When people hear the phrase The Irish Gardener, many think of me, Peter Dowdall, but the truth is, the story of The Irish Gardener is about something far bigger than one person. It’s about a movement, a shared love of gardening in Ireland, and a sense of community that blossomed during Covid and has continued to grow ever since.

From a Nickname to a National Identity

The phrase The Irish Gardener started as a nickname when I was studying and working in the UK. Friends and colleagues called me that by way of identifying me from all the other gardeners!!. At the time, I never imagined it would become the title of a thriving gardening community.

Fast forward many years and back home in Cork, like many people, my world shifted dramatically during the Covid lockdowns. The sudden pause brought people back to their homes, their gardens, and their green spaces.

Suddenly, gardens became sanctuaries. People had more time, more need for green spaces, and more questions about how to get started.Social media became a lifeline, not just for information, but for connection.

It was during this time that The Irish Gardener page really took off. What started as a personal platform became a shared identity. People across Ireland and further afield, began to see themselves in the phrase.

Gardening in Ireland: A Collective Experience

Gardening here isn’t just about plants, it’s about heritage, resilience, and belonging. From sowing potatoes in March to planting daffodils in October, there’s a consistency to Irish gardening that ties us to place and season.

During Covid, I began to notice something remarkable. The messages and comments flooding in weren’t just about plant problems or design questions. They were about people finding comfort in their gardens, rediscovering old traditions, and teaching their children to sow seeds for the first time.

People weren’t just asking about slug control or why hydrangeas weren’t flowering, they were sharing how their gardens were helping them cope and how nature was giving them joy in the middle of uncertainty.

That’s when The Irish Gardener became more than a title. It became a community.

Are You an Irish Gardener?

Being an Irish gardener isn’t about expertise or owning acres of land. It’s about connection:

• The joy of planting seeds and watching them sprout.
• The patience of tending a small patio garden or a wild patch.
• The pride of seeing bees on lavender or hedgehogs in the compost heap.

Whether you live in Cork or Carlow, Belfast or Boston, if you plant, nurture, and love green life, you are an Irish gardener.

The Power of Community

During lockdowns, our social pages became a hub where people shared pictures of seedlings, asked for advice, and celebrated small victories.

I realised then that The Irish Gardener wasn’t just me. It was everyone. Everyone who took time to connect with nature, whether in a suburban garden, a city balcony, or a countryside field.

This inclusivity is at the heart of everything I now do with the name:

• Sharing gardening tips for Ireland that are practical and seasonal.
• Offering garden design advice to homeowners looking to create sustainable, beautiful spaces.
• Building partnerships with organisations that want to connect people with the natural world.

Our social pages have became a hub. People share successes, failures, and ideas. These pages are a reminder that gardening is not a solitary pursuit, it connects us all.

That spirit continues today. It underpins everything I do, from sharing seasonal gardening tips for Ireland, to offering garden design services that help homeowners create sustainable spaces, to building partnerships and speaking opportunities with organisations that want to connect people to the natural world.

And of course, through this blog, where I explore practical advice too — whether it’s how to take hydrangea cuttings or how to control slugs without harming wildlife.

Why Natural Balance Matters

At the heart of Irish gardening is a philosophy of balance. We’ve learned that more diversity in the garden means healthier plants and fewer problems. It’s not about fighting nature, it’s about working with it.

This mirrors the story of The Irish Gardener itself. A balance between the personal and the collective. Between my experience and the shared wisdom of thousands of gardeners across the country.

Looking Ahead

As The Irish Gardener continues to grow, my aim is simple: to keep it rooted in community. Yes, I share advice, design ideas, and horticultural insights. But more importantly, I want to provide a platform for everyone who identifies as an Irish gardener to be seen and heard.

Because when we share our gardens, we share our stories.

The Irish Gardener is more than a nickname. It’s a community, a heritage, and a reminder that tending to the earth connects us all.

So I ask you: what does being an Irish gardener mean to you?