Creating a Sustainable Perennial Cut-Flower Garden with Fionnuala Fallon

Join Fionnuala Fallon – gardener and Irish Times gardening columnist – for an engaging and practical workshop focused on creating your own sustainable perennial cut-flower garden. Designed for both beginners and experienced growers, this session explores how to cultivate a beautiful, long-lasting flower garden that’s in harmony with nature.

Returning year after year, perennials provide a reliable source of blooms with less long-term input. Fionnuala will share her expert knowledge on selecting hardy, pollinator-friendly perennials that thrive in Irish conditions and offer exceptional value as cut flowers. Participants will learn how to plan and design a perennial flower patch that provides colour, structure and texture throughout the seasons.

The workshop will explore sustainable gardening practices, including soil health, plant division, mulching and organic pest control. Fionnuala will also discuss the importance of biodiversity and how a perennial cut-flower garden can support pollinators, beneficial insects and wildlife year-round.

Attendees will gain practical advice on establishing and maintaining your garden, choosing flowers for extended vase life, and harvesting techniques that encourage regrowth and longevity. Whether you have a large garden or a small space, this session will give you the tools and inspiration to create a thriving, low-impact cut-flower garden that brings lasting beauty indoors and out.

This talk takes place indoors with the option of a guided tour of Delta Sensory Gardens thereafter.

Fionnuala Fallon is a National Botanic Gardens-trained horticulturist, author and Irish Times gardening columnist as well as a regular contributor to various gardening magazines including The Irish Garden. Together with her photographer husband Richard Johnston, she also runs a small, sustainably-managed cut-flower farm, ‘The Irish Flower Farmer’ in a Victorian walled garden in west Wicklow, which they established in 2015.

A visit to Delta Sensory Gardens is a feast for the senses, and there’s even more to discover on-site and nearby. After exploring the sixteen interconnecting themed gardens enjoy the warm hospitality of Café Thyme. Known for its delicious homemade food, the café offers breakfast, lunch, light bites and tempting treats in a tranquil setting – perfect for a restful break or catch-up with friends.

Don’t miss the well-stocked garden centre, offering a beautiful selection of plants, shrubs and garden accessories. With friendly staff on hand to advise, it’s a great opportunity to pick up inspiration for your own garden or a thoughtful gift.

If time permits, take advantage of Delta’s convenient location and discover more of Carlow Town’s cultural treasures. Just a short drive or walk away, VISUAL  is one of Ireland’s most dynamic contemporary arts spaces, offering thought-provoking exhibitions in a stunning modern venue. Nearby, Carlow County Museum invites you to step into the county’s rich heritage with engaging displays and artefacts – entry is free and it’s a perfect addition to a day of exploration.