Join one of the UK’s most celebrated plantswomen, RHS Vice-President Rosy Hardy, for entertaining talk tracing her remarkable horticultural journey. In From The Back Garden to Gold Medals, Rosy shares how a modest beginning—selling plants from her back garden—blossomed into the creation of Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants, now one of Britain’s leading specialist nurseries.
This engaging session offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world horticulture, from nurturing perennials to preparing award-winning displays for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. With an astonishing 24 RHS Chelsea Gold Medals to her name, Rosy will reveal the challenges, triumphs and teamwork behind every show garden, as well as the passion and precision it takes to succeed on such a prestigious stage.
This down-to-earth talk is filled with expert tips, planting advice and practical insights to help you make the most of your own garden—whatever its size. From choosing the right plants for your conditions to achieving long-lasting colour and structure, Rosy’s advice is rooted in years of hands-on experience and a deep passion for perennials.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to take your garden to the next level, this is a chance to learn from one of the most knowledgeable and approachable voices in UK gardening. Expect inspiration, guidance—and a few laughs along the way!
About Rosy Hardy
Rosy Hardy is one of the UK’s most celebrated horticulturists, renowned for her expertise in herbaceous perennials and her pioneering work in sustainable gardening. In 2020, she was appointed an Honorary Vice President of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in recognition of her outstanding contributions to horticulture.
Rosy co-founded Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants in 1988 with her husband, Rob. Starting from humble beginnings—selling plants from their back garden at local car boot sales—the nursery has grown into one of the UK’s leading independent nurseries, specialising in herbaceous perennials.
Rosy is the most decorated female exhibitor at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, having won 24 Gold Medals. She has also received two Tudor Rose awards at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. In 2021, she was honored with the RHS Master Grower Award, further cementing her status as a leading figure in horticulture.
Beyond her nursery work, Rosy is an RHS Judge and serves on the RHS Herbaceous Committee and the RHS Geum Trials Forum. In 2017, she authored her first book, “25 Years of Chelsea,” which chronicles her experiences at the Chelsea Flower Show and offers insights into plant combinations and colour schemes.
Admission: €20 for this talk or €35 for two workshops. Carparking fee of €2 applies for Altamont Gardens, irrespective of length of stay.
Directions: R93 N882. In the grounds of Altamont Gardens. From Dublin/Waterford exit the M9 at junction 5 for N80 Rosslare. Continue along the N80 through the village of Ballon and the N80/N81 junction. Turn left at the next cross road junction signed Altamont Gardens. From Carlow Town follow the N80 through Ballon and continue as above.
Type of event: The talk takes place in an indoor marquee on the grounds of Altamont Plant Sales with the opportunity to view Altamont Gardens and the Corona North Commemorative Border within the grounds of Altamont Plant Sales, either before or after the talk.
Explore More at Altamont Plant Sales
Make the most of your visit to Altamont Plant Sales by exploring all that this unique and much-loved destination has to offer. Begin with a visit to the art exhibition by Jacinta Crowley Long, the distinguished Irish artist renowned for her evocative oil paintings that celebrate the essence of rural life.Based on the Carlow/Wicklow border, Jacinta has garnered acclaim for her masterful depictions of animals, landscapes and equestrian scenes.Her works, often inspired by the countryside surrounding her 18th-century rectory home, are showcased throughout Altamont Plant Sales and are available for purchase .
Take time to enjoy a relaxing lunch at the Sugar and Spice Café, a hidden gem nestled within the plant sales area. With its welcoming atmosphere and wholesome menu, it’s the perfect spot to unwind over freshly made salads, sandwiches, homemade treats and speciality teas and coffees.
After lunch, there’s plenty of time to take a gentle walk through Altamont Gardens, one of Ireland’s finest examples of romantic period gardens. Spanning over 40 acres, the gardens offer a captivating blend of formal and informal planting. Stroll through the ornamental lake, shady glades and riverside walk by the River Slaney framed by ancient oaks and towering redwoods. The walled garden bursts with seasonal colour, while sweeping views of the Blackstairs Mountains provide a dramatic backdrop.
NEWSLETTER
To stay up-to-date with our news
Carlow Tourism and Carlow Tourist Office, College Street, Carlow
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
