Irish Gardeners of Instagram
1. Peter Dowdall (@the_irish_gardener)
Peter Dowdall is a well-known Irish radio and TV personality who also writes gardening columns in the Irish Examiner. He trained and worked in the UK before returning to Ireland and now hosts a gardening segment called “Ask the Expert” on Cork today on C103FM.
Peter’s aim is to spread his love and enthusiasm in gardening in whatever way he can, and his Instagram account certainly reflects this. Between offering garden tips, documenting TV appearances, or simply showing a new flower in his garden, this is definitely one to check out.
2. Fionnuala Fallon (@theirishflowerfarmer )
Fionnuala Fallon has been gardening correspondent with the Irish Times for almost a decade, and has also been involved in other publications throughout the year such as the Irish Garden Magazine. Fionnuala produced her first book, From the Ground Up: How Ireland Is Growing Its Own, along with her photographer husband, Richard Johnston, in 2012.
Fionnuala’s posts range from shots taken in her flower farm, various bouquets she puts together for couples for their wedding day and updates on her workshops. A fantastic account to follow for any gardener!
3. Klaus Laitenberger (@klauslaitenberger)
Another regular contributor to the Irish Garden Magazine is Klaus Laitenberger. As you can probably tell from the username (careful with that spelling!) Klaus originally comes from Southern Germany, but having first come to Ireland in 1999 and working as Head Gardener at the Organic Centre in Rossinver for 7 years and at Lissadell house in Sligo where he carried out a big restoration project, we’re ready to claim him as an honorary Irish Gardener!
Currently Klaus works as an organic farm and garden inspector for the Organic Trust and has been growing organic vegetables for 20 years in the UK and Ireland. Klaus now runs a seeds shop in Manorhamilton Co. Leitrim. His Instagram features some great “grow your own” tips.
4. Jimi Blake (@jimiblake_huntingbrookgardens)
If you’re looking to add some colour and life to your Instagram feed, look no further than Jimi Blake! Jimi is creator of the Hunting Brook Gardens, five acres of botanical herbaceous gardens along with 15 acres of woodland gardens and valley, containing plants that Jimi has collected on his travels. He also collects rare seeds abroad and grows them in the gardens.
Jim trained at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin as a horticulturist. He worked as Head Gardener at Airfield House in Dundrum, Dublin where he planned the restoration of a large Victorian Garden. He is also author of “A Beautiful Obsession”- a book showing all that Hunting Brook Gardens has to offer
Jim’s documents his many adventures abroad and around Ireland on his Instagram and is well worth a follow- he really captures some incredible moments.
5. Conrad McCormick (@thatbotanicguy)
Conrad is a garden designer and a self-confessed “Exotic Plant Nerd”! Conrad often contributes to BBC Radio where he offers gardening advice and tells listeners about his exotic Omagh garden.
His Instagram account is fun and light-hearted. It features great pictures of his exotic plants collection and what he gets up to around his garden- including using it as his very own outdoor gym.
Get in touch!
Let us know if we missed out on any accounts that you think we should be following. Remember that the most important Irish gardening account to be following on Instagram at the moment is our own! Follow us @CountryLifeGC- Links in footer.
Even though our garden centres are temporarily closed as part of the fight against Covid-19, are gardens are still growing and providing a vital refuge for us in these difficult times. Our aim is to keep providing you with our gardening advice and inspiration from our horticulturists even though we all have to make do with our current supplies. We look forward to welcoming you back to our stores soon. In the meantime, we have a restricted range available online for home delivery at CountryLife.ie
