Rhododendron Week National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh

Rhododendron Week | 12 – 18 April 2021

An online event brought to you by the National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh and the Office of Public Works.

In early April the gardens at Kilmacurragh are marked by the splendour of their two centuries old Rhododendron collection bursting into flower. The significance of these venerable trees is down to the site’s long association with the National Botanic Gardens at Glasnevin. The Acton family, who built Kilmacurragh, established a long and fruitful friendship with David Moore and later his son Sir Frederick Moore, successive curators at Glasnevin. From the early 1850s, the Moore’s advised the Acton family on gardening matters and suppled the latest introductions of the great plant hunters, particularly from the Himalayan range. For over 70 years a regular exchange of plants resulted in Kilmacurragh becoming one of the best stocked private gardens in these islands. Today the collection boasts 180 species of rhododendrons and over 420 varieties. Since taking over the management of the site in 1996, the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland have both restored, and greatly expanded the collection. Rhododendron week will become an annual event in the calendar, when we can showcase the highlights of the collection and explore the stories behind them. This year we are delighted to be collaborating with the RHS Rhododendron, Camellia & Magnolia Group. We have a series of video stories and online talks to be launched every day of the week, with keynote speakers Dr Matthew Jebb, Director of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, Seamus O’Brien, Head Gardener of the National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh and Richard Baines, Curator of the Logan Botanic Garden, Scotland. Wherever you live, we are delighted to be able to bring this event to you all online.

-END-

Notes to Editors

Rhododendron Week 12 – 18 April 2021

Programme of Online events:

Monday 12 - Video Story

Launch of Rhododendron Week 2021

Dr Matthew Jebb, Director, NBG Glasnevin and Séamus O’Brien, Head Gardener, NBG Kilmacurragh.

Join Matthew and Séamus to hear an overview of the week ahead. Two centuries of rhododendron growing at Kilmacurragh, and a historic collaboration with the National Botanic Gardens, makes this one of the most significant collections in these islands.

Tuesday 13 - Video Story

Rooted in the past: Rhododendron tales from Kilmacurragh. Séamus O’Brien, Head Gardener, NBG Kilmacurragh.

Séamus tells the story of some of the finest specimens at Kilmacurragh, their discovery, naming and entry into cultivation.

Wednesday 14 - Live Online Talk, 6pm, Crowdcast, book on Eventbrite

The National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh; A family history.

Dr Matthew Jebb, Director, National Botanic Gardens of Ireland. Matthew describes the close connections for over 160 years between the Moore family of the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin and the Actons in Kilmacurragh.

Thursday 15 - Video Story

History and work of the RHS Rhododendron, Camellia and Magnolia group

Mark Bobin, Head Gardener, Minterne Gardens, Dorset with Wendelin Morrison.

Mark is the Communications Officer of the group and Wendelin Morrison, Events Coordinator.

Thursday 15 - Live Online Talk, 6pm, Crowdcast, book on Eventbrite

The propagation and cultivation of Rhododendrons.

Richard Baines, Curator, Logan Botanic Gardens, Stranraer.

Learn about both seed and vegetative propagation of the genus Rhododendron. The talk will cover techniques, useful tips, advantages and disadvantages of each method, timings and equipment required.

Friday 16 - Live Online Talk, 6pm, Crowdcast, book on Eventbrite.

A Spring visit to the Sikkim Himalaya.

Séamus O’Brien, Head Gardener, NBG Kilmacurragh.

Séamus will recount his Spring visit to Sikkim, Himalaya in 2015 retracing the routes of the famous Victorian botanist and explorer Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker.

Saturday 17 - Video Story

Workshop on Rhododendron taxonomy

Séamus O’Brien, Head Gardener, NBG Kilmacurragh.

Séamus will give an overview of the taxonomy of the genus, using fresh materials from the extensive collection of over 180 species.

Sunday 18 - Video Story

Dr Matthew Jebb, Director, National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, and Séamus O’Brien, Head Gardener, NBG Kilmacurragh.

The week closes with a brief overview of the conservation purposes of the collections and a look to the future.

All online talks will go live at 6pm each evening, hosted from the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland on Crowdcast with bookings through Eventbrite.

Video stories will be uploaded to social media and the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland YouTube channel – times will be coordinated each day.