Bloom 2016 officially opened today in the Phoenix Park, with an estimated 100,000 visitors expected over the coming days.

The medal for the Overall Large Garden category went to Alan Rudden from Westmanstown, Co Dublin, for his Chilean-inspired Santa Rita Living la Vida 120 Garden.

Bloom first-timer James Purdy from Belfast won both the Overall Medium Garden category and Best Plant Design Award for his Podscape Garden, which demonstrates a sustainable approach to everyday life.

Overall Small Garden was won by Oliver and Liat Schurmann for their entry The Designer’s Back Yard.

The team of judges led by Andrew Wilson spent two days observing and deliberating before announcing the results this morning.

There was a total of 57 medals awarded by the judges to show garden designers and nurseries, including 24 gold, 12 silver gilt, 13 silver and eight bronze.

One of the gold medal winning gardens was designed by Barry Kavanagh and entitled Across Boundaries. The garden expresses how social farming can play a vital role in the therapy of participants within the healthcare system.

Also among the gold medal winners for the second year in a row was the Irish Country Magazine garden Serene Sanctuary.

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina will attend today, as well as Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed.

Bloom opens its doors from 9am on Thursday morning and will run to 6pm each day. For further information, or to purchase tickets, visit bloominthepark.com.There is no entry charge for children under 16 years of age.

Bloom 2016 Results : Show Gardens and Nurseries

Overall winners

  • Gold, Best in Category Large: Santa Rita Living la Vida 120 Garden, sponsored by Santa Rita, designed by Alan Rudden
  • Gold, Best in Category Medium: Podscape Garden, sponsored by Glenisk, designed by James Purdy
  • Gold, Best in Category Small: The Designer's Back Yard, sponsored by Mount Venus Nursery and Valentia Slate, designed by Oliver and Liat Schurmann
  • Gold, Best in Category Concept: UCD Evolution of Land Plants Garden, sponsored by UCD, designed by Dr Caroline Elliott-Kingston and Nicola Haines
  • Gold, Best in Show Nursery Display: Boyne Garden Centre, Slane, Co Meath

    • Gold Medals (24)

  • Large: Bridge the Gap, sponsored by the Chicago Park District and designed by Matthew Barrett (Concept)
  • Large: Across Boundaries, sponsored by CEDRA Fund, The Irish Farmers' Association, The National Dairy Council, and Leitrim Development Company, designed by Barry Kavanagh (Concept)
  • Large: Crumlin Children's Hospital Garden, sponsored by Kildare Growers, Bord na Móna, Moyvalley Stone and Peter O'Brien Landscapes, designed by Kieran Dunne and Anthony Ryan
  • Large: The Savills Garden - Face to Face, sponsored by Savills and designed by Andrew Christopher Dunne
  • Large: UCD Evolution of Land Plants Garden, sponsored by UCD, designed by Dr Caroline Elliott-Kingston and Nicola Haines
  • Medium: Podscape Garden, sponsored by Glenisk, designed by James Purdy
  • Medium: Serene Sanctuary, sponsored by Irish Country Magazine, designed by Alan Coffey in association with Alan Battersby
  • Small: The Legend of Tarzan, sponsored by Warner Brothers, designed by Oliver and Liat Schurmann (Concept)
  • The following floral displays and nurseries won gold:

    • 1. Hughes Roses, Garristown, Ardcath, Co Dublin.

    2. Camolin Potting Shed, Camolin, Co Wexford.

    3. Springmount Garden Centre, Ballycanew Road, Gorey, Co Wexford.

    4. Boyne Garden Centre, Slane, Co Meath.

    5. Plant Store, Tallaght, Dublin 24.

    6. Kilmurry Nursery, Gorey, Co Wexford.

    7. Kells Bay House and Gardens, Kells, Cahersiveen, Co Kerry.

    8. Fuchsiavale Nurseries, Worcestershire, UK.

    9. Plants Direct, Carbury, Co Kildare.

    10. Irish Water Plants, Strokestown. Co Roscommon.

    11. Mr Middleton Garden Shop, 58 Mary Street, Dublin 1.

    12. Harts Nursery, Alsager, UK.

    13. Peninsula Primulas, Ards, Co Down.

    14. Teagasc, c/o National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9.

    15. Harrington Exotics, Saggart, Co Dublin.

    16. W.S Warmenhoven, UK.

    Silver Gilt Medals (12)

  • Large: Sculpture in the Parkland, sponsored by garden-sculptures.ie, designed by Ingrid Swan and Ruth Liddle (Concept)
  • Medium: Bremore Castle Medieval Garden, sponsored and designed by Fingal County Council and Institute of Technology Blanchardstown
  • Medium: Out the Other Side: A Garden of Hope, sponsored by Marie Keating Foundation and ROCHE, designed by Tünde Szentesi

    • The following floral displays and nurseries won silver gilt:

    1. Navan Garden Centre, Navan, Co Meath.

    2. O'Reilly's Nurseries, Mountnugent, Co Cavan.

    3. Herb on Thyme, Rathangan, Co Kildare.

    4. Heritage Bulbs, Glasnevin, Dublin 11.

    5. Premium Pelargoniums (Fuschiavale), UK.

    6. Glens Garden Gems, East Yorkshire, UK.

    7. Riverlane Nurseries, Trim, Co Meath.

    8. Blackwater Floral Accessories, Mallow. Co Cork.

    9. Three Gates Nursery and Florist, Naul, Co Dublin.

    Silver Medals (13)

  • Medium: GOAL's Damascus Courtyard – War and Peace, sponsored by GOAL, designed by Brian Burke (Concept)
  • Medium: Well Centred, sponsored by Nangle & Neason and Charleville Cheese, designed by Hugh Ryan (Concept)
  • Medium: Blurred Lines, sponsored by Chef Sauce, designed by Sofi Dosa
  • Small: The Secret Life of Pets, sponsored by Universal and Sanctuary Synthetics, designed by Mark O'Loughlin (Concept)

    • The following floral displays and nurseries won silver:

    1. Dublin School of Horticulture, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.

    2. Garden Direct, Kilmeague, Co Kildare.

    3. Shady Plants, Clashmore, Co Waterford.

    4. Papervale Trees, Rathfriland, Co Down.

    5. Greenart Production, Holland.

    6. AOIFA, Bray, Co Wicklow.

    7. Landbarn Nursery, Gorey, Co Wexford.

    8. Cois na Tra Plants, Westport, Co Mayo.

    Bronze (8)

  • Small: Sharing the Load, sponsored by St. John of God Hospital and the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, designed by Padraic Woods (Concept)

    • Small: The Tao of Now, sponsored by Eight Oaks Holistic, designed by Fiann Ó Nualláin

  • Small: Solus Light Bulb Garden "Inspired by Ireland", sponsored by Solus Light Bulbs, designed by Alan Rudden

    • The following floral displays and nurseries won bronze:

    1. Devine Nurseries (Stand 1), East Yorkshire.

    2. Devine Nurseries (Stand 2), East Yorkshire.

    3. Western Plants Nursery, Skreen, Co Sligo.

    4. Three Gates Nursery and Florist, Naul, Co Dublin.

    5. Doran Nurseries (Irish Plants), Naas, Co Kildare.

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