All exhibitions will take place in the Gallery of the Visitor Centre
Exhibition – 'In celebration of trees' - An exhibition of Bonsai
Saturday 3rd March - 19th April
National Tree Week marks the opening of this exhibition of Bonsai in the Conservatory. Watch the Bonsai burst back to life displaying the splendid spring foliage of maples, cherries and many other interesting plants. A series of free re-potting demonstrations will be held during the course of the exhibition.
Exhibition and demonstrations to be held in the Conservatory.
National Tree Week 2012 Poster Exhibition
Monday 5th March
The theme of Tree Week this year is: 'Trees- Our Past, Our Present, Our Future'. View the entries from this year's competition to design a poster for National Tree Week, organised by the Tree Council of Ireland. Third level Art students are invited to submit work based around the theme. The winning poster and runners up will be displayed for the week.
Daily in the Gallery Space, Education and Visitor Centre
Gala evening – A Feast of Trees
Wednesday 7th March
SORRY - BOOKED OUT!
We will be running a further evening in the second half of the year.
Irish Meterological Society – 'The Science of Weather Forecasting'
Saturday 24th March
A one-day conference featuring talks on T.V. weather, weather radar, satellites, clouds, forecasting, surviving an Air France plane crash, weather models and phenology. Although admission is free booking is essential at www.irishmetsociety.org
Time: 10.00am
Welcoming the bees back to the Botanic gardens
Saturday 14th April - Sunday 15th April
Meet the beekeepers at this special weekend event in celebration of the welcome return of bees to the Botanic Gardens. As well as informative talks on the history of beekeeping, there will be an exhibition of live bees in an observation hive, a honey show, displays of beekeeping equipment, a children's art competition and a demonstration of how honey is extracted from the honeycomb. Further details: www.beekeeping.ie
Times 10.00am - 5.00pm. daily
Dublin Orchid Fair
Saturday 21st April - Sunday 22nd April
A wide variety of orchids will be on display during the annual Dublin orchid fair, which is being held in the conservatory this year. This event is of interest to both beginner and accomplished growers and will provide an opportunity to source orchids, sundries and books. As part of the fair there will be talks on growing orchids and a tour of the Glasnevin orchid collection.
Times 10.00am. - 5.00pm
Exhibition: The Wildflowers of Ireland
Thursday 10th May - Sunday 10th June
An exhibition of the original artwork for the wildflowers of Ireland sixth definitive series of stamps commissioned by An Post. These now familiar beautiful stamps were painted by award winning botanical artist Susan Sex. Susan has a long association with the National Botanic Gardens and many of her paintings are housed in the art collections of the Gardens. Her special area of interest has been the native orchids of Ireland.
Daily in the Gallery Space, Education and Visitor Centre
An Óige's Annual Photographic Exhibition
Thursday 21st June to Sunday 1st July
This ever-popular Annual Photographic Exhibition is organised by An Óige's Photographic Group. Featuring a wide range of prize-winning images for 2012.
Daily in the Gallery Space, Education and Visitor Centre
Ready, steady...Garden!
Gardening classes,
Botany classes,
Workshops and
Demonstrations in 2012...
It's time to start thinking about our gardens and allotments again and plan for the gardening year ahead. We'll help you get started at the National Botanic Gardens. Sign up to our gardening classes, dip in and out of gardening workshops and come along to free demonstrations. Benefit from the unique horticultural expertise of the gardening staff at the National Botanic Gardens as we help you make your garden bloom.
Growing Green Fingers
If you are a beginner or want a refresher course to get you started in your garden, why not sign up to our
'Growing Green Fingers' classes. The gardening staff of the Botanic Gardens will explain the horticultural
essentials you need to know to achieve a beautiful garden. From how to control troublesome weeds to
successfully designing your garden. You will even have an opportunity to have your own specific gardening
queries answered by one of our gardeners. The final class is a special opportunity to learn while enjoying
a tour of the gardens with the Garden Curator.
