The launch of the inaugural Killarney Home and Garden Festival this June says quite a lot about how our relationship with gardens in Ireland is changing.
There was a time when gardening festivals were very much for gardeners. People went along looking for plants, perhaps a new tool, maybe a bit of advice from a specialist grower and if they were lucky, a cup of tea before heading home with the boot of the car full of shrubs and perennials wrapped in newspaper.
Those events still exist, and thankfully so, but something has changed.
The Killarney Home and Garden Festival, taking place at Killarney Racecourse on June 13th and 14th, reflects that change perfectly. Built around the theme of "making a house a home", it is aiming to be far more than a traditional gardening event. Alongside plants and gardening advice, visitors can expect outdoor living ideas, home inspiration, artisan food, practical demonstrations, talks and family entertainment.
In many ways, that tells the story of modern Irish gardening.
These events attract far more than traditional gardeners. Visitors come looking for ideas, inspiration and practical solutions for how they live. They are interested in planting, certainly, but they are also interested in outdoor living, sustainability, wellbeing and creating spaces that genuinely improve everyday life.
In many ways, modern gardening is no longer simply about maintaining a garden.
It is about creating places that work.
The Garden Has Become Part of the Home
Many people's perception of the garden has changed dramatically over recent years.
What was once often seen simply as a patch of green space outside the house is now increasingly viewed as an important part of the home itself. More and more people are beginning to see the garden not as a separate outdoor area, but as somewhere they actually want to spend time.
We can see that shift in the questions people ask.
Years ago, gardeners often wanted to know which plants would grow in a particular spot. Today, people are just as likely to ask how they can create a garden that feels welcoming, how they can encourage wildlife, where they might sit outdoors, or how they can make better use of the space they already have.
The garden has become an outdoor room.
That change is reflected throughout events like the Killarney Home and Garden Festival, where gardening sits alongside ideas for outdoor living, home improvement and creating spaces that improve everyday life.
More Than Just Plants
Of course, plants still sit at the heart of every successful garden.
Without plants, there is no real garden. Plants provide structure, colour, seasonal interest and habitat for wildlife. They soften our surroundings, connect us with the changing seasons and bring life into a space.
What I particularly like about events such as the Killarney Home and Garden Festival is that they still recognise the importance of plants while also acknowledging that gardens today play a much bigger role in people's lives.
Visitors will find gardening advice, practical demonstrations and opportunities to learn more about creating gardens that work in Irish conditions. Whether someone is planning a complete redesign, improving an existing garden or simply looking for inspiration, there will be plenty to take away.
For many people, attending a festival like this provides the confidence to finally tackle a project they may have been putting off for years.
A Growing Interest in Gardening Differently
Another encouraging development is the growing interest in sustainability, soil health and gardening in a way that works with the natural world rather than against it.
People are increasingly aware of pollinators, biodiversity, healthy soil and the benefits of reducing unnecessary chemical inputs in the garden.
The conversation is gradually moving away from creating perfect gardens and towards creating gardens that function well.
Gardens that support wildlife.
Gardens that are resilient.
Gardens that feel good to spend time in.
Gardens that work with Irish conditions rather than constantly fighting against them.
That is something I welcome wholeheartedly.
A healthy garden starts with healthy soil, and many of the conversations taking place at events such as Killarney will increasingly focus on the practical steps gardeners can take to create healthier, more sustainable gardens for the future.
Why Events Like Killarney Continue to Grow
I suspect part of the growing popularity of garden festivals comes from something deeper than gardening itself.
Life has become increasingly busy, increasingly noisy and increasingly dominated by screens.
Gardens offer something many of us feel we need more of.
They allow us to slow down.
They reconnect us with the seasons.
They reconnect us with weather, wildlife and the wider natural world of which we are part.
Perhaps that is why people continue to be drawn towards events like the Killarney Home and Garden Festival. Not simply to buy plants, although plenty of people still do. Not simply to gather ideas. But because these events bring together people who enjoy creating, growing, learning and sharing.
Gardeners have always loved talking to one another, sharing advice, swapping stories and learning from experience. Festivals create spaces where those conversations happen naturally.
Looking Ahead
What excites me most about the Killarney Home and Garden Festival is that it reflects the direction in which gardening in Ireland is moving.
The conversation is no longer simply about what we plant.
It is about how we live.
It is about creating gardens that support wildlife, improve wellbeing, strengthen our connection with the natural world and become meaningful parts of everyday life.
That feels like a positive direction for gardening and for society more generally.
I will be speaking and taking gardening questions at the festival on Saturday afternoon at 3pm and I am looking forward to meeting gardeners from Kerry and far beyond.
No doubt many visitors will still leave with a few plants and perhaps a purchase they had not planned on making. Some things never change.
But increasingly, events like the Killarney Home and Garden Festival are about much more than gardening alone.
They are about helping us create homes, gardens and lives that work a little better.
Need Help Making Your Garden Work?
If you're trying to decide what to plant, how to improve an existing garden, or why a particular area of the garden is struggling, visit my Garden Advice pages where you'll find practical guidance based on real Irish gardening conditions.
You can also ask a gardening question directly through Ask Peter:
https://theirishgardener.com/pages/ask-peter