Exhibitions & events - Botanic Gardens
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exhibitions & events June 2018 – February 2019
2 | Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie
Events June 2018 – February 2019
EXHIBITIONS, SHOWS & EVENTS
Sat 9 Jun Cactus and Succulent Show p7
Fri 15 Jun CONCERT: Great Music in Irish Houses: Van Kuijk Quartet p7
Fri 22 Jun - Sun 15 Jul ART EXHIBITION: Inside Outside ‘n’ Beyond: Gerard Byrne p7
Sun 24 Jun & 1 Jul, Sat 7,
14 Jul THEATRE: Meet me in the Gardens p7
Thu 28 Jun CONCERT: National Concert Hall Gamelan Orchestra p8
Tue 10 Jul THEATRE: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland p8
Thurs 19 Jul FILM SCREENING: Five Seasons - The Gardens of Piet Oudolf p8
Sat 21 - Sun 22 Jul Sweet Pea Show p8
Thu 2 - Fri 24 Aug EXHIBITION: Devonian Plant Fossils – A Window into the Past p9
Sat 18 Aug HERITAGE WEEK ART INSTALLATION: Mandala Making in Nature p9
Sat 18 Aug – Sun 2 Sep HERITAGE WEEK: The Totally Terrific Tomato Festival p9
Thu 6 Sep - Fri 19 Oct Sculpture in Context p9
Thurs 20 Sep Gastronomy Tour II: Harvest Time p10
Sat 22 - Sun 23 Sep The Dahlia Show p10
Sun 21 Oct Halloween at Glasnevin p37
Fri 26 - Sun 28 Oct Bram Stoker Festival p10
Sun 11 Nov – Sun 2 Dec Exhibition: Images of Starlight 2018 p11
Sun 9 Dec CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS AT GLASNEVIN:
Christmas Market & Visit Santa Claus p43
THEMED TOURS
Saturdays in June SENSATIONS: A story of perfume and pollinators p12
Saturdays 7, 14 July CHASING RAINBOWS: Colour and the Natural World p12
Saturdays 21, 28 Jul CELEBRATING THE FESTIVAL OF CURIOSITY: Biomimicry p12
Sundays 4, 11, 18 Aug SENSE-SATION: a Sensorial Tour of the Gardens p13
Saturday 25 Aug MAKING SENSE: Philosophy in the Gardens p13
Saturdays in Sept Common & Curious Veg p13
Saturdays in Oct Magic, Murder and Monkshood p13
Saturdays in Nov What’s in a name? – How and why we use scientific names p14
Saturdays 1, 8, 15 Dec Festive Winter Plants p14
Saturdays in Jan 2019 FIRST FORTNIGHT: Biophilia p14
Saturdays in Feb 2019 The Victorian Gardens p15
Sat 9 & Thurs 14 Feb VALENTINE’S DAY GUIDED WALK: Blooming Romance p15
EVENTS AT NBG KILMACURRAGH, Co. WICKLOW
Saturdays in Jun & Jul GUIDED WALK: Meadows and Hedgerows p56
Saturdays in Aug GUIDED WALK: Plant Hunters Walk p57
Mon 18 - Sun 26 Aug HERITAGE WEEK: Sharing Stories p57
Thurs 4 Oct THEMED TOUR: Intriguing Trees p57
Fri 12 Oct WORKSHOP: Beginner’s Photography with Eamon O’Daly p57
Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie | 3
Events June 2018 – February 2019
EVENTS BY THE MONTH
Fri 15, 22, 29 Jun WORKSHOP: Beginner’s Photography p18
Sat 14 Jul DROP-BY DEMO: Edible Flowers Demonstration p23
Sat 21 Jul DROP-BY DEMO: The Aroma Demo p23
Sun 5 & 12 Aug Papermaking Workshop p25
Sat 18 Aug LECTURE: Tomato Tales: Origins, botany, folklore & diversity p27
Sat 18 Aug LECTURE: How to grow, cook and eat Totally Terrific Tomatoes p28
Sat 18 Aug BOOK LAUNCH AND TALK: The Potato was not the Problem p28
Sat 25 Aug LECTURE: Robin Lane Fox p29
Sat 8, 15, 22 & 29 Sep GUIDED WALK: Sculpture in Context - Meet the Artists p32
Wed 12 Sep LECTURE: Russborough Walled Garden p32
Fri 14, 21 & 28 Sep WORKSHOP: Beginner’s Photography p32
Sat 29 Sep RHSI SEMINAR: Gardening for Wildlife p29
Sat 6, 13 Oct GUIDED WALK: Sculpture in Context - Meet the Artists p34
Wed 10 Oct IRISH TREE SOCIETY ANNUAL LECTURE: Arboreal Treasures in Irish
and British Gardens with John Anderson p36
Mon 8 – Sat 13 Oct Harvest Display Construction p36
Thu 25 Oct LECTURE: The Gardens & Plants of the National Trust for Scotland p39
Wed 31 Oct LECTURE: Rare and Wild plants of Ireland p39
Wed 14 Nov LECTURE: Is the Scots Pine an Irish Pine? p41
Thu 22 Nov LECTURE: Creating the perfect garden p41
Sun 25 Nov ADULT’S WORKSHOP: Eco Christmas Crafts p41
Wed 28 Nov LECTURE: The Lilliputian Flora of Ireland - Jonathan Swift Festival p41
Wed 5 Dec FLOWER ARRANGING: Celebrate the Season with Karen Massey p43
Sun 9 Dec CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS AT GLASNEVIN: Santa, Christmas
Craft Market, & much more p43
Wed 12 Dec LECTURE: Are you over-exploiting wild plants? p43
Sat 12 Jan LECTURE: Shell Houses and their Artists p45
Wed 16 Jan LECTURE: Health and Well-Being in Gardens and Horticulture p45
Wed 23 Jan LIGHTNING TALKS: Secrets and Passions of the NBG p45
Sun 27 Jan DEMONSTRATION: St Brigid’s Cross Making p45
Wed 6 Feb LIGHTNING TALKS: Secrets and Passions p47
Sat 23 Feb LECTURE: Plants and Bees p45
4 | Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie
EVENTS FOR CHILDREN
Sun 3, 10, 17 & 24 Jun Kids Drop-by Activity in the Erasmus Education Garden p48
Sat 9 Jun Pond Dipping p48
Sat 16 Jun CHILDREN’S ART: Budding Artists & Hardy Annuals p49
Tue 3 Jul - Tue 28 Aug Kids Drop-by Activity in the Erasmus Education Garden p50
Sat 7 Jul Pond Dipping p48
Thu 12, 26 Jul Budding Botanist - Collecting and Pressing Flowers p22
Mon 16 Jul - Fri 20 July Children’s Art Camp p50
Tue 7, 14, 21, 28 Aug Kids Drop-by Activity in the Erasmus Education Garden p48
Thu 9, 23 Aug Budding Botanist - Collecting and Pressing Flowers p50
Sat 11 Aug Pond Dipping p48
Mon 13 - Fri 17 Aug Children’s Art Camp p50
Sun 19 Aug CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP: Cooking and eating Tomatoes
workshops for 3 to 8 year olds p50
Tues 21 Aug KIDS DROP BY ACTIVITIES: Build your own bug hotel p51
Sat 25 Aug CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP: Growing tomatoes workshops
for 8 to 11 year olds p51
Sun 9, 16, 23 & 30 Sep Kids Drop-by Activity in the Erasmus Education Garden p48
Sat 15 Sep CHILDREN’S ART: Budding Artists & Hardy Annuals p49
Sun 2, 9, 16 Sep YOUNG ADULT WORKSHOP: Digital Film Making p51
Thu 4 Oct Tree day tours for schools p52
Mon 8 - Sat 13 Oct Harvest Display Construction p53
Sat 13 Oct onwards Harvest Display p53
Sat 20 Oct Submissions for Decorated Pumpkin Exhibition p53
Sun 21 Oct Halloween at Glasnevin p37
Sun 21 Oct Celebration of Mind with Maths Week Ireland p54
Sun 21, 28-31 Oct CHILDREN’S EVENT: Magical Plants p54