Cost: € 100 per person (Proceeds to the Irish Museums Trust).
To book a place on the 'Growing Green Fingers - Gardening Classes for Beginners' call into the Visitor
Centre with payment or post a cheque to: The Visitor Centre, The National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9.
The course will include a series of eight classes held on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings over a four-week period.
Night classes will commence at 7.30pm and finish at 9.15pm.
Saturday Classes will commence at 10am and finish at 12.30pm.
For evening classes there will be a gardener available in the auditorium from 7pm to answer specific queries or identify plants or plant problems.
Outline Programme
| Saturday 4th February
Introduction to Gardening
Soils | | Tuesday 21st February
Fruit
Vegetables |
| Tuesday 7th February
Pests and Diseases
Weed Control | | Saturday 25th February
Designing your Garden |
| Saturday 11th February
Propagation Workshop
Dress warmly for this class as we will be based in the propagation area. | | Tuesday 28th February
Composting
The Gardening Year |
| Tuesday 14th February
House Plants
Herbs
| | Saturday 3rd March
Tour of the Gardens
Dress warmly! Boots, gardening shoes and gardening clothes advisable. |
Irish Botany Course
Evening classes on Irish botany for beginners. The course will include four evening classes (7.30-9.00 pm) which will comprise a talk followed by a practical session spent learning the skills of plant identification and a full Saturday (10.30 am to 3pm). The course is offered at a cost of €100 (Proceeds to the Irish Museums Trust).
Cost: € 100 per person (Proceeds to the Irish Museums Trust).
To book a place on the Irish Botany Course call into the Visitor
Centre with payment or post a cheque to: The Visitor Centre, The National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9.
Outline Programme
| Tuesday 1st May
Plant anatomy
Identifying plants using keys and field guides.
Tuesday 8th May
Identifying Irish wildflowers, trees and shrubs
Tuesday 15th May
Identifying grasses, sedges and rushes |
| Saturday 19th May
A visit to the National Herbarium - how to collect and press plants, followed by a field excursion to Bull Island in the afternoon.
Tuesday 22nd May
Ferns, Mosses and Liverworts |
Gardening Workshop
Want to pick and choose topics that interest you? Dip in and out of our gardening workshops given by the professional gardening staff of the Botanic Gardens. Our garden experts will have lots of practical tips and advice. Want to grow vegetables the organic way? Interested in the best vegetables and herbs for allotments? Like to learn how to grow delicious and succulent salads all summer long? Want to know how to make the most of your herb garden? Book a place on any of our gardening workshops to find out all you need to know from the Botanic Garden's experts!
Cost €20 for each workshop. Proceeds in aid of the Irish Museums Trust
To book a place on any of the workshops call into the Visitor Centre with payment or post a cheque to The Visitor Centre, The National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9.
Gardening Workshop – Grow your own Organic Vegetables
Saturday 10th March
Learn about growing vegetables the organic way from the professional gardening staff of the National Botanic Gardens. Our garden expert will have lots of practical tips on growing your own vegetables. You will get practical advice on how to be an environmentally friendly gardener and on how to get the best results from your garden, regardless of how small it is.
Time: 11.00am
Meet at the Education and Visitor Centre
Gardening Workshop – Bonsai re-potting and care
Saturdays 10th, 24th and 31st March
Visit our Bonsai Exhibition in March, returning after a very popular exhibition in 2011. The exhibition is even better this year because you can come along to FREE demonstrations on bonsai re-potting and care. There is no need to book just come along. Demonstrations in the Conservatory.
Time: 11.00am
Conservatory
Gardening Workshop – Planting for allotments
Saturday 31st March
This workshop will give you advice and support on the best vegetables and herbs to plant in your allotment covering companion planting organic growing and composting.
