One of Ireland's best-loved gardening celebrations opens its doors this week as the Carlow Garden Festival gets under way at various locations around the county.
The whole family can join in with an afternoon of wild adventures, minibeast hunts and nature trails at Huntington Castle, Clonegal, or perhaps take part in a summer safari adventure complete with train rides and treasure hunts through the newly-planted maze at Rathwood, Tullow.
Plant lovers are in for a treat as renowned plantsman Bob Brown, of Cotswold Garden Flowers, makes his first appearance at the festival this year talking about his favourite plants at Altamont Gardens in Tullow; and another legend, plantswoman Helen Dillon, is at the Delta Sensory Gardens in Carlow for workshops, chat and wisdom, as well as sharing her composting secrets and expert advice on maintaining summer borders at the Rathvilly Garden Centre in Rathvilly.
Other events include a teddy bear's picnic at Duckett's Grove, Carlow; sketching and painting (with expert guidance from professional artists) in the herb gardens of Kilgraney House, Bagenalstown; and bird-spotting and a barbecue along the banks of the River Barrow in Leighlinbridge with wildlife and river expert Dick Warner.
The Carlow Garden Festival runs from Saturday 27 July until Monday 5 August. For more details visit www.carlowgardentrail.com.