Sat 27 Oct CHILDREN’S ART: Budding Artists & Hardy Annuals p49
Fri 2 Nov Drop by Activity in the Erasmus Education Garden p48
Sat 17 Nov CHILDREN’S ART: Budding Artists & Hardy Annuals p49
Sat 24 Nov & 15 Dec CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP: Eco Crafts
Sat 8 Dec CHILDREN’S ART: Budding Artists & Hardy Annuals p49
Sun 9 Dec CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS AT GLASNEVIN: Santa, Christmas
Craft Market, & much more p55
Sat 12 Jan CHILDREN’S ART: Budding Artists & Hardy Annuals p49
Sun 20 Jan & 10 Feb CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP: Creative Writing p55
Sat 26 Jan & 2 Feb CHILDREN’S EVENT: Build a Bird Feeder p55
Sat 16 Feb CHILDREN’S ART: Budding Artists & Hardy Annuals p49
Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie | 5
Exhibitions, Shows & Events 6 | Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie
Saturday 9th June
Cactus and Succulent Show
The Cactus and Succulent Society Show is held every second
year and is a showcase for amateur growers. Prizes are awarded
in over forty classes and it is an opportunity to see the variety of
plants grown by enthusiasts in the challenging Irish climate.
Time: 12.00pm to 6pm. Teak House.
Friday 15th June
CONCERT: Great Music in Irish Houses: Van Kuijk Quartet
Currently BBC New Generation Artists, the Van Kuijk Quartet’s
international accolades include First Prize at both the 2015
Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition and the
Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition. In their
Festival début, these elegant musicians will perform works by
compatriots Claude Debussy, on the 100th Anniversary of his
death, and one of France’s most acclaimed living composers,
Édith Canat de Chizy. In addition, they will also perform one of
Schubert’s finest musical masterpieces, his dramatic Death and
the Maiden String Quartet.
Time: 8.00pm Cost: €30/€25. Booking essential.
Book: www.greatmusicinirishhouses.com
Friday 22nd June – Sunday 15th July
ART EXHIBITION: Inside Outside ‘n’ Beyond: Gerard Byrne
celebrates 30 years of painting the National Botanic
Gardens
Having travelled the world as one the of leading exponents of
modern impressionist painting Gerard has returned repeatedly
over the last thirty years to the National Botanical Gardens in
Dublin, a location close to his heart. Many of his spectacular and
celebrated paintings not only convey the vibrancy and lushness
of the flora, they feature dramatic renderings of the iconic
wrought iron architecture of the great Victorian glasshouses.
Daily in the Gallery Space, Education & Visitor Centre.
Sundays 24th June & 1st July, Saturdays 7th & 14th July
THEATRE: Meet me in the Gardens
From the company that brought you Angels in the Park, Shiva
Productions presents a unique and powerful site-specific
theatrical experience, which will take you on a journey through
the bewitching gardens and will change how you will see them
forever.
Times: 2.00pm & 4.00pm. Booking essential.
Book: www.botanicgardenstheatreinthegardens.eventbrite.ie
Meet in the Education & Visitor Centre.
Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie | 7
Thursday 28th June CONCERT: National Concert Hall Gamelan Orchestra The Gamelan is a fascinating musical experience consisting of a wide variety of gongs, bells and xylophone-type instruments which produce a magical sound when played. The NCH Orchestra is delighted to have been invited by the Indonesian Embassy to travel to Java in 2018 to participate in a concert tour of the island. It is this concert programme which they will be performing in the National Botanic Gardens in advance of their concerts in Java. Time: 6.00pm. Cost: €10 per person. Meet in the Education & Visitor Centre. Booking essential: www.botanicgardensgamelan.eventbrite.ie Tuesday 10th July THEATRE: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Take a trip down the rabbit hole with Chapterhouse Theatre Company this summer as they present the classic tale of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Join Alice as she stumbles into the magical world of Wonderland and meet a whole host of colourful characters. Booking & info: www.chapterhouse.org Thursday 19th July FILM SCREENING: Five Seasons - The Gardens of Piet Oudolf After completing a feature documentary on New York’s High Line, award-winning filmmaker Thomas Piper met the inspirational designer and plantsman, Piet Oudolf, and the idea for a new project was born. The documentary, FIVE SEASONS: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf, immerses viewers in Oudolf’s work and takes us inside his creative process, from his beautifully abstract sketches, to theories on beauty, to the ecological implications of his ideas. The screening will be followed by a wine reception. Time: 6.00pm. Cost: €5. Booking essential. Organised with the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland. Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd July Sweet Pea Show The Gardens are delighted to host the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland’s Annual Sweet Pea Show. This is your opportunity to see a display of sweet peas grown on cordons by the leading growers in the country. On Saturday morning over a dozen growers will arrive in the Teak House to transform it into a sweet pea wonderland before the plants are judged. Times: Saturday 12.30pm to 5.30pm, Sunday: 10.00am to 5.00pm. Organised with the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland. 8 | Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie
Thursday 2nd - Friday 24th August
EXHIBITION: Devonian Plant Fossils: A window into the past
A joint exhibition between the National Botanic Gardens, the
Geological Survey of Ireland and the Natural History Museum
will show-case the amazing 360 million year old fossils from
Kiltorcan quarry, Co. Kilkenny. Kiltorcan is internationally known
for its rich assemblage of excavated fossils but this is their
first significant public display. The fossils provide a fascinating
glimpse into the plant world at the end of the Devonian Period.