Time: 11.00am
Meet at the Education and Visitor Centre
Gardening Workshop – Grow your own Organic Vegetables
Saturday 28th April
Learn about growing vegetables the organic way from the professional gardening staff of the National Botanic Gardens. Our garden expert will have lots of practical tips on growing your own vegetables. You will get practical advice on how to be an environmentally friendly gardener and on how to get the best results from your garden, regardless of how small it is.
Time: 11.00am
Meet at the Education and Visitor Centre
Gardening Workshop – Growing Summer Salads
Saturday 19th May
Regardless of the size of your garden, from window boxes to large plots, there is always a space for a wide variety of tasty salad crops. Join the National Botanic Gardens organic gardening crew and find out how you can grow delicious and succulent salads all summer long while being kind to the environment too.
Time: 11.00am
Meet at the Education and Visitor Centre
Gardening Workshop – Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme...
Saturday 16th June
Get some top tips from our garden expert on how to plan out your herb garden. Some herbs are annuals and some are perennials; find out how to grow a range of herbs successfully in your own garden. Meet at the Education and Visitor Centre
Time: 11.00am
Meet at the Education and Visitor Centre
Lectures, Tours & Other Events
Lecture series: Science of Plants – Saving plants can save the planet
Noeleen Smyth
Wednesday 22nd February
Noeleen Smyth will talk about the vital role that Botanic Gardens play in conserving plants threatened with extinction both here and overseas, and why such work is so important to our daily lives.
Time 3.00pm, Visitor Centre
Lecture series: Science of Plants – Eating the Sun and Drinking the Earth
Colin Kelleher
Wednesday 29h February
Colin Kelleher will describe the remarkable process of plant nutrition how plants feed off sunlight, and how they get what they need from the soil.
Time 3.00pm, Visitor Centre
Exhibition – 'In celebration of trees' - An exhibition of Bonsai
Saturday 3rd March - 19th April
National Tree Week marks the opening of this exhibition of Bonsai in the Conservatory. Watch the Bonsai burst back to life displaying the splendid spring foliage of maples, cherries and many other interesting plants. A series of free re-potting demonstrations will be held during the course of the exhibition.
Exhibition and demonstrations to be held in the Conservatory.
Guided Walk: Remarkable Trees of Glasnevin
Sunday 4th & Sunday 11th March
To mark National Tree Week a special guided walk will introduce some of the more beautiful and interesting trees of the National Botanic Gardens.
Time 2:30pm, Visitor Centre
The Inaugural National Tree Week Lecture – Trees – Our Past, Our Present, Our Future
Dr. John Feehan, Author and Environmentalist.
Monday 5th March
Dr. John Feehan has researched and written extensively on many facets of Ireland's environmental history and heritage. A successful author, and for many years senior lecturer in the School of Biology and Environmental Science at UCD. He recently published Wildflowers of Offaly, and is also well known for his television work on the natural and cultural heritage of the Irish landscape, notably Exploring the Landscape (1988) for which he received a Jacob's Award. He received a special award from Bord na Móna for his work in communicating environmental values. The official opening of the exhibition of entries to the National Tree Week 2012 poster competition and prize-giving ceremony for the winning entries will follow the lecture.
Time 3.00pm, Visitor Centre
Organised by The Tree Council of Ireland
Lecture series: Science of Plants: How Ireland got its Trees
Colin Kelleher
Wednesday 7th March
Colin Kelleher will describe what we know about the arrival of trees in Ireland since the last Ice Age.
Time 3.00pm, Visitor Centre
Gala evening – A Feast of Trees
Wednesday 7th March
SORRY - BOOKED OUT!
We will be running a further evening in the second half of the year.
Gardening Workshop – Grow your own Organic Vegetables
Saturday 10th March
Learn about growing vegetables organically from the professional gardening staff of the National Botanic Gardens. Our garden expert will have lots of practical tips on growing your own vegetables. You will get practical advice on how to be an environmentally friendly gardener and on how to get the best results from your garden, regardless of how small it is.
