Leavy wins Silver Gilt award for Bloom garden

Killucan designer, Tom Leavy, has taken a Silver Gilt medal for his Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Musical Garden at Bord Bia Bloom.

The garden which is sponsored by the Bord Gais Energy Theatre was described as a "delectable show garden", which plays on elements from the stage musical, which is coming to the Bord Gais in December.

If you are attending Bord Bia Bloom in the Phoenix Park this June Bank Holiday weekend, make sure and check out Tom's garden, which features a pathway to a chocolate river, sculpture, colourful textiles, and bountiful planting.

"Central to the design is the introduction of edible and incredible plants inspired by Wonka’s inventions," said Tom Leavy.

"The plants have been chosen specifically to exhibit edible and medicinal uses, showcasing their practicality as well as their natural beauty.

"They inspire visitors to create a holistic landscape of their own while growing nutritional food in a creative and visually appealing way."

Sustainability, wellness, and holistic living are core values throughout Tom Leavy’s life and work. He studied horticulture at the National Botanic Gardens before establishing Leavy Landscaping, a landscape design and construction company that focuses on sustainable landscape design and construction.

Leavy Landscaping has built three medal-winning gardens at Bord Bia Bloom and this is Tom’s second year designing a show garden at the festival. His Beauty & the Beast The Musical Garden, which he co-designed with Cornelia Raftery, won a silver medal last year.

Tom recently opened Red Roots Farm, an education, wellness, and retreat centre, with artist Claire Bracken.

A total of 36 medals were handed out to show gardens; plant nurseries and floral and botanical art exhibits ahead of the five-day festival opening to the public today at 9am