Daily in the Gallery Space, Education & Visitor Centre.
Saturday 18th August
HERITAGE WEEK: Art installation - Mandala Making in Nature
Explore the story of an oak tree and the rich biodiversity that
surrounds it, while creating a giant mandala around its base.
As you will be using found material gathered in the Botanic
Gardens the art installation will be eco-friendly and also time
based. This is a communal activity and families are welcome.
Time: 2.00pm to 5.00pm. Meet in the Education & Visitor Centre.
Saturday 18th August - Sunday 2nd September
HERITAGE WEEK: The Totally Terrific Tomato Festival
The theme for Heritage Week 2018 is Sharing Stories. This
year we are delighted to be hosting the Totally Terrific Tomato
Festival, and can share the remarkable story of the Tomato with
our visitors. We will have an exhibition of tomato cultivars to
demonstrate the sheer diversity of this amazing fruit. Last year’s
festival featured over 200 cultivars, this year we distributed
600 plants to eager growers and hope to have even more. The
diversity display will run until Sunday 2nd September in the
Teak House. We also have a series of talks and special cookery
demonstrations for children.
Daily in the Teak House.
Thursday 6th September - Friday 19th October
Sculpture in Context
Sculpture in Context will present a thought-provoking
collection of work that bridges the gap between art and nature,
organic forms and man-made objects. The magical natural
setting of the National Botanic Gardens will play host to an
impressive collection of contemporary works by over 120 Irish
and international artists. Over 140 sculptures, from the surreal
and simple to the fantastical, will be found nestling in the
shrubberies and standing in the shade of the trees throughout
the extensive gardens, as well as throughout the ponds,
Great Palm House, and Curvilinear Range, with smaller works
exhibited in the Gallery in the Visitor Centre.
Daily throughout the Gardens and Gallery,
Education & Visitor Centre.
Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie | 9
Thursday 20th September GASTRONOMY TOUR II: Harvest Time Celebrate the harvest season with this special evening event. Featuring a cornucopia of late summer crops as well exotic delicacies, this tasting tour will explore the history and culture of many regions. Note that most of our tasting stops are al fresco, so please dress appropriately for the weather. Over 18s only as we will be serving small amounts of alcohol. Time: 6.00pm. Booking essential. Cost: €25 per person. Organised with the Market Kitchen https://www.facebook.com/themarketkitchenTBFM/ Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd September The Dahlia Show We are delighted to host the return of the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland’s Dahlia Show. When it comes to dahlias, can you tell a pompom from a semi-cactus, or a decorative from a peony dahlia? Join us to find out all about these fabulous late summer beauties, which will be at their best on display in the Teak House for the annual Dahlia Show. Time: Saturday 2.00pm–5.00pm & Sunday 10.00am–5.00pm. Organised with the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland. Friday 26th - Sunday 28th October Bram Stoker Festival The annual Bram Stoker Festival, brought to life by Dublin City Council and Fáilte Ireland, playfully celebrates the gothic, the mysterious, the after-dark and the thrill of late October as Ireland approaches Halloween and Samhain. Inspired by the legacy of Dublin-born Gothic writer Bram Stoker and his illustrious novel Dracula, the festival will summon the supernatural and revel in darkness and divilment in the Botanic Gardens over the October Bank Holiday weekend. Check www.bramstokerfestival.com from mid-September for full details on this event. 10 | Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie
Sunday 11th November - Sunday 2nd December
EXHIBITION: Images of Starlight 2018
Images of Starlight 2018 is a new collection of more than sixty
astronomy photographs by Irish amateur astronomers and
photographers including the Irish winners of the International
Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition organised
by the Greenwich Observatory in London. Many of the objects
photographed are millions of light years away but visitors will
be able to see up them up close and be surprised that these
galaxies and other space objects cross over their own back
gardens every night.
The exhibition will also show the equipment used for viewing
and imaging the night sky, including binoculars, modern
telescopes and cameras.
To coincide with the exhibition will be a presentation and
public talk on the steps we can take as a society to improve
and protect our rural and urban night skies from light pollution.
There will also be a public talk on astrophotography for those
interested in getting started imaging the night sky, along with
opportunities for stargazing and viewing the Moon and Planets.
Exhibition runs daily in the Gallery Space, Education & Visitor Centre
Organised with the Irish Astronomical Society & the Irish Federation
of Astronomical Societies.
Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie | 11Themed Tours Each month we provide a tour with a seasonal flavour or twist. If you are a regular visitor you will get to learn many different aspects of the Gardens through the year. June, Saturdays 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th SENSATIONS: A story of perfume and pollinators As part of the Summer Sensations Festival join this heady tour of the most fragrant summer flowers including a brief history of perfume. Of course, plants do not produce their scent just for our pleasure but to entice pollinators and give chemical warning signals. We will also explore how plants use scent to exploit animals to their advantage. Time: 2.30pm. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre. Cost: €5 per person. July, Saturdays 7th & 14th CHASING RAINBOWS: Colour and the Natural World Did you know bees can see an extra colour, that green really is the basis for all life on Earth, or that urine was an essential element of an 18th-century dyeing process? Delve into the vibrant world of pollinators, dyes and pigments, symbolism and how colours got their names in this fascinating walk. This tour is part of the Summer Sensations Festival. Time: 2.30pm. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre. Cost: €5 per person. July, Saturdays 21st & 28th CELEBRATING THE FESTIVAL OF CURIOSITY ADULTS’ GUIDED WALK: Biomimicry Did you know that the idea for Velcro was sparked by a seed head? Can you guess which plants were responsible for the creation of waterproof paint? Join us on this fascinating tour and find out how scientists are inspired by nature to create ingenious new inventions. Time: 2.30pm. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre. Cost: €5 per person. Limited Places available. 12 | Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie
August, Saturdays 4th, 11th & 18th
SENSE-ATION: a Sensorial Tour of the Gardens
We are constantly interpreting the world around us using
at least one of our senses and unconsciously using others
throughout every single day. Explore the very special world
of the botanical gardens in a myriad of ways with this multi-
sensory tour. Listen to the rustle and swish in the grass garden,
inhale the calming lavender in the organic vegetable garden
and run your hands over the warm bark of a Giant Redwood
tree. This tour is part of the Summer Sensations Festival.