Time: 11.00am. Meet at the Visitor Centre
booking is essential. Proceeds in aid of the Irish Museums Trust.
Cost: €20. Please note, numbers are limited so advance
Bonsai repotting demonstrations
Saturday 10th March
In conjunction with the Bonsai exhibition we are pleased to host these free demonstrations on repotting and care of your bonsai.
Time: 11.00am. Meet at the Conservatory. Admission Free
Children's Art Workshop – Trees and Bonsai
Saturday 10th March
The opening of the Bonsai exhibition and Tree week will provide the inspiration for looking at trees, both in miniature and in their full glory.
Each workshop costs €10. Advance Booking Essential.
Suitable for ages 8 years and upwards.
Time: 2-4pm
Detecting climate change impacts on plants and animals
Tuesday 13th March
Join us for an evening of talks by international and national guest speakers exploring the impact that climate change is having on plants and animals. This event has been organised as a collaboration between the National Botanic Gardens, Environmental Protection Agency, Trinity College Dublin and the National Biodiversity Data Centre as part of Dublin City of Science 2012.
Time 7.00pm, Visitor Centre
For Registration bit.ly/2012Phenology
Lecture series: Science of Plants – Plants that Bite Back
Matthew Jebb
Wednesday 14th March
Matthew Jebb will talk about the amazing world of carnivorous plants, and the fascinating way in which these plants have evolved the ability to catch and consume insects, and some which have developed even more bizarre diets.
Time 3.00pm, Visitor Centre
Lecture: Ireland's Butterflies
Dr David Nash
Thursday 15th March
Dr David Nash, former president of the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club, has a longstanding interest in the environment and butterfly recording. He will give a talk on the recently launched informative and beautifully illustrated book on Ireland's Butterflies, which he co-authored with Deirdre Hardiman and the late Trevor Boyd. The book is the culmination of data collected over a 15-year period, showing the distribution of Ireland's Butterflies and when and where they may be seen. All 34 species of butterfly regularly seen in Ireland, along with their eggs, larvae and pupae are described, as well as some of the rarer vagrant butterflies to our shores. The book includes some 350 photographs, drawings, maps and charts.
Time: 8.00pm Visitor Centre
Organised by the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club
Lecture series: Science of Plants – Pollen and Pollination
Matthew Jebb
Wednesday 21st March
Matthew Jebb will describe the remarkable world of the pollen grain. Pollen evolved to enable plants to breed with one another after they left the oceans, but strangely, without pollen, there would be no flies, bees, butterflies or moths on the earth.
Time 3.00pm, Visitor Centre
Lecture: Planting for Illusion – Developing a planting palette to showcase Dublin Zoos wildlife
Stephen Butler
Thursday 22nd March
Modern zoos have a varied planting to give visitors a feeling of immersion in the animals natural habitat. Over the past 10 years Dublin Zoo has developed 3 major themed habitats; the Asian Rainforest, the African Savannah and the African Rainforest. This talk will look at how Dublin Zoo's horticultural team create these habitats.
Time 8.00pm, Visitor Centre
Organised by the Irish Garden Plant Society
Bonsai repotting demonstrations
Saturday 24th March
In conjunction with the Bonsai exhibition we are pleased to host these free demonstrations on repotting and care of your bonsai.
