First published in 2017, this book quickly sold out and has been reprinted a couple of times.

Now a completely new, revised edition is about to be published in time for the season.
From the tiniest town gardens to the grandest castle demesnes and the sprawling acres of historic country houses, from public properties to the most private sanctuaries, Shirley Lanigan takes you into every county on the island, north and south, on a tour of over 420 gardens that are open to the public.

Her latest comprehensive tour of all the open gardens has borne fruit: from petite and formal to huge, plant-populous jungles; from wild and natural to ordered and intricate; through hidden sanctuaries and into the
iconic, treasured public gardens and parks, The Open Gardens of Ireland leads you on a grand tour.

Shirley’s love of nature is matched by her understanding of the obsessed magicians who have created these magical places; people who have rescued and restored lost gardens, who have built brand new gardens and invented
new ways of working them. Meet them all…
There are gardens attached to museums and apiaries; dedicated to science, agriculture, folklore and glass bottles; gardens that are as much art galleries and animal sanctuaries as horticultural havens, gardens with train lines
and stations, Buddhist temples, school rooms, fox’s dens and perfumeries.

More and more, our gardeners are standing up for and working actively to preserve wildlife and biodiversity, not only of our native flora but that of the wider world as well.

Gardeners have so much to share with us and we can learn from them, by visiting and studying their creations. The gardeners and owners share their secrets and give tips on tending trees and shrubs, growing flowers and delicious produce. A growing number of gardeners are working organically and sharing the lessons they have learned.

Find out about the most bewitching planting schemes, the most impressive historic landscapes, the most beautiful tiny gardens and the people protecting our heritage plants.

Irish horticulture has never been more vital. Irish gardeners have never been so welcoming.