*** Please note this is an ISBA Member only event. If you would like to become a member please visit our membership page ***

May is a delightful time at the National Botanic Gardens, with many favourites in bloom – peonies, wisteria, the handkerchief tree and many others. It seems like the perfect time to have an informal, relaxed day simply enjoying all that the Gardens have to offer and an opportunity for those who wish to have lunch together. There is the added bonus of an excellent exhibition, Irish Ceramics at the Gardens, in the upstairs gallery area of the Visitor Centre. Artists may sketch in the Gardens if they wish, but not in the glasshouses.

While this event carries a ‘weather permitting’ advisory, there is plenty to do indoors in the event of rain, so don’t be put off by a few showers.

We would especially like to welcome our new members – this is an excellent time to meet other members and to get to know one another. Committee members in attendance will wear name badges, so please come and introduce yourselves.

Although you are welcome to arrive as early as you wish, we suggest meeting in, or just outside, the Teak House (the glasshouse beside the car park, near the Visitor Centre) at 12.30. Depending on the number of general visitors, it may be necessary – or at least polite – if we don’t all invade the café at once, but this can be determined on the day. If it is crowded in the café, some of you may like to view the ceramics exhibition first. Weather permitting, a walk around the gardens will begin around 1.30pm (starting at the Teak House), after which there will be time to take in some of the glasshouses if you wish. The afternoon will end around 4.00pm – the Gardens close at 5.00pm.

Please note: if you would be interested in a tour of the Gardens with a member of the Visitor Centre staff, please contact us as soon as possible – this can be arranged with prior notice. Cost is €5 per person. These tours are most informative and provide an excellent overview of the Gardens.
Other than a fee of €5 for those who wish to avail of the tour of the Gardens, this event is free-of-charge.

All photographs courtesy of ©Grainne Stark and  Jane Stark