Time: 11.00am. Meet at the Conservatory. Admission Free
Irish Meteorological Society – 'The Science of Weather Forecasting'
Saturday 24th March
A one-day conference featuring talks on T.V. weather, weather radar, satellites, clouds, forecasting, surviving an Air France plane crash, weather models and phenology. Although admission is free booking is essential at www.irishmetsociety.org
Time: 10.00am
Family Event: 'Leaf Watch', Family Phenology Day Launch
Sunday 25th March
Phenology is the science of seasonal changes in the lives of plants and animals – bud burst on trees, flowering seasons, migration or nest-building by birds. By completing our 'family phenology trail' you can help do valuable work for the Botanic Gardens. We would like you to help us, by recording on what date the buds or flowers of certain trees and shrubs open, as well as the date when butterflies are on the wing. Research shows that climate change has already had a significant impact on the timing of these events in Ireland. The trail will take you to a selection of trees to observe and record your findings. Come and meet the expert scientists who will be here at 2.00pm and 4.00pm to launch the trail on Sunday 25th March. You can take this trail any time from the end of March and do it as many times as you like throughout the year. The information you record will be combined with everyone else's and help us record the impact of climate change at the botanic gardens. Time 2.00pm
Lecture series: Science of Plants: Jumping the Garden Fence – Globalisation in the plant world
Noeleen Smyth
Wednesday 28th March
Noeleen Smyth will talk about the global problem of invasive plant species. A number of these plants such as Carpobrotus on Howth Head and Gunnera on Achill Island have escaped into the wild, and we have been working to both identify and resolve the threats they pose. The work of the Gardens both here and across the world will be discussed.
Time: 3:00pm. Meet at the Visitor Centre
Gardening Workshop – Planting for allotments
Saturday 31st March
This workshop will give you advice and support on the best vegetables and herbs to plant in your allotment covering companion planting, organic growing and composting.
Time: 11.00am. Meet at the Visitor Centre
Cost: €20. Proceeds in aid of the Irish Museums Trust
Bonsai repotting demonstrations
Saturday 31st March
In conjunction with the Bonsai exhibition we are pleased to host these free demonstrations on repotting and care of your bonsai.
Time: 11.00am. Meet at the Conservatory. Admission Free
Welcoming the bees back to the Botanic gardens
Saturday 14th April - Sunday 15th April
Meet the beekeepers at this special weekend event in celebration of the welcome return of bees to the Botanic Gardens. As well as informative talks on the history of beekeeping, there will be an exhibition of live bees in an observation hive, a honey show, displays of beekeeping equipment, a children's art competition and a demonstration of how honey is extracted from the honeycomb. Further details: www.beekeeping.ie
Times 10.00am - 5.00pm. daily
Guided Walk – Pollination and Pollinators
Sunday 15th April
Join guide Glynn Anderson on a walk and talk in the National Botanic Gardens about plant pollination and pollinators. Learn about both simple and ingenious ways in which plants are pollinated and some of the surprising birds, mammals and invertebrates that pollinate them. See what plants do to attract pollinators. Then go and see some of these plants, both native and exotic, close-up in the gardens.
Time: 2:30pm. Meet at the Visitor Centre
Lecture: Let's talk Primulas
Pam Eveleigh
Thursday 19th April
Visiting from Canada, Pam Eveleigh, is a specialist on primroses and auriculas, as well as an accomplished macro and floral photographer and administrator of the Primula World website. Pam will give a detailed survey of the genus describing the many species she has seen in the wild and in cultivation.
Time: 8.00pm
Organised by the Alpine Garden Society
Dublin Orchid Fair
Saturday 21st April - Sunday 22nd April
A wide variety of orchids will be on display during the annual Dublin orchid fair, which is being held in the conservatory this year. This event is of interest to both beginner and accomplished growers and will provide an opportunity to source orchids, sundries and books. As part of the fair there will be talks on growing orchids and a tour of the Glasnevin orchid collection.
Times 10.00am. - 5.00pm
Children's Art Workshop – Orchids
Saturday 21st April
The group will closely examine the remarkable flowers of an Orchid. Their observations will provide inspiration for an art-making session.
Each workshop costs €10. Advance Booking Essential.
Suitable for ages 8 years and upwards.
Time: 2-4pm
Gardening Workshop – Grow your own Organic Vegetables
Saturday 28th April
Learn about growing vegetables organically from the professional gardening staff of the National Botanic Gardens. Our garden expert will have lots of practical tips on growing your own vegetables. You will get practical advice on how to be an environmentally friendly gardener and on how to get the best results from your garden, regardless of how small it is.
