There will be no perfectly designed and constructed Paul Martin show garden (see below) at Bloom this year, but the man himself will be all over the place. The designer, whose gardens have been centre stage in Dublin shows for the past several years, will be presenting highlights from the gardening event in an Another Avenue production for TV3. (There will also be one programme from Chelsea Flower Show – of which the Dundalk man is also a veteran medal-winner.)
Everyone acknowledges that this year’s Bloom will be a challenge for designers, with shrunken budgets and smaller gardens. “This is mirroring society at present,” Martin says. “Because of the economy, there has been a sea-change in the way that people perceive their gardens, and what they want out of them.” Now, he says, designers are being asked to incorporate kids’ vegetable patches, and other functional features. “Gardens are becoming less bling.” All of which is not a bad thing. “I was talking to someone last night, and each of the three kids has their own little vegetable garden. Now they are all staying home more often and interacting with each other as a family more.”
Martin may not be showing at Bloom next week, but his influence will be seen in his home town this summer when Dundalk represents Ireland in the Entente Floreale, a Europe-wide competition for towns and villages. He is volunteering his expertise for the project, as well as sponsoring a couple of roundabouts. They couldn't have a man with a better eye.
www.paulmartindesigns.com