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- info@caraghnurseries.ie
- Stickens, Caragh, Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland
Bord Bia Bloom 2026 – A 20 Year Reflection
Bord Bia Bloom has always felt like the unofficial start of summer in Ireland. The minute you step through the gates, you can feel it — that shared optimism gardeners have, the quiet belief that with a little effort (and a lot of compost), things can be made beautiful.
This year, Bord Bia Bloom 2026 marked its 20th anniversary. And as the festival heads into its final day, I’ve found myself feeling two things at once:
- Deep affection for what Bloom has built over two decades.
- And a gentle curiosity about what the next decade of Bloom could become.
The magic is still there and let’s say it plainly: Bloom still matters. It’s one of the few moments in the year when gardening becomes front-page conversation — when people who don’t normally talk about trees, soil, scent, or structure suddenly find themselves debating planting combinations and coming home with a boot full of plants.
For the Irish garden world, that’s priceless.
And yet… for a 20th anniversary, I expected something bigger. Maybe it happened behind the scenes, but from the outside, many of us expected the 20th anniversary to bring a bigger return of those headline show gardens— the kind that stop you in your tracks, the kind you talk about for years. Don’t get me wrong there were some amazing show gardens this year and absolutely some major standouts. But what we’ve seen highlighted online instead feels more like a continuation of recent years (still enjoyable, still worthwhile — but not quite the “this is a milestone” moment many of us anticipated).
This year’s 20th anniversary standout spaces included:
- A garden celebrating Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, featuring a tree to represent each member state.
- A sculptural garden marking Bloom’s 20th anniversary, and another celebrating 90 years of Met Éireann.
- Creative balcony gardens full of ideas for small-space living, urban wildlife and a birdwatcher’s paradise.
- Health-focused gardens exploring mental health care and cancer awareness.
- A Celebrity Dream Garden inspired by Brendan Courtney.
- A Linda McKeown’s Nature in Balance garden highlighting the benefits of organic farming.
There’s plenty there to enjoy — and plenty that will inspire people to plant. But it does raise a fair question: what does “Bloom at 20” want to be known for? The world has shifted dramatically since Bloom began.
Gardeners are thinking differently now — about climate resilience, biodiversity, water, time, budgets, and how we actually live at home.
We’re seeing a huge rise in:
- Smaller gardens and smarter spaces
- Outdoor living (kitchens, seating, lighting, shelter)
- Low-maintenance structure that still feels lush
- Planting for pollinators and for peace of mind
- A desire for gardens that feel personal — not performative
So the question isn’t whether Bloom should stay the same or change completely. It’s whether Bloom can evolve with the modern gardener while still keeping what makes it special: accessibility, joy, and that uniquely Irish mix of practicality and romance.
Bringing it home: what Bloom reminds us at Caragh Nurseries
Every year Bloom does one important thing: it reminds people that gardens aren’t a luxury — they’re a way of living. Here at Caragh Nurseries, we see that every day. People aren’t just buying plants; they’re building a feeling:
- A garden that welcomes you home
- A space that makes the house feel bigger with outdoor dining and lounging
- A view that calms the nervous system
- A place for family life to unfold
And if Bloom has a next chapter to write, we hope it’s one that keeps inspiring people to create gardens with structure, scent, and staying power — gardens that look good in June, yes, but also in November.
If you’re leaving Bloom today, here’s the best next step
Don’t let the inspiration fade. Pick one idea you loved and make it real this week:
- Add one evergreen for winter structure. One recommendation would be the Arbutus Unedo, also known as the strawberry tree, which we have here on the nursery.
- Plant something for scent near the door like evergreen jasmine
- Choose one tree that will change your garden in five years like our Amelanchier Lamarkii
And if you’d like help shaping the bigger picture — planting plans, specimen trees, hedging, or a full garden transformation — with a garden design consultation from our in house garden designer. Or if you would like to book our free garden curator consultation, our team at Caragh Nurseries is here to help you turn your garden into one worth of being feature at Bord Bia Bloom itself. 
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