Time: 11.00am. Meet at the Visitor Centre
Cost: €20. Proceeds in aid of the Irish Museums Trust.
Fusing Drawing and Science – by capturing detailed aspects of botanical forms through drawing.
Saturday 28th April
This monthly series of art workshops for adults fuses art and science together and fosters creative ways of seeing and exploring the intricate and rich biodiversity that exists at the National Botanic Gardens
Time: 11.00am. Meet at the Visitor Centre
Cost €25 Further Details and booking www.thedrawingworkshop.org
Guided Walk – Blossoms from China
Saturday 5th May
Many of our common garden plants are Chinese in origin. May is the best time to see Paeonies, the Handkerchief Tree, Wisteria and many other flowering plants in full bloom. Come and see the Chinese plants at their best.
Time: 2:30pm. Meet at the Visitor Centre
Exhibition: The Wildflowers of Ireland
Thursday 10th May - Sunday 10th June
An exhibition of the original artwork for the wildflowers of Ireland sixth definitive series of stamps commissioned by An Post. These now familiar beautiful stamps were painted by award winning botanical artist Susan Sex. Susan has a long association with the National Botanic Gardens and many of her paintings are housed in the art collections of the Gardens. Her special area of interest has been the native orchids of Ireland.
Daily in the Gallery Space, Education and Visitor Centre
Lecture: Garden Plants and their wild Irish cousins
Dr Declan Doogue
Thursday 10th May
Dr Declan Doogue, Honorary Research Associate of the National Botanic Gardens, and well known author of The wildflowers of Ireland, will talk about both native and introduced plants in this lecture. Organised by the Alpine Garden Society and the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club
Time 8.00pm, Visitor Centre
'Irish Plants on Irish stamps'
Saturday 12th May
In celebration of the wild flowers of Ireland stamp exhibition, the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club present a day of talks. The wildflower set of Irish definitive stamps includes an interesting selection of our native wild plants with species from woodlands, hedgerows, grasslands and coastal habitats. Many of these plants have important ecological, aesthetic or cultural significance. The talks on the day will draw together these themes. Speakers will include Susan Sex, well-known botanical artist, who created the original artwork for the entire set and philatelist John Lennon who will speak on the stamps themselves, their production and varieties. Members of the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club will discuss the featured species, their ecology, distribution and conservation
Time: 10.00am – 5.00pm
Guided Walk – Blossoms from China
Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th May
Many of our common garden plants are Chinese in origin. May is the best time to see Paeonies, the Handkerchief Tree, Wisteria and many other flowering plants in full bloom. Come and see the Chinese plants at their best.
Time: 2:30pm. Meet at the Visitor Centre
Fascination of Plants Day
Guided Walks – Fascinating Plant Molecules
Friday 18th May
Plants are fascinating. From one little seed, planted into soil, many green lives can arise – from small herbs up to big trees, or from ornamental flowers to substantial crops which all animals and mankind need to survive on this planet. To do this plants use some remarkable molecules to harvest sunlight, capture carbon dioxide, store food and pass on this inheritance to future generations of plants. In celebration of Fascination of Plants Day the National Botanic Gardens is presenting a walk through the Gardens to meet some of these amazing molecules and learn about how each is so important in making plants work.
Times: 10.30am and 2pm
Plant Conservation Day
Guided Walks – Saving plants can save the planet
Friday 18th May
The 18th May is also Plant Conservation Day, and to mark the event, the National Botanic Gardens will be conducting guided tours through the developing Wild Ireland display, where the conservation work of the Gardens will be highlighted.
Times: 11am and 2.30pm
Gardening Workshop – Growing Summer Salads
Saturday 19th May
Regardless of the size of your garden, from window boxes to large plots, there is always a space for a wide variety of tasty salad crops. Join the National Botanic Gardens organic gardening crew and find out how you can grow delicious and succulent salads all summer long while being kind to the environment too.