Time: 2.30pm. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre.
Cost: €5 per person.
August, Saturday 25th
MAKING SENSE: Philosophy in the Gardens
At the Academy in Ancient Greece, philosophy students strolled
outdoors while pondering the big questions. As Friedrich
Nietzsche said centuries later, “It is only ideas gained from
walking that have any worth.” The ambience of the National
Botanic Gardens itself arguably provided inspiration to the great
Ludwig Wittgenstein, who sat in the Palm House to keep warm
in the 1940s. Following in the footsteps of these great thinkers,
we will explore philosophical themes in the outdoor classroom
that is the Botanic Gardens. This tour is part of the Summer
Sensations Festival.
Time: 2.30pm. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre.
Cost: €5 per person.
September, Saturdays 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th
Common & Curious Vegetables
Discover a world of gourmet gardening delights, from the
humble potato to the horned melon. Find out how to cook day
lilies, which Japanese delicacy may be growing in your back
garden and how to make wild garlic pesto.
Time: 2.30pm. Cost: €5 per person.
Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre.
October, Saturdays 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th
Magic, Murder and Monkshood
Explore the darker side of the Botanics on this adults-only tour.
Throughout human history, plants have been used not just for
sustenance and shelter, but also for more unsavoury practices...
From poisons and hallucinogens to dark ritual and magic,
discover some of the spine-chilling stories encapsulated by our
collections.
Time: 2.30pm. Cost: €5 per person.
Meet at the Education and Visitor Centre.
Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie | 13November, Saturdays 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th What’s in a name? – How and why we use scientific names Ever wonder what the story is behind the names on plant labels? Why do we use Latin and Ancient Greek when describing new species? On this guided tour, find out how the scientific naming system came about and hear some humorous and insightful stories behind the naming of plants, from the purely descriptive to the amusingly obscure. Time: 2.30pm. Cost: €5 per person. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre. December, Saturdays 1st, 8th, 15th & 29th Festive Winter Plants Explore the traditions surrounding some of our favourite festive plants - from kissing under the mistletoe and chestnuts roasting on an open fire, to the symbolism of the yew at the winter solstice and the burning of the yule log. Time: 2.30pm. Cost: €5 per person. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre. January, Saturdays 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th FIRST FORTNIGHT THEMED GUIDED WALK: Biophilia As part of the First Fortnight Festival we are delighted to bring you a very special Biophilia Guided Walk. It is believed that humans have evolved to have an instinctive bond with nature, one which our increasingly urbanised life threatens to disrupt. Ring in the New Year with a brisk stroll around the Gardens and learn about the effect that plants have on our physical and mental states as well as the social benefits this exposure brings to us. Please see www.firstfortnight.ie for more events at the NBG. Time: 2.30pm. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre. 14 | Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie
February, Saturdays 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd
The Victorian Gardens
The Victorian period saw a series of significant developments
in the Gardens. During the years of the Great Famine, the
initial phase of the iconic wrought iron Curvilinear Range of
glasshouses was completed. At this time, curator David Moore
was examining the cause of the blight while also becoming the
first to successfully grow orchids from seed to flowering stage.
He lived comfortably in the Gardens, yet his wife died of famine
fever. Striking stories such as these illustrate the remarkable
place the Gardens has in our history and heritage.
Time: 2.30pm. Cost: €5 per person.
Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre.
February, Saturday 9th & Thursday 14th
VALENTINE’S DAY GUIDED WALK: Blooming Romance
An alternative Valentine’s Day activity to delight the senses!
Discover the pagan roots of the day, Ancient Greek tales of
metamorphoses, and the love lives of birds. Mid-February is no
time for roses, but many other blooms delights the senses –
from fragrant daphne and winter-sweet to delicate snowdrops
and woodland anemones. Why not join us for a brisk stroll and
celebrate the return of spring?
Time: 3.00pm. Cost: €5 per person.
Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre.
Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie | 15June 2018 DAILY GUIDED WALKS: Bloomin’ Summer Walking through the Gardens in summertime when many flowers are in full bloom is a magnificent experience. Join our special guided tour and hear all about the plants, design and history of the stunning Herbaceous Border, Annual and Bedding Displays, the Rose Garden and much more. Times: Monday – Saturday 11.30am and 3.00pm. €5 per person. Times: Sundays 12.00pm and 2.30pm. Free of charge. Saturdays 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th June THEMED GUIDED TOUR: Sensations: A story of perfume and pollinators As part of the Summer Sensations Festival join us for a heady tour of the most fragrant summer flowers including a brief history of perfume. Of course, plants do not produce their scent just for our pleasure but to entice pollinators and give chemical warning signals. On this tour we will also explore how plants use scent to exploit animals to their advantage. Time: 2.30pm. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre. Cost: €5 per person. 16 | Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie
Continuing until Sunday 24th June
Sunday Kids Drop-by Activities
For information see the Children’s event section.
Saturday 9th June
Cactus and Succulent Show
For information see the Exhibition, Shows and Events section.
Saturday 9th June
CHILDREN’S EVENT: Pond Dipping
For information see the Children’s event section.
Friday 15th June
CONCERT: Great Music in Irish Houses: Van Kuijk Quartet
Currently BBC New Generation Artists, the Van Kuijk Quartet’s
international accolades include First Prize at both the 2015
Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition and the
Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition. In their
Festival début, these elegant musicians will perform works by
compatriots Claude Debussy, on the 100th Anniversary of his
death, and one of France’s most acclaimed living composers,
Édith Canat de Chizy. In addition, they will also perform one of
Schubert’s finest musical masterpieces, his dramatic Death and
the Maiden String Quartet.
Time: 8.00pm Cost: €30/€25 Booking essential.
Book: www.greatmusicinirishhouses.com
Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie | 17Fridays 15th, 22nd & 29th June WORKSHOP: Beginner’s Photography with The Outdoor Studio This three-day workshop will cover all the basics of digital photography including how to understand your camera and take better and more creative photographs. Suitable for all digital camera types this workshop will improve your skills of landscape, flora and wildlife photography. Time: 10.30am – 3.30pm. Cost: €110. Booking essential. Book: www.skerriesphotography.com or call 01 849 2572. Saturday 16th June CHILDREN’S WORKSHOPS: Budding Artists and Hardy Annuals For information see the Children’s event section. Friday 22nd June to Sunday 15th July Inside Outside ‘n’ Beyond: Gerard Byrne celebrates 30 years of painting the National Botanic Gardens For information see the Exhibitions section. Sundays 24th June and 1st July, Saturdays 7th and 14th July Theatre in the Gardens For information see the Exhibition, Shows and Events section. Thursday 28th June CONCERT: National Concert Hall Gamelan Orchestra For information see the Exhibition, Shows and Events section. 18 | Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie
Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie | 19
20 | Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie
July 2018
DAILY GUIDED WALKS: Bloomin’ Summer
Walking through the Gardens in summertime when the flowers
are in full bloom is a magnificent experience. Join our special
guided tour and hear all about the plants, design and history of
the stunning Herbaceous Border, Annual and Bedding Displays,
the Rose Garden and much more.
