20th May 2021: Bord Bia today announced its plans to celebrate Bord Bia Bloom 2021 and encourage the public to embrace their gardens and outdoor spaces this summer. For the second year in a row, the public can take part in #BloomAtHome via a series of virtual initiatives and events providing gardening advice and inspiration. New for 2021, Bord Bia is sharing seven easy to follow garden design and planting plans to help the public create a dream garden at home.
Tara McCarthy, CEO, Bord Bia said, “Bord Bia Bloom is our annual showcase for horticulture and gardening in Ireland, and while we cannot be physically together in the Phoenix Park, we are delighted to bring the joy of Bloom direct to people’s homes. The garden has experienced a renewed sense of importance over the last year as a result of the restrictions we have all had to adhere to. Connecting with the outdoors and nature has also been increasingly recognised for the role it plays in mental health and well-being. We are delighted to be able to offer Irish gardeners, from beginners to those with more established green spaces, with nspiration and guidance on how to create a garden they can enjoy across all seasons as we celebrate the 15th annual Bord Bia Bloom.”
Easy Steps to Dream Gardens
Designed by award-winning Bloom show garden designers, Bord Bia is sharing seven garden designs which can be re-created either in full, or in part, at home, according to the time, space and budget available. From an easy-to-maintain family friendly garden to an outdoor space perfect for entertaining, the garden plans feature a range of Irish grown plants that are available to purchase in garden centres and retailers nationwide. Each of the seven design packs in the series feature a detailed planting plan and planting list that can be downloaded from BordBiaBloom.com.
Carol Marks, Horticulture Sector Manager, Bord Bia said, “We are thrilled to have worked with award-winning garden designers to create these step-by-step garden designs which can be implemented at home. The plans have been designed to suit a range of different needs and provide inspiration for transforming your garden. A top tip is that the border details from each design are accessible for any gardener to implement, based on their garden aspect. Each garden design comes with a range of inspirational images, an animated walk-through and a full plant list to make buying the plants as simple as possible.”
Bloom Bank Holiday Weekend Activities
In addition to the new garden designs, Bord Bia is hosting a range of virtual activities and initiatives over the June Bank Holiday weekend. These include:
- Live Talk Series & Q&As
Hosted by RTÉ’s Miriam O’Callaghan, the live talk series will provide inspiration and advice on how to design and maintain your outdoor space, as well as explore the physical and mental benefits of gardening. The line-up will include a host of names who have embraced gardening over the last year including Irish rugby star, Peter O’Mahony and actress and wellness expert, Aoibhín Garrihy.
- Bloom BBQ Ideas
As it would not be Bloom without the best of Irish food, some of Ireland’s best loved chefs and foodies including Catherine Fulvio and Rory O’Connell will offer tasty BBQ recipes, tips and tricks as part of a series of #QualityKitchenCookAlongs. - Competition with RTÉ
Following the success of Bloom with RTÉ last year, Bord Bia is delighted to join forces with RTÉ for a new fun competition which will invite the public to share their gardening efforts on social media over the June Bank Holiday weekend.
To be in with a chance of winning some great gardening prizes, simply post a picture or video of your garden space, blooming balcony or proud plants on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook using #BloomAtHome and tag @BordBiaBloom from Thursday June 3rd to Monday June 7th. Winners will be announced on Tuesday June 8th.
For more information on the full line-up for Bord Bia Bloom 2021 and to access the garden designs and plant lists visit https://www.bordbiabloom.com/ or follow Bord Bia Bloom on social media @BordBiaBloom on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook.