Time: 11.00am. Meet at the Visitor Centre
Cost: €20. Proceeds in aid of the Irish Museums Trust.
Guided Walk – Blossoms from China
Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th May
Many of our common garden plants are Chinese in origin. May is the best time to see Paeonies, the Handkerchief Tree, Wisteria and many other flowering plants in full bloom. Come and see the Chinese plants at their best.
Time: 2:30pm. Meet at the Visitor Centre
Children's Art Workshop – Design a Stamp
Saturday 19th May
Our current postage stamps have illustrations of the wildflowers of Ireland. After visiting the exhibition in the Visitor Centre, the group will design and prepare their own stamps based upon plants in bloom.
Each workshop costs €10. Advance Booking Essential.
Suitable for ages 8 years and upwards.
Time: 2-4pm
Fusing Drawing and Science – Exploring Patterns in Plant forms
Saturday 26th May
Phi: the Golden Ratio, as it relates to phyllotaxis (the placement of leaves on a stem) The second in the monthly series of art workshops for adults fuses art and science together and fosters creative ways of seeing and exploring the intricate and rich biodiversity that exists at the National Botanic Gardens
Time: 11.00am. Meet at the Visitor Centre
Cost €25. Further Details and booking www.thedrawingworkshop.org
Pond dipping
Saturday 26th May
A fun event exploring the weird and wonderful diversity of insects and minibeasts living in and around the pond at the botanic gardens. This workshop is suitable from age 8 upwards. Admission Free.
Organised with the Dublin Naturalists’ Field Club
Time: 11.00am. Meet at the Visitor Centre
Advance booking essential
Guided Walk – Fascinating Plants
Felicity Gaffney
Sunday 27th May
How do plants survive in the desert? What plants trap their own food? Why do trees have thorns? What's the fastest growing plant in the world? Find out the answers to these questions and more interesting plant facts.
Time: 2:30pm. Meet at the Visitor Centre
Guided Walk – Plant Adaptations
Glynn Anderson
Sunday 10th June
Join guide Glynn Anderson on a walk and talk in the National Botanic Gardens about how plants adapt to their environment. See native, jungle and desert plant leaves, amongst others and learn the inventive ways in which they have adapted to live, grow and reproduce in difficult conditions in their environment. Learn how plants adapt to wind, rain, drought, cold, heat, fire, shade, pollinators and predators, to name but a few.
Time: 2:30pm. Meet at the Visitor Centre
Gardening Workshop – 'Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme…'
Saturday 16th June
Get some top tips from our garden expert on how to plan out your herb garden. Some herbs are annuals and some are perennials; find out how to grow a range of herbs successfully in your own garden.
Time: 11.00am. Meet at the Visitor Centre
Cost: €20 Proceeds in aid of the Irish Museums Trust.
Pond dipping
Saturday 16th June
A fun event exploring the weird and wonderful diversity of insects and minibeasts living in and around the pond at the botanic gardens. This workshop is suitable from age 8 upwards. Admission Free.
Organised with the Dublin Naturalists’ Field Club
Time: 11.00am. Meet at the Visitor Centre
Advance booking essential
An Óige's Annual Photographic Exhibition
Thurs. 21st June to Sunday 1st July
This ever-popular Annual Photographic Exhibition is organised by An Óige's Photographic Group. Featuring a wide range of prize-winning images for 2012.
Daily in the Gallery Space, Education and Visitor Centre
Fusing Drawing and Science – Taking a closer look
Saturday 23rd June
Drawing nature and plant life on the micro and macro scale. The third in the monthly series of art workshops for adults fusing art and science together and fostering creative ways of seeing and exploring the intricate and rich biodiversity that exists at the National Botanic Gardens
Time: 11.00am. Meet at the Visitor Centre
Cost €25. Further Details and booking www.thedrawingworkshop.org
Events at Kilmacurragh Botanic Garden
Participants should meet at the car park for all Kilmacurragh Arboretum events. All events are free but booking is advisable as places are limited. Bookings by telephone Jan – April: 01 8570909. April onwards 0404 48844
Free guided tours
twice daily from April onwards – At 12.00 pm & 3.00pm – Please check the website or locally for seasonally themed guided tours. - Group tours should be pre booked. - For all tours and events please meet at the car park. - Further information: Jan - March 01 8570909 April onwards 0404 48844
Guided walk – Remarkable Rhododendrons and Trees
Saturdays & Sundays in April: 7/8th, 14/15th, 21/22nd, 28/29th
View the colourful rhododendrons at their magnificent best.
