Bloom 2023
About Our Garden
Our garden at Bloom, ‘As I Live and Breathe’, shows how an outdoor space becomes an extension of a house and can enhance the feeling of home. The garden feels modern with contemporary material choices and a soft planting style.
The covered spaces are connected with timber decking matching that used on the pathways. The spaces provide a sanctuary and a place to relax, unwind and take in the garden.
People have found renewed appreciation for their outdoor spaces in recent years and are interested in how to make the most of their gardens. We hope to inspire Bord Bia Bloom attendees with our showgarden and demonstrate how a garden can be an integral part of the home.
Meet The Designer
Brian Burke is a landscape contractor and award-winning garden designer. He is a gardening ambassador for Woodie’s and its judge on RTÉ’s Super Garden. Brian attained his B.Sc. Hons. (Surveying) from Trinity College Dublin in 1994 and has almost 30 years’ experience in the construction and landscaping business in Ireland and abroad.
Brian won Super Garden in 2015 and has since gone on to design several medal-winning show gardens at Bord Bia Bloom. He has a particular interest in pan-generational garden design, accessibility in garden design, and the therapeutic properties of horticulture.
The Planting Scheme
The planting scheme in the garden is composed of ‘cool’ coloured flowering perennials and perennial grasses which bring both an impressive visual impact and ecological benefits to the garden.
Cool colours, like blues, purples, and whites, have a calming effect and create a sense of restfulness and tranquillity in the space. Perennial grasses, such as Calamagrostis, provide texture, movement, and structure whilst also suppressing weeds and retaining moisture. Using the same mix of plants throughout all four beds brings a sense of continuing flow to the garden. The inside corner is anchored with multi-stem birch trees which provide shade and screening for the garden.
The planting scheme also brings a range of ecological benefits. The garden offers a valuable habitat and food source for pollinators like bees, butterflies, hoverflies, moths, beetles and birds. Brian has used a dense planting scheme and this mix of species helps to maintain soil health in the garden by reducing erosion and retaining soil carbon. Finally, the plants featured are relatively low-maintenance, requiring minimal watering and fertilizer.
Beauty, serenity and ecological benefits - these multitasking plants can do it all.
You can visit our lawn and garden section to get every product displayed in our Show Garden.
Plants Featured
You can shop all the beautiful plants featured in our Show Garden right here!
Products Featured
We wanted our Bloom 2023 garden to feature some of the stunning pieces from our outdoor living range. The Riga and Milan sets are two fabulous patio sets that are sure to enhance the look and feel of any garden!
A simple and elegant classic boho style chair with industrial touches complete with arm rests. The Riga is a stylish furniture set that will bring to life any garden or patio area. Perfect for sharing an outdoor break with friends and family. It comes with an oval polywood top table and 6 bamboo effect chairs.
The Milan Sofa Set is perfect for enjoying Summer days into the night.This set includes a 3 seater sofa, 2 armchairs and a coffee table.The wood effect aluminium frame gives the look of a wooden set, without the maintenance. The rust proof aluminium frame and modern on trend look makes this set a great addition to any garden.
Transform your outdoor area with the luxurious Helsinki Rattan Egg Chair. The trendy rattan frame offers a shaded seat under the sun while the filled cushion provides a comfortable seat.
Cuprinol Ducksback Silver Copse 5L
Our 'As I Live and Breathe' show garden has been painted in the stunning shade of silver copse. Cuprinol 5 Year Ducksback, has an advanced, wax enriched and non-drip formulation, that colours and weatherproofs sheds and fences for up to 5 years. Cuprinol 5 year Ducksback is quick drying, low odour and safe to use around plants and pets.
Dulux Weathershield in Inishbofin Gold
Inishbofin Gold is also a colour that features throughout our garden this year at bloom. It is a bespoke colour that needs to be mixed in store. Pop into your local Woodies and enquire about this beautiful colour!
People's Choice Award - Text Voting
To vote for our 'As I Live and Breathe' show garden, please text GARDEN13 to 51500. Standard SMS rates apply. You can vote before 1pm on Monday, 5th of June. Votes open to ROI & NI residents only.
