “Plant Breeding Goals in the Future”, Kruger will discuss the opportunities and challenges for breeders and product development in the future. Insights into the ‘green consumer’ will be given.

Chris Hansen, the owner of Garden Solutions (USA) will be presenting his SunSparkler® breeding programme at 10 am and 1 pm. As well as demonstrating how he tests and selects new varieties, he will reveal which types of marketing activities he uses to focus the attention of growers and the retail sector on his novelties. Plantarium runs from 24 to 27 August 2016 in the Plantarium building at the International Trade Centre Boskoop-Hazerswoude. More at plantarium.nl ✽

Remembering Kieran Skelly

It was with great sadness that we shared the news of Kieran Skelly’s untimely passing in the last issue of Horticulture Connected. As an editor of horticultural trade publications for several years, I’ve had many opportunities to speak with Kieran on industry matters. In the time since his passing, I have spoken with many of Kieran’s colleagues, and the sense of shock and loss is still palpable.

In any small industry, the loss of such a key figure takes a significant toll and he will be missed by all. “I’d known Kieran for almost 20 years,” explained Gary Graham. “In that time I’d gotten to know him well. To respect him. He was a man willing to speak his mind. And in an industry such as ours that is a valuable asset. He was creative, a man with passion, drive and an entrepreneurial spirit. Someone willing to experiment and innovate, to see beyond the confines of the industry and to keep moving forward. I know I speak for the industry when I extend my sympathies to his wonderful family.”

Kieran will be best remembered for establishing K & M Plants Direct with his wife Muriel in Ballyhagen, Carbury, Co Kildare. The nursery, which Muriel continues to operate, specialises in the supply of garden and landscape plants, while also offering landscape construction services. He will also be remembered for his long-serving role as chairman of the Irish Hardy Nursery Stock Association and more recently, for the introduction of the new Irish plant Potentilla ‘Glamour Girl’.

Kieran’s contribution to the industry will be long lasting and his absence notable. He is survived by his wife Muriel and family Lydia, Jerome, Bianca, Mckayla and Dylan, grandson Tadhg, brothers Bernard, Patrick-Gerard, Frank, David and Donal, sisters Mary (Toomey) and Brenda (Jordan), mother-in-law Sheila, godchild Rebecca, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. The thoughts of the industry remain with you. ✽

The ‘Monty Don Effect’ Increases Visitors to Garden Show Ireland

The 2016 Allianz Garden Show Ireland event at Antrim Castle Gardens in May was an again a big success for show director Claire Faulkner and her team. Visitor numbers were up to some 30% on previous years. The efforts of exhibitor and designers to produce engaging gardens and trade stands were well rewarded, with trade exhibitors reporting strong sales throughout. A happy main show sponsor was Allianz’s Damien O’Neill who tells HC that “Allianz is delighted to have supported what was the biggest event in the show’s history, presenting the very best in the world of gardening, food and drink”. It being Northern Ireland’s Year of Food & Drink, the artisan food and drink producers were out in force. More at gardenshowireland.com. ✽

Youngs to Showcase ‘Pops of Colour’ at Glas

Now in business and expanding for 28 years, the Young family will be showcasing their colourful range of perennials at Glas. Nuala Young tells HC that the aim in 2016 and into the future is to supply garden retailer with ‘Instant ‘Pops of Colour’ for the garden. They will assist garden retailers to extend the plant buying season. The range has been brought together to be easy to care for and low maintenance, which means that the overall range is pest and disease resistant, in keeping with the current trends for garden retailers. GLAS STAND #E10 ✽

Dublin Grass Machinery Offers Extensive Range of Machinery Options at GLAS

The team at Dublin Grass will be on hand to answer questions on all machinery lines including their main agencies of John Deere Homeowner, Commercial & Golf Machinery as well as Grillo AgriGarden Equipment, Goupil Electric Vehicles, Kersten Sweepers, Meyer Spreaders and Wiedenmann Terra Spike Equipment. The display at GLAS will include John Deere Ride-on Mowers, Front Mowers and Compact Tractors. They will also be exhibiting a range of Grillo Agri-Garden Products. GLAS STAND #ST7 ✽

Infrastructure Investment & Research Key for Rentes Plants

For 2016 the Rentes family have introduced a new range of larger perennials that have which has been well received by garden retailers across Ireland. The team at Rentes believes a range of plants larger than the usual industry standard for perennials delivers more colour impact and higher margins for their customers. The existing staple range of calla lilies, lavenders and hydrangeas will also be presented at the show. The process of
selecting new varieties for these staple ranges can be very time-consuming. Calla lilies, for example, were field tested with 25 new varieties and only the top five made it on to their shortlist for next year.

Ongoing extensive testing with different peat mixes, chemical and biological controls, etc, ensures that Rentes continue to offer the most environmentally friendly product possible, with a significant reduction in the volume of chemical usage being recorded. The nursery has also added three brand new tunnels to meet increasing demand. Meet the team at Glas and find out more at rentes.ie GLAS STAND #A3 ✽

Fána Nurseries Excited about Showcasing Quality and Variety of Range at GLAS

Fána Nurseries is now a significant Irish grower and supplier of trees and hedging, with over forty acres currently in production. The sizes available range from 6-8 to 30-35cm in girth. Their main customer base consists of local authorities, landscape contractors and golf courses. Joe Ahern wants to showcase some of this range at GLAS 2016 but will also be trying to convince you to visit the nursery to see firsthand the quality product on offer. Joe and the Fana team are committed to producing a quality product and since 2010 Fána Nurseries has been a proud and certified member of the Bord Bia
Quality Assurance Scheme. More at fananurseries.com GLAS STAND #J14 ✽

Irish Landscape Institute elects a new President

Following on from its Annual General Meeting in May 2016, the Irish Landscape Institute (ILI) is delighted to welcome Peter Hutchinson as president for the year 2016-2017.

Peter Hutchinson is a landscape architect and designer based in Belfast, and the recipient of the inaugural Diane Nickels Award for landscape drawing at the ILI Awards 2015. Peter is a long-standing member of the ILI and former chairman of the Landscape Institute Northern Ireland. Speaking at the announcement, Peter said, “I am delighted to be the incoming president of the Institute. Coming from the North, the membership have taken a great leap of faith in nominating me and I am truly honoured to have been elected to the post. Our strength is in our membership. I am a strong believer in a bottom-up, not a top-down approach. I want to listen to and learn from them all. As an Institute we need to develop short and long-term landscape strategies and create a framework that addresses such important and relevant topics as: green infrastructure; the public procurement process; a scarcity of landscape legislation; further education opportunities; improving standards so that we map a future and a direction for the Institute. The public awareness and profile of the profession are not as high as it should be so we need to pay more attention to our PR and marketing. As president, I will bring my years of experience and breadth of knowledge both in public service and private practice, and use my wide range of connections including links to the Landscape Institute UK. I am looking forward to the year and working with the council, our membership, academic and student body to bring landscape issues more to the fore, give them more attention and access to a wider audience when brought into the public arena.

ILI looks forward to working in closer collaboration with the Landscape Institute NI over the next few years, and plans are underway for an all-island joint conference in 2017. Keep an eye on our events page for details. www.irishlandscapeinstitute.com

The ILI Council is also delighted to welcome Kevin Halpenny MILI, who was elected to the office of vice president. Kevin is a landscape architect and senior parks superintendent at Fingal Co Co. ✽