A Look Back at Caragh Nurseries’ Bord Bia Bloom Show Gardens

Our Bord Bia Bloom Show Gardens Revisited

With Bord Bia Bloom 2026 now well underway following today’s press day, we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to look back at Caragh Nurseries’ previous show gardens at Bloom over the years.

Since first becoming involved with Bord Bia Bloom in 2008, we’ve had the privilege of supplying and creating four very different show gardens — each with its own story, planting style, and design inspiration. Along the way, our gardens have proudly won a number of medals and awards, including Gold medals and Best in Show.

So let’s go right back to where it all began.

Elma Fenton’s Garden – 2008

Hit Pause – The Caragh Nurseries Garden 2022

After several years away from Bloom, we returned in 2022 bigger than ever with Hit Pause, a large show garden designed alongside Andrew Christopher Dunne.

Two years in the making, the garden went on to win both a Gold medal and Best in Show at Bord Bia Bloom 2022.

Hit Pause was inspired by the renewed appreciation for gardens and outdoor spaces that emerged during lockdown, when life suddenly slowed down and many of us were forced to pause our busy routines. The garden reflected that shift towards reconnecting with nature, wellness, and outdoor living.

As sponsors of the garden, we showcased a wide selection of trees, plants, shrubs, and mature specimen planting throughout the design.

The garden also featured outdoor furniture from our in-house furniture brand, Finn & Elder, including the beautifully crafted Dunmore Sofa Collection — a piece designed during lockdown and one many of you will already recognise.

The Dunmore sofa collection has the most beautiful curved timber back, elegantly showing the craftsmanship, sitting perfectly on the polished surface.

Óir – Balcony Show Garden – 2024

2024 marked our first time supplying planting for a balcony garden at Bord Bia Bloom, working alongside designer Leonie Cornelius.

The garden, Óir, went on to win a Gold medal and also marked the beginning of our wonderful working relationship with Leonie, which continued into 2025.

Derived from the Irish word for “golden”, Óir was inspired by the power of the wild and the precious liquid gold produced by bees in our gardens. Designed as an urban balcony garden, it explored themes of wellbeing, connection, and biodiversity.

The space encouraged connection with ourselves, with nature, and with one another, while proving that even the smallest outdoor spaces can have enormous impact.

The planting scheme combined Mediterranean-style scented herbs and medicinal planting with native plants and pollinator-friendly flowers, all softened by rich textures and warm tones. Mature specimen planting, including a stunning Pinus densiflora ‘Umbraculifera’, provided structure while supporting biodiversity through tree sap for bees.

All of the plants in this balcony garden were from our Nursery including the beautiful specimen Pine and featuring a small piece from Finn & Elder.

Nourish – The Caragh Nurseries Garden – 2025

Our most recent Bord Bia Bloom show garden came in 2025, when we once again partnered with Leonie Cornelius to create Nourish – The Caragh Nurseries Garden.

This medium-sized show garden went on to win a Gold medal at Bloom 2025.

From the earliest design conversations with Leonie, one word kept emerging: balance.

In a world filled with digital noise and constant demands, Nourish was designed to act as an antidote — a garden created to nourish both mind and soul.

The garden featured an abundance of herbs and medicinal planting, creating beautiful aromas and a soft Mediterranean feel throughout the space. Visitors were welcomed with herbal teas while stunning specimen eucalyptus trees added height, structure, movement, and instant impact.

Another standout feature was our Cognac Sofa Set from Finn & Elder, which enhanced the calming atmosphere and encouraged visitors to slow down, sit back, and fully enjoy the garden experience.

The sofa collection was specially upholstered in a new colour designed specifically by Shanley Interiors to complement the overall palette and feeling of the garden.

Looking Ahead to Future Bord Bia Bloom Show Gardens

While we don’t have a show garden at Bord Bia Bloom 2026, Bloom will always hold a very special place for all of us at Caragh Nurseries.

We’ve loved being part of the festival over the years — from supplying plants and specimen trees to creating award-winning show gardens alongside incredibly talented designers.

For now, we may not know when our next Bloom show garden will be, but one thing is certain: when the time comes, we cannot wait to bring you all along with us once again.