Time: 3.00pm
Guided walk – Head Gardeners Walk: 300 Glorious Years
Sunday 6th May
Seamus O’Brien will lead visitors on a colourful walk celebrating 300 years of gardening at Kilmacurragh.
Time 3.00pm
Guided walk – Floral Treasures at Kilmacurragh
Sunday 27th May
Gardener Cathal O’Sullivan leads a stroll through the beautiful grounds of Kilmacurragh, exploring the eye catching seasonal variety on display through the herbaceous borders.
Time 3.00pm
Children's Art Workshops
Art, Nature & the Seasons in the Gardens
Saturdays 18th February; 10th March; 21st April; 19th May; 9th June
Children’s Art Days at the Botanics. Have you ever wondered why the sky is blue? Or why the grass is green? Then come along to our Art Days at the National Botanic Gardens. A series of 2-hour art sessions, where you can get involved in guided explorations of the Natural world, working in harmony with the seasons to create imaginative works of art.
During each session we aim to foster curiosity about the natural world and encourage close observation of the details that often go unseen. Participants will get the chance to respond creatively to their own observations while working with different methods and media in a fun and creative atmosphere.
Each workshop costs €10. Advance Booking Essential.
Suitable for ages 8 years and upwards.
Time: 2-4pm
Signs of Spring
Saturday 18th February
The first signs of plant life after winter have been early this year. After completing observational drawings, participants will develop a project in mixed media to illustrate some of the signs they have seen.
Time: 2-4pm
Trees and Bonsai
Saturday 10th March
The opening of the Bonsai exhibition and Tree week will provide the inspiration for looking at trees, both in miniature and in their full glory.
Time: 2-4pm
Orchids
Saturday 21st April
The group will closely examine the remarkable flowers of an Orchid. Their observations will provide inspiration for an art-making session.
Time: 2-4pm
Design a Stamp
Saturday 19th May
Our current postage stamps have illustrations of the wildflowers of Ireland. After visiting the exhibition in the Visitor Centre, the group will design and prepare their own stamps based upon plants in bloom.
Time: 2-4pm
Education workshops for schools
Special themed guided tours are available for primary and secondary school groups -
Fascinating Plants - How do plants survive in the desert? What plants trap their own food? Why do trees have thorns? What's the fastest growing plant in the world? Find out the answers to these questions and view some amazing plants growing here in the Gardens. Learning the Links - Exploring the interdependence between plants, animals and people.
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Learning the Links - exploring the interdependence between plants, animals and people.
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‘Ireland’s Own’ Learn about the uses, mythology and identification of plants on your doorstep.
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‘Plants and Us’ –Learn all about plants and the role they play in our lives.
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‘All Around the World in 50 minutes’. From the mighty Giant Redwood to the native Ash tree, join us on a geographical / botanical exploration of plants from around the world growing at the National Botanic Gardens.
Sustainability workshops for second level.
Sustainability - What's That? This workshop is designed for second level students exploring and developing the principles of sustainability, biodiversity, plant conservation and the importance of plants in our lives. It includes presentations, tours and discussion. This programme has been developed by the education team at the National Botanic Gardens. It is cross-curricular in emphasis covering aspects from the Geography, Science and CSPE curriculum.
All education workshops must be booked in advance. For further details please phone 01 857 0909.
Role of the Gardens
Opening times and tours
