National Garden Exhibition Centre
Garden
Twenty inspirational gardens for the price of one!
Address:
Calumet Nurseries
Kilquade
Co Wicklow
Kilquade
Co Wicklow
Tel: +353 1 281 9890
Please mention ireland-guide.com when enquiring.
National Garden Exhibition Centre
Opening Months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, DecemberOpening Days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Opening Hours: Mon - Sat - 10am - 5.30pm; Sun - 1pm - 5.30pm & Bank Hols - 10am - 5.30pm
Admission Charge: Adults €4.50, children free, OAPs/Students €3.50, groups 10+ €3.50
- Appointment Only
- Admission Charge
Georgina Campbell
To describe the National Garden Exhibition Centre as inspirational would be an understatement. The brainchild of nurseryman Tim Wallace, his wife Suzanne and garden designer Gordon Ledbetter, the idea was to show the best in garden design for a variety of situations and budgets.
Now in its second decade, the Centre has matured and - like the best of gardens - it has evolved. Where once there were 14 gardens there are now 20, and some of the original ideas have been changed or replanted. They range from the informality of the ambitious Water and Woodland Garden, where the spectacular autumn colours of the swamp cypress Taxodium distichium and acers like A. ’Osakazuki’ are reflected in a lake, to the perfection of the small Knot Garden where the scent of old roses is trapped by the room-like hedges.
Newest is the Gothic Garden, with a dramatic gothic window overlooking a pool and areas of different planting, and the Plantsman’s Garden, featuring exciting plant combinations like the ponytail grass Stipa Tenussima with Phylica arboreaand Artimisia ludoviciana, with four different types of planting including a section of acid loving plants.
The Town Garden, with its pergola, raised beds and pond, is a lovely example of the kind of sanctuary which can be achieved in a small space, while the Japanese Garden remains a particular favourite, with informal beds set in gravel and soothing foliage textures and colours; hostas, grasses and bergenias cosy up to the feet of diminutive Acer palmatum aconitifolium, Abies koreanaand Cornus mas with its purple autumn leaves.
Many of the plants used in the display gardens can be bought in the excellent nursery and there is a tea room for light meals. What more could you want?
Now in its second decade, the Centre has matured and - like the best of gardens - it has evolved. Where once there were 14 gardens there are now 20, and some of the original ideas have been changed or replanted. They range from the informality of the ambitious Water and Woodland Garden, where the spectacular autumn colours of the swamp cypress Taxodium distichium and acers like A. ’Osakazuki’ are reflected in a lake, to the perfection of the small Knot Garden where the scent of old roses is trapped by the room-like hedges.
Newest is the Gothic Garden, with a dramatic gothic window overlooking a pool and areas of different planting, and the Plantsman’s Garden, featuring exciting plant combinations like the ponytail grass Stipa Tenussima with Phylica arboreaand Artimisia ludoviciana, with four different types of planting including a section of acid loving plants.
The Town Garden, with its pergola, raised beds and pond, is a lovely example of the kind of sanctuary which can be achieved in a small space, while the Japanese Garden remains a particular favourite, with informal beds set in gravel and soothing foliage textures and colours; hostas, grasses and bergenias cosy up to the feet of diminutive Acer palmatum aconitifolium, Abies koreanaand Cornus mas with its purple autumn leaves.
Many of the plants used in the display gardens can be bought in the excellent nursery and there is a tea room for light meals. What more could you want?
Best time of year to visit:
Groups & Tours
- Groups Accepted
- Groups Need Appointments
- Accept Only Groups
- Guided Tours
Tour Days:
Tour Times
Groups with a guided tour : €7.50 each by appointmentAdditional
Directions
Off the N11 just past the turn off for Delgany, take next left for Kilquade; the Centre is a mile down the road on the left.Facilities / Features
- Parking
- Suitable for children
- Dogs welcome
- Refreshments
- Restaurant
- Cafe
- Visitor Centre
- House open to public (where applicable)
- Museum
- Gift Shop
- Garden Centre
- Plant Sales
- Accomodation
- WC
- WC Wheelchair Accessible
- Wheelchair Access
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(2.9km)SW - Chakra by Jaipur
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(4.5km)NE - Sweetbank Farm
(7.0km)SE - Avoca Handweavers, Kilmacanogue
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(50.3km)SW
Tourist Attractions
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National Sea Life Centre
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Little Museum of Dublin
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National Gallery of Ireland
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National Library of Ireland
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Trinity College Dublin & Book of Kells
(27.9km)NW -
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Dublin City Hall - Story of the Capital
(28.3km)NW -
Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship Famine Museum
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Christ Church Cathedral
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Dublinia
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The Old Jameson Distillery
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Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) - Royal Hospital Kilmainham
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National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
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Hugh Lane Gallery
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Croke Park & GAA Museum
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Casino Marino
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Castletown House
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Golf Courses
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(2.4km) SE - Powerscourt Golf Club
(10.3km) NW - Dun Laoghaire Golf Club
(11.4km) NW - Woodbrook Golf Club
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(15.9km) SE - Blainroe Golf Club
(19.4km) SE - Grange Golf Club
(22.8km) NW - Castle Golf Club
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(27.3km) NW - European Club, The
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(27.8km) NW - Saint Annes Golf Club
(29.4km) NW - CityWest Golf Club
(30.5km) NW - Macreddin Golf Club
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(32.5km) SW - Portmarnock Golf Club
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(34.4km) NW - Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links
(35.2km) NW - Malahide Golf Club
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Gardens
- National Garden Exhibition Centre
(0.0km) - Warble Bank
(2.7km)SW - Killruddery House & Gardens
(7.9km)NW - Knockmore
(10.1km)NW - Powerscourt Gardens
(10.4km)NW - Mount Usher Gardens
(11.4km)SW - Corke Lodge
(12.3km)NW - 21 Library Road
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(13.8km)NW - Rathmichael Lodge
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(18.5km)NW - Burton Hall
(19.6km)NW - Kilmacurragh Arboretum - National Botanic Garden
(20.5km)SW - Carysfort Lodge
(21.6km)NW - Airfield Gardens
(21.8km)NW - Glendale Gardens
(24.3km)NW - Dillon Garden, The
(25.5km)NW - Knockanree
(28.7km)SW - Hunting Brook Gardens
(29.2km)NW - June Blakes Garden & Nursery
(29.7km)NW - National Botanic Gardens
(31.2km)NW - Primrose Hill
(36.0km)NW - The Talbot Botanic Gardens
(37.2km)NW - Ram House Gardens
(40.0km)SW - Lodge Park Walled Gardens
(41.8km)NW - Hardymount
(56.9km)SW - Altamont
(59.9km)SW - Ballon Garden
(61.0km)SW
Nearby Towns/Areas
- Kilcoole
(1.8km) SE - Newtownmountkennedy
(2.4km) SE - Greystones
(4.0km) NE - Delgany
(4.1km) NW - Newcastle
(5.1km) SE - Kilmacanogue
(7.4km) NW - Bray
(7.4km) NW - Enniskerry
(10.4km) NW - Roundwood
(10.5km) SW - Rathnew
(13.0km) SE
Apps and Books
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Georgina Campbell's Ireland - The Best of the Best
A selective companion guide to our famous broad-based online collection, the ‘glovebox bib ...more... -
From Tide to Table by Georgina Campbell
Paperback edition of From Tide to Table - Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Buying, Prep ...more...
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