In full bloom

The Carlow Floral Festival Trail gets underway today. Sixteen great and small gardens at the height of their summer powers will be open to visitors in this lush corner of the country until August 8th. An impressive programme of talks, workshops and demonstrations has been planned, featuring some of the best authorities in the country, including Helen Dillon and RTÉ’s Dick Warner, Dermot O’Neill and Éanna Ní Lamhna. They’ll be joined by the organic nutrition specialist Aine McAteer and organic grower Joy Larkcom (below).

There will be great plant sales, afternoon teas and, towards the south of the county, why not make it an excuse to explore the hostelries in and around the handsome towns of Borris and Graiguenamanagh? For more information, see carlowfloralfestival.com, or call Carlow Tourism on 059-9130411.