Time: Monday – Saturday 11.30am and 3.00pm. €5 per person
Time: Sundays 12.00pm and 2.30pm. Free of charge.
Continuing until Sunday 15th July
Inside Outside ‘n’ Beyond: Gerard Byrne celebrates 30 years
of painting the National Botanic Gardens
For information see the Exhibition, Shows and Events section.
Sunday 1st July, Saturdays 7th & 14th July
THEATRE IN THE GARDENS: Meet me in the gardens
For information see the Exhibition, Shows and Events section.
Booking essential.
Times: 2.00pm & 4.00pm. Meet in the Education & Visitor Centre.
Book: www.botanicgardenstheatreinthegardens.eventbrite.ie
Tuesday 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th & 31st July
Tuesday Kids Drop-by Activities
Kids, join us for fun activities in the dedicated Children’s
Erasmus Education Garden. Sow seeds, make seed bombs,
design bug hotels and re-use everyday items to create your
own piece of eco art.
For ages 4 and up. All children must bring their own grown-up.
Times: 11.00am, 11.30am, 3.00pm & 3.30pm.
No bookings required, first come first served.
Saturday 7th July
CHILDREN’S EVENT: Pond Dipping
For information see the Events for Children section.
Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie | 21Saturdays 7th & 14th July THEMED GUIDED TOUR: Chasing Rainbows: Colour and the Natural World Did you know bees can see an extra colour, that green really is the basis for all life on Earth, or that urine was an essential element of an 18th-century dyeing process? Delve into the vibrant world of pollinators, dyes and pigments, symbolism and how colours got their names in this fascinating walk. This tour is part of the Summer Sensations Festival. Time: 2.30pm. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre. Cost: €5 per person. Tuesday 10th July THEATRE IN THE GARDENS: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland For information see the Exhibition, Shows and Events section. Thursdays 12th and 26th July CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP: Budding Botanist: Collecting and Pressing Flowers For information see the Events for Children section. Saturday 14th July DROP-BY DEMO: Edible Flowers Join us to find out how you can feast on flowers. Learn how to fill your garden with easy to grow edible flowers that you can use to adorn your salads and drinks, adding colour and flavour alike. This drop-by-demo is part of the Summer Sensations Festival. Time: 2.30pm. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre. Monday 16th to Friday 20th July Children’s Art Camps Join our creative art workshops for five wonderful days! Suitable for a variety of ages. For information see the Events for Children section. 22 | Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie
Saturday 14th July
DROP-BY DEMO: Edible Flowers
Join us to find out how you can feast on flowers. Learn how to fill
your garden with easy to grow edible flowers that you can use to
adorn your salads and drinks, adding colour and flavour alike. This
drop-by-demo is part of the Summer Sensations Festival.
Time: 2.30pm. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre.
Monday 16th - Friday 20th July
Children’s Art Camps
Join our creative art workshops for five wonderful days! Suitable
for a variety of ages.
For information see the Events for Children section.
Thursday 19th July
FILM SCREENING: Five Seasons - The Gardens of Piet Oudolf
For information see the Exhibition, Shows and Events section.
Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd July
Sweet Pea Show
For information see the Exhibition, Shows and Events section.
Saturdays 21st & 28th July
Celebrating the Festival of Curiosity: Adults’ Guided Walk:
Biomimicry
Did you know that the idea for Velcro was sparked by a seed
head? Can you guess which plants were responsible for the
creation of waterproof paint? Join us on this fascinating tour and
find out how scientists are inspired by nature to create ingenious
new inventions.
Time: 2.30pm. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre.
Cost: €5 per person. Limited places available.
Saturdays 21st & 28th July
The Aroma Demo
Join us for an intriguing demonstration of some of the scented
plants from the gardens, as part of our Summer Sensations
Festival. Learn how plants can be made into essential oils and
perfumes. See how rose water, herbal infusions and homemade
perfumes are made. Discover how to bring these beautiful
aromas into your home with potpourri and fragranced wardrobe
sachets.
Time: 3.00pm. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre.
Cost: €5 per person. Booking essential.
Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie | 23August 2018 24 | Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie
DAILY GUIDED WALKS: Bloomin’ Summer
Walking through the Gardens in summertime when the flowers
are in full bloom is a magnificent experience. Join our special
guided tour and hear all about the plants, design and history of the
stunning Herbaceous Border, Annual and Bedding Displays, the
Rose Garden and much more.
Times: Monday – Saturday 11.30am and 3.00pm.
Cost: €5 per person. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre.
Continuing until Tuesday 28th August
Tuesday Kids Drop-by Activities
Kids, join us for fun activities in the dedicated Children’s Erasmus
Education Garden. Sow seeds, make seed bombs, design bug
hotels and re-use everyday items to create your own piece of
eco art. For ages 4 and up. All children must bring their own grown-up.
Times: 11.00am, 11.30am, 3.00pm & 3.30pm.
No bookings required, first come first served.
Thursday 2nd August – Friday 24th August
EXHIBITION: Devonian Plant Fossils: A window into the past
For information see the Exhibition, Shows and Events section.
Daily in the Gallery Space, Education & Visitor Centre.
Saturdays 4th, 11th, 18th August
THEMED GUIDED TOUR: Sense-sation: a Sensorial Tour of the
Gardens
We are constantly interpreting the world around us using at least
one of our senses and unconsciously using others throughout
every single day. Explore the very special world of the botanical
gardens in a myriad of ways with this multi-sensory tour. Listen
to the rustle and swish in the grass garden, inhale the calming
lavender in the organic vegetable garden and run your hands over
the warm bark of a Giant Redwood tree. This guided tour is part of
the Summer Sensations Festival.
Time: 2.30pm. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre.
Cost: €5 per person. Limited places available.
Sunday 5th and 12th August
Papermaking Workshop for Adults
Explore the process of handmade paper making with this
afternoon session especially for Adults. Make pulp using recycled
material and natural plant-based dyes. Infuse the paper with seeds
to make plantable paper or add pressed petals and leaves to give a
decorative finish.
Time: 2.00pm – 4.00pm.
Cost: €25. Booking essential.
Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie | 25Thursdays 9th and 23rd August CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP: Budding Botanist: Collecting and Pressing Flowers For information see the Events for Children section. Saturday 11th August CHILDREN’S EVENT: Pond Dipping For information see the Events for Children section. Monday 13th to Friday 17th August Children’s Art Camps Join our creative art workshops for five wonderful days! Suitable for a variety of ages. For information see the Events for Children section. Saturday 18th to Sunday 26th August HERITAGE WEEK: Sharing Stories We will be hosting a variety of events to celebrate Heritage Week at the National Botanic Gardens. See below a selection of some of these events. For information on all our Heritage Week events at the National Botanic Gardens is available at www.heritageweek.ie or www.nationalbotanicgardens.ie Saturday 18th August HERITAGE WEEK: Art Installation - Mandala Making in Nature Explore the story of an oak tree and the rich biodiversity that surrounds it, while creating a giant mandala around its base. As you will be using found material gathered in the Botanic Gardens the art installation will be eco-friendly and also time based. This is a communal activity and families are welcome. Time: 2.00pm to 5.00pm. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre. 26 | Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie
Saturday 18th to Sunday 2nd September
The Totally Terrific Tomato Festival is coming to the
National Botanic Gardens
The theme for Heritage Week 2018 is Sharing Stories. This
year we are delighted to be hosting the Totally Terrific Tomato
Festival, and can share the remarkable story of the Tomato with
our visitors. We will have an exhibition of tomato cultivars to
demonstrate the sheer diversity of this amazing fruit. Last year’s
festival featured over 200 cultivars, this year we distributed
600 plants to eager growers and hope to have even more. The
diversity display will run until Sunday 2nd September in the
Teak House. We also have a series of talks and special cookery
demonstrations for children.
Daily in the Teak House.
Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie | 27Saturday 18th August LECTURE: Tomato Tales: Origins, botany, folklore and diversity When tomatoes first arrived in Europe, people were deeply distrustful of these ‘love apples’ because of their links to some of Europe’s most toxic plants. Globally we now grow half the weight of the human population each year! Matthew Jebb will explore their origins, diversity and the remarkable legal decision of 1893 that classified them as a vegetable and not a fruit. Time: 11.00am at the Education & Visitor Centre. Saturday 18th August LECTURE: How to grow, cook and eat Totally Terrific Tomatoes Nicky Kyle has been growing organic vegetables for over 40 years. She knows that growing your own food is an incredibly positive and therapeutic thing to do. She has a wealth of experience growing organically in Irish conditions, and has a particular fondness for Tomatoes. She founded the Festival in 2012 and it is still going strong. Time: 12.00pm at the Education & Visitor Centre. Saturday 18th August BOOK LAUNCH & TALK: The Potato was not the Problem As part of Heritage Week’s theme of Sharing Stories we are delighted to host the launch of this new book by art historian Dymphna Headen. Dymphna lives near Bawnboy in Co. Cavan and is involved in the restoration of a workhouse dating from the era of an Gorta Mór. She has spent many years researching the impact of government policies in the 19th century and the consequence of these when combined with the arrival of potato blight. Time: 3.00pm at the Education & Visitor Centre. Sunday 19th August CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP: Cooking and eating workshops for 3-8-year olds For information see the Events for Children section. Limited numbers. Booking essential. 28 | Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie
Tuesday 21st August
KIDS DROP BY ACTIVITY: Build your own bug hotel
For information see the Events for Children section.
Saturday 25th August
LECTURE: Robin Lane Fox
Robin Lane Fox, Emeritus Fellow of New College, Oxford and
Reader in Ancient History, University of Oxford, is an English
classicist, ancient historian and gardening writer.
Time: 4.00 pm, Education & Visitor Centre.
Organised with the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland.
Saturday 25th August
CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP: Growing tomatoes workshop for 8-11
year olds
For information see the Events for Children section.
Limited numbers. Booking essential.
Saturday 25th August
THEMED GUIDED TOUR: Making Sense: Philosophy in the
Gardens
At the Academy in ancient Greece, philosophy students strolled
outdoors while pondering the big questions. As Friedrich Nietzsche
said centuries later, “It is only ideas gained from walking that have
any worth. ” The ambience of the National Botanic Gardens itself
provided inspiration to the great Ludwig Wittgenstein, who sat
in the Palm House to keep warm in the 1940s. Following in the
footsteps of these great thinkers, we will explore philosophical
themes in the outdoor classroom that is the Botanic Gardens.
Time: 2.30pm. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre.
Cost: €5 per person.
Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie | 29September 2018 30 | Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie
DAILY GUIDED WALKS: Autumn Colour
Autumn in the gardens is an incredible experience. Join us for a
special guided tour through the autumn leaves and herbaceous
borders savouring the seasonal colour and viewing some of the
sculptures dotted throughout the gardens along the way.
Times: Monday – Saturday 11.30am and 3.00pm. €5 per person.
Sundays 12 noon and 2.30pm. Free of charge.
Saturdays 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th September
THEMED GUIDED TOUR: Common & Curious Vegetables
Discover a world of gourmet gardening delights, from the
humble potato to the horned melon. Find out how to cook day
lilies, which Japanese delicacy may be growing in your back
garden and how to make wild garlic pesto.
Time: 2.30pm. Cost: €5 per person.
Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre.
Sundays 2nd, 9th & 16th September
YOUNG ADULT WORKSHOP: Digital Film Making
For information see the Children’s section.
Thursday 6th September - Friday 19th October
Sculpture in Context
For information see the Exhibition, Shows and Events section.
Daily throughout the Gardens and Gallery, Education
& Visitor Centre.
Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie | 31Saturdays 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th September GUIDED WALK: Sculpture in Context - Meet the Artists On Saturdays throughout the exhibition, you will have a rare opportunity to join one of the participating artists for a guided tour through the exhibition to gain an insight into Ireland’s largest outdoor and indoor sculpture exhibition. Time: 3.15pm. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre. Saturday 8th September - Friday 19th October Sculpture Trail for Schools A chance for both primary and secondary schools to explore the exciting outdoor sculpture exhibition. Come and collect your self-guided trail at the Education and Visitor Centre. Sundays 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th September Sunday Kids Drop-by Activities Kids, join us for fun activities in the dedicated Children’s Erasmus Education Garden. Sow seeds, make seed bombs, design bug hotels and re-use everyday items to create your own piece of eco art. For ages 4 and up. All children must bring their own grown-up. Times: 11.00am, 11.30am, 3.00pm & 3.30pm. No bookings required, first come first served. Wednesday 12th September LECTURE: The Walled Garden Russborough A member of the Russborough Garden Team will give a talk on bringing the walled garden back to life. Time: 3.00pm, Education & Visitor Centre. Organised with the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland. Fridays 14th, 21st & 28th September WORKSHOP: Beginner’s Photography with The Outdoor Studio This three-day workshop will cover all the basics of digital photography including how to understand your camera and take better and more creative photographs. Suitable for all digital camera types this workshop will improve your skills of landscape, flora and wildlife photography. Time: 10.30am – 3.30pm. Cost: €110. Booking essential. Book: www.skerriesphotography.com or call 01 849 2572. Saturday 15th September CHILDREN’S WORKSHOPS: Budding Artists and Hardy Annuals For information see the Events for Children section. 32 | Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie
Thursday 20th September
GASTRONOMY TOUR II: Harvest Time
For information see Exhibitions Shows and Events Section.
Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd September
The Dahlia Show
We are delighted to host the return of the Royal Horticultural
Society of Ireland’s Dahlia Show. When it comes to dahlias, can
you tell a pompom from a semi-cactus, or a decorative from a
peony dahlia? Join us to find out all about these fabulous late
summer beauties, which will be at their best on display in the
Teak House for the annual Dahlia Show.
Times: Saturday 2.00pm–5.00pm & Sunday 10.00am–5.00pm.
Organised with the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland.
Saturday 29th September
RHSI SEMINAR: Gardening for Wildlife
Speakers for this event are John Anderson (Keeper of Gardens,
Windsor Great Park) talking about ‘Woodland Treasures in the
Wildlife Garden – A Joy Forever’; Oliver Schurmann (Mount
Venus Nursery) & Peter White (Landscape Designer & Garden
Writer) with ‘Designing Gardens for Wildlife’.
Booking essential. Tel 01-4937154 or info@rhsi.ie
Time: 10.30am-4.00pm. Education & Visitor Centre.
Organised with the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland.
Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie | 33October DAILY GUIDED WALKS: Autumn Colour Autumn in the gardens is an incredible experience. Join us for a special guided tour through the autumn leaves and herbaceous borders savouring the seasonal colour and viewing some of the sculptures dotted throughout the gardens along the way. Times: Monday – Saturday 11.30am and 3.00pm. €5 per person. Sundays 12 noon and 2.30pm. Free of charge. Continuing until Friday 19th October Sculpture in Context For information see the Exhibition, Shows and Events section. Daily throughout the Gardens and Gallery, Education and Visitor Centre. Until Friday 19th October Sculpture Trail for Schools A chance for both primary and secondary schools to explore the exciting outdoor sculpture exhibition. Come and collect your self-guided trail at the Education and Visitor Centre. 34 | Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie
Saturdays 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th October
THEMED GUIDED TOUR: Magic, Murder and Monkshood
Explore the darker side of the Botanics on this adults-only tour.
Throughout human history, plants have been used not just for
sustenance and shelter, but also for more unsavoury practices.
From poisons and hallucinogens to dark ritual and magic,
discover some of the spine-chilling stories encapsulated
by our collections.
Time: 2.30pm. Cost: €5 per person.
Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre.
Thursday 4th October
NATIONAL TREE DAY GUIDED WALK: Treemendous Tree Tales
In celebration of National Tree Day, we will be exploring stories
of many majestic and intriguing old trees in the National
Botanic Gardens just as the spectacular autumn foliage appears.
There will be a similar tour held in the National Botanic Gardens,
Kilmacurragh. Please see section on Kilmacurragh.
Time: 3.30pm. Free event.
Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre.
Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie | 35Thursday 4th October National Tree Day Tours for Schools Take part in our Tree walks especially for schools. Hear some fascinating facts and tales about native and exotic trees alike and also learn how to identify some of our most popular trees. Suitable for 1st class and up. Booking essential at the Education & Visitor Centre on 01-857 0909 or 01 804 0319. Saturdays 6th & 13th October GUIDED WALK: Through Sculpture in Context Meet the Artists: On Saturdays throughout the exhibition, you will have a rare opportunity to join one of the participating artists for a guided tour through the exhibition to gain an insight into Ireland’s largest outdoor and indoor sculpture exhibition. Time: 3.15pm. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre. Monday 8th – Saturday 13th October Harvest Display Construction Check out our very special Botanic Gardens harvest display being built, stage by stage. Ask questions and find out more about the organic fruit and vegetables used as well as the design and construction. Each day you’ll see the difference as the display grows and takes shape towards its final harvest splendour - all the while keeping an eye out for any spooky goings on. Daily outside the Education & Visitor Centre. Wednesday 10th October IRISH TREE SOCIETY ANNUAL LECTURE: Arboreal Treasures in Irish and British Gardens Join us for Annual Irish Tree Society lecture which this year will be by John Anderson, Keeper of the Gardens, Windsor Great Park. Time: 2.30pm. Education & Visitor Centre. Organised with the Irish Tree Society. 36 | Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie
Halloween 2018
Saturday 13th onwards
Halloween Harvest Display
Enjoy this popular annual celebration at Glasnevin. The
gardeners have been busy growing a huge variety of colourful
pumpkins, gourds, squashes and lots of other plants for our
Halloween Harvest Display. Come along and try your luck at
guessing the weight of the giant pumpkin – the prizewinner
will be announced on Monday 5th of November.
Daily outside the Education & Visitor Centre.
Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie | 37Saturday 20th October CHILDREN’S EVENT: Decorated Pumpkin Competition Take part in our decorated pumpkin competition and your pumpkin can be part of a fantastic exhibition to be displayed in the Teak House. This unique event is a big hit with our visitors every year. Please check our website or at the Visitor Centre desk for entry forms and details on how to take part in this spooktacular event. Please remember we cannot accept any carved, cut or pierced pumpkins. Entries will only be accepted on Saturday 20th of October from 10.00am – 4.00pm. Prize giving for the Decorated Pumpkin Competition will be on Sunday 21st at 3.00pm in the Teak House. Sunday 21st October Halloween at Glasnevin It’s Dress-up Day when all you witches and ghouls can dress to distress. View the Halloween Harvest Display and Decorated Pumpkin Exhibition and discover all about Magical Plants when you visit the witches in their garden. Try your hand at some of the maths puzzles and games also that will be dotted about Time: 12.00pm onwards. Sunday 21st October CHILDREN’S EVENT: Magical Plants It’s all about Magical Plants this Halloween in our witch’s garden. Join the coven to find out more about using garlic to ward off vampires, plants for potions and spells, poisonous plants to murder your evil enemies and even some rarely seen invisible plants. Come and see just how spooky plants can really get. Time: 12.00pm onwards. Erasmus Education Garden. 38 | Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie
Sunday 21st October
Celebration of Mind with Maths Week Ireland
As part of our Halloween festival, Maths Week Ireland visits the
Gardens. There will be a wide variety of maths demonstrations,
puzzles, maze and maths tricks. Mathematicians, magicians,
and puzzlers join us as part of Maths Week Ireland’s annual
celebration highlighting the fun and accessibility of
mathematics while celebrating Halloween too.
