Grab your tickets for Bloom now

Grab your tickets for Bloom now and make sure you're where it counts, at Ireland's premier gardening festival of the year later this month.

This unmissable floral spectacle opens its doors on 29th May for its eighth year, covering Phoenix Park in Dublin with spectacular show gardens, gardening workshops, craft demonstrations and of course plants, plants, plants.

Show gardens include a North American cranberry farm, complete with bog wetland; a sinuous sunken garden where children can hide away from grown-ups, created for Crumlin Children's Hospital; and a mediaeval herber, bejewelled with flowers, exploring ancient heritage of Limerick. At the other extreme is the City Life Garden, packed with ideas for modern urban living.

Elsewhere, a kid's zone keeps little ones occupied, including a new garden activity area. Garden experts galore are sharing tips and insights; and of course the Floral Marquee is overflowing with top Irish nurseries. Wander round the botanical art exhibition, explore the recently restored Victorian walled kitchen garden, and finish off with a feast in the Food Village, where there are cookery demonstrations, artisan food markets, a school garden and even a farmyard. Your only problem will be fitting it all in!

Bloom 2014 runs from 29th May to 2nd June: to book tickets, visit www.bloominthepark.com.