Flower Power

No one can argue with the fact that the consumer experience is becoming homogenised the world over. From Bundoran to Beijing, retail consultants, armed with briefcases filled with brand identities, target market identifications and subliminal perceptions are changing the way we shop.

Even the humble garden centre, once the sole preserve of the plant lover, has not escaped. On your next Sunday outing, take a close look; the shelves that once burgeoned with unusual plant species are now delicately merchandised with scented candles and Swiss chocolate. Plants have been repositioned to strategic buying locations to increase impulse purchases; they’ve been rebranded as lifestyle products that deliver improved levels of wellbeing. Cultivated into submission, they stand, indistinguishable from one another, in tight military rows, displaying their consistent flower displays and colourful packaging.

So what does this mean? Is our industry doomed to become a faceless plant machine that churns out identical, high turn over, short lifespan merchandise to fill decreasing shelf space? Thankfully no. With action comes reaction and just as our urban nooks and crannies are becoming filled with gourmet food boutiques and the informed few search out farm box networks, the plant-loving consumer is seeking out something different. One of the emerging plant nurseries leading the call for greater plant diversity and satiating a growing hunger for interesting plants is Kilmurry Nursery. Nestled on a three acre hillside, an hour’s drive from Dublin, this family run business is becoming synonymous with high quality herbaceous plants. While in operation for only the last seven years, Kilmurry, under the direction of owners Paul and Orla Woods, has achieved a number of prestigious RHS and Irish awards for outstanding plant quality and display.

On a recent visit to the nursery I found it easy to see why the dynamic Woods duo have achieved so much in such a short time. Up before the birds, the couple put in 14 hour days, six days a week, and while the rest of us are trying to avoid spilling coffee on our Sunday supplements they’re manning rescue lifeboats as part of the RNLI volunteer crew. Playing down his thankless efforts on the high seas, Paul says, “Although I love plants, it’s a fantastic relief to find myself surrounded with nothing but water!” With experience in almost every aspect of horticulture from plant displays in Mackey’s of Mary Street to raking leaves with the OPW and scene setting with plants for movies such as Animal Farm and Reign of Fire, the couple are well placed to satisfy an increasingly diverse range of customer demands.

Reflecting on his first forays into plantmanship Paul says, “I grew up with plants, my grandmother was a great gardener and I’ve been growing my own plants since the age of five”. Although he has travelled the world experimenting with different horticultural careers, it was a natural progression to eventually establish his own nursery.

Having just disappointingly ambled around a well-known garden centre I found it refreshing to navigate a nursery with owners who look upon their plants as family. The quality and diversity of plants on display is a reflection of the joy they gain from hand collecting and cultivating seeds from emergent seedlings to show winning plants. Like two proud parents they lead me around showing me their latest editions. They’re enthusiasm is certainly infectious; I left with a boot filled with Myosotidium, Eucomis and a rare Dierama!

While Paul was always destined to be a plantsman, Orla was steered by fate and luck into the Botanic Gardens and then onto St Enda’s, where Paul, in one of his many guises, was Head Gardener. While many of us can only wonder how it could be possible to maintain sanity let alone a good relationship in such a challenging environment, Orla doesn’t give it a second thought “we know our roles and our strengths and in the hectic plants business we just have to get on with it”; but when asked what she feels is the most difficult part of the business Orla quips “my husband!”

With a stable of loyal garden centres drawn to Kilmurry by a guarantee of quality and reliability, the business has been steadily increasing, so much so that a number of part-time staff are now employed throughout the season. And while the demands of family and the nursery are challenging to say the least, the Woods team still find time to exhibit at all the big shows. Having just returned from a successful Garden Heaven Show, Paul and Orla were busy preparing for the following week’s Glenarm Show. With only time for a cuppa and a daring coastal rescue they’ll be back in plant mode and off to the RHS Tatton Park Show in the UK!

The importance of nurseries such as Kilmurry and others dotted around the country cannot be over stated. The garden business just like the garden environment thrives on diversity and as consumers; its you and I that have the power demand it. So next time you find yourself standing in line at the garden centre holding a jar of gooseberry conserve but having come in to find a rare Geranium, tug the managers arm and get him to call the Kilmurry team. Lets get some plants back in our garden centres!

To contact the Kilmurry Nursery

Phone: +353 86-8180623 /(0) 55 80223 / FAX: +353 (0)55 80223   or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it www.kilmurrynursery.com