Time: 12.00pm - 5.00pm.
Friday 26th October - Sunday 28th October
Bram Stoker Festival
For information see the Exhibition, Shows and Events section.
Sunday 28th to Wednesday 31st October
CHILDREN’S EVENT: Magical Plants
It’s all about Magical Plants this Halloween in our witch’s garden.
Join the coven to find out more about using garlic to ward off
vampires, plants for potions and spells, poisonous plants to
murder your evil enemies and even some rarely seen invisible
plants. Come and see just how spooky plants can really get.
Time: 11.00am and 11.30am.
Thursday 25th October
LECTURE: The Gardens & Plants of the National Trust for
Scotland
Colin Wren, Gardens & Designed Landscape Manager of NTS,
will present an overview of some of the great gardens and
smaller gardens of the NTS, looking at their development and
maintenance and touching on some of the challenges faced
by the gardens’ teams to keep them relevant and historically
correct. He will highlight some of the special plants as well as
some of the more unusual ones.
Time: 8.00pm, Education & Visitor Centre.
Organised with the Irish Garden Plant Society.
Saturday 27th October
CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP: Budding Artists and Hardy Annuals
For information see the Events for Children section.
Wednesday 31st October
LECTURE: Rare and Wild plants of Ireland
Ireland’s flora is a unique combination of species; some of these
might seem more at home in the Arctic, others in the European
Alps and still others on the Mediterranean coasts. How these
different species arrived and flourished here has been studied
by botanists for many centuries. Matthew Jebb, Director of the
National Botanic Gardens, will describe some of these stories
and why some species have become rare and endangered.
Time: 3.00pm at the Education & Visitor Centre.
Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie | 39November 2018 DAILY GUIDED WALKS: Autumn Colour Autumn in the gardens is an incredible experience. Join us for a special guided tour through the autumn leaves and herbaceous borders savouring the seasonal colour and viewing some of the sculptures dotted throughout the gardens along the way. Times: Monday – Saturday 11.30am and 3.00pm. €5 per person. Sundays 12 noon and 2.30pm. Free of charge. Friday 2nd November Mid Term Kids Drop-by Activities Kids, join us for fun seasonal activities in the dedicated Children’s Erasmus Education Garden. For ages 4 and up. All children must bring their own grown-up. Times: Sundays at 11.00am, 11.30am, 3.00pm & 3.30pm. No bookings required, first come first served. Saturdays 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th November THEMED GUIDED TOUR: What’s in a name? – How and why we use scientific names Ever wonder what the story is behind the names on plant labels? Why do we use Latin and Ancient Greek when describing new species? On this guided tour, find out how the scientific naming system came about and hear some humorous and insightful stories behind the naming of plants, from the purely descriptive to the amusingly obscure. Time: 2.30pm. €5 per person. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre. Sunday 11th November - Sunday 2nd December EXHIBITION: Images of Starlight 2018 For information see the Exhibition, Shows and Events section. Daily throughout the Gardens and Gallery, Education and Visitor Centre. 40 | Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie
Wednesday 14th November
LECTURE: Is the Scots Pine an Irish Pine?
To mark Science Week, Dr Colin Kelleher will describe how
DNA can be used to determine not only how plants are related
to each other, but sometimes how long a species has been
growing in Ireland. Come and hear the brilliant detective story
of how the Scots pine was once considered to have become
extinct in Ireland and how Colin and Trinity College colleagues
were able to uncover the truth of this.
Time: 3.00pm at the Education & Visitor Centre.
Saturday 17th November
CHILDREN’S WORKSHOPS: Budding Artists and Hardy Annuals
For information see the Events for Children section.
Thursday 22nd November
LECTURE: Creating the Perfect Garden
Cor van Gelderen, owner of Esveld Nurseries in Holland, plant
collector extraordinaire, author and judge at Bloom, with his
tremendous knowledge on plants, garden design and garden
development, will speak about some of his garden projects
from small to large spaces and how plants can be incorporated
in Irish gardens today.
Time: 8.00pm, Education & Visitor Centre.
Organised with the Irish Garden Plant Society and the Royal
Horticultural Society of Ireland.
Saturday 24th November
CHILDREN’S EVENT: Eco Crafts
For information see the Events for Children section.
Sunday 25th November
ADULT’S WORKSHOP: Eco Christmas Crafts
Are you dreaming of a green Christmas? Make your own unique
eco-conscious cards with biodegradable, seed infused paper
and reduce your waste this holiday season. Using recycled
materials each card can then be planted in your garden, on your
balcony or windowsill, to give a wonderful growing gift.
Time: 11.00am -1.00pm Cost: €5. Booking essential.
Wednesday 28th November
LECTURE: The Lilliputian flora of Ireland – Jonathan Swift
Festival
As part of the Jonathan Swift Festival 2018, Matthew Jebb will
describe the Lilliputian flora of Ireland, so small that many of us
pass them by. The mosses, liverworts and lichens of Ireland are
some of our greatest biodiversity treasures. This talk will cover
the diversity, beauty and remarkable lives of this microcosm.
Time: 3.00pm at the Education & Visitor Centre.
Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie | 41December 2018 DAILY GUIDED WALKS: Seasonal Plants in the Gardens Brighten up your December day with a guided tour of our seasonal plants looking their best at the moment including Holly and the wide range of conifer trees in the Gardens. Venture indoors to view the tropical rhododendrons and of course the poinsettia which look splendid in the glasshouses. Times: Monday – Saturday 11.30am and 3.00pm, €5 per person Sundays 12.00pm and 2.30pm, free of charge. Continuing until Sunday 2nd December EXHIBITION: Images of Starlight 2018 For information see the Exhibition, Shows and Events section. Daily in the Gallery Space, Education & Visitor Centre. Saturdays 1st, 8th, 15th & 29th December THEMED GUIDED TOUR: Festive Winter Plants Explore the traditions surrounding some of our favourite festive plants - from kissing under the mistletoe and chestnuts roasting on an open fire, to the symbolism of the yew at the winter solstice and the burning of the yule log. Time: 2.30pm. Cost: €5 per person. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre. 42 | Booking: 01 857 0909 / botanicgardens@opw.ie
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