The garden is well-known and has been the subject of an RTE series called "Dermot's Secret Garden", which chronicled the late Dermot O" Neill's original restoration of the garden. Sadly, ill-health prevented Dermot from achieving all of his dreams for Clondeglass and instead he sold the garden to Paul, who continues to respect Dermot's legacy, while also building on his own plans for this special place.

Then it’s down to business and Geraldine has plenty more advice on what to plant in shaded garden.

See the plants mentioned in the podcast listed below:

Fern dryopteris felix mas.

Francoa sonchifolia

Herbaceous geranium

Tree peony lutea.

Peony 'late indflower'

Paeonia mlokosewitschii

Euphorbia robbiae.

Phlomis russelliana..

Erythronium

Lillium, especially turks cap varieties.

Arum italicum pictum

Japanese anemone.

Iris foetedissima

Geraldine also gives advice on plants that are perfect for shaded gardens.

Geraldine also highlights jobs that need to be done in a June Garden.

Geraldine also reveals some good news of her own about a garden she designed with The Flower Farmers of Ireland collective.

Geraldine ponders this slight delay, as she profiles the Peony and its origins. While Claire turns her attention to jobs that need to be done in her little garden.

Geraldine advises how to make nettle and comfrey feed to fertilise plants and Claire shares some tips on companion planting for the beginner growers out there.

They also touch on their love/hate relationship with yellow in the garden.

They also chat biodiversity and discuss the move towards native planting and sustainable planting practises.

In the latest episode of BigGardenLittleGarden Geraldine profiles the Eurphorbia and its remarkably diverse genus.

Claire gives an update on the allotment and shares how she dealt with a whitefly infestation in the polytunnel.

They also catch-up on seed germination and all the goings-on in the spring garden.

Euphorbias recommended by Geraldine

1. Wulfenii
2. Seguieriana
3. Polychroma
4. Robbiae
5. Mellifera

Susan Lynch of The Vintage Rose Company joins Geraldine and Claire for a chat.

Susan grows cut roses primarily for event florists and weddings and has lots of helpful advice on how to Grow and Nurture Beautiful Roses.

You won't want to miss it.

There's also more chat on seed sowing, with particular focus on seeds that are a little more challenging to germinate.

Geraldine also shares three choice spring woodland plants that you should get to know and definitely consider for your garden.:

1. Erythronium

2. Trillium
3. Cardamine

Geraldine and Claire reflect on how much they enjoyed their Snowdrop Tour with Robert Miller of Altamont Plants, who recently added a huge portfolio of snowdrop bulbs from Avon Bulbs in Somerset to their own collection, making it the largest display on public view in Ireland.

They also get sowing seeds and have plenty of tips and advice to get you in the mood for spring!

They also

1. Seedaholic
2. Seeds Ireland
3. Brown Envelope
4. Quickcrop
5. Fruithill Farm

Claire reveals a happy discovery in her front garden and gives an update on which of last year's forced bulbs have flowered successfully outdoors.

It's also time to start ordering Summer Bulbs, so tune in for some interesting suggestions.

Ferns

DryopterisFelix - mas

Harts Tongue Fern

Osmunda Regalis

Matteuccia Struthiopteris

Geraldine and Claire also ponder the unpredictability of flowering times for forced bulbs and realise, just in time, that succulents still need to be watered in winter.

Claire also gives an update on her beloved trees while Geraldine talks Galanthophiles and reveals interesting facts about the humble snowdrop. She also shares some helpful tips on how to successfully grow these dainty beauties.

Geraldine and Claire. share lots of Inspiration for beautiful Wreath-Making, as well as practical advice and know-how to help you create the perfect Christmas Tablescape.

They also delve into Irish Christmas Traditions and the symbolism behind them.

Where to source Irish Foliage

The Irish Green Guys

Gra Cut Flowers

Wicklow Foliage Farm

BigGardenLittleGarden will return in January 2026 with a Snowdrop Special.

Thank You to all of our listeners and we wish you a very Happy Christmas.

Geraldine and Claire

Lots of gift ideas for the gardener in your life, or even more importantly, some advice on what NOT to buy them this festive season.

Mentions:

Martha Swales

Sue Stuart Smith

Simon Barnes

T.F. Maher -Pathana Garden

Jimi Blake - Hunting brook Garden

Naturally at the Wren's Nest

Sobal Soap

Bread & Weather

Jennifer Slattery Textiles

Throwing Shapes Ceramic Studio

Flower Pop

Hopeless Botanics

Lilliput Stores

Bunched

Sweetpea & Willow

Botanic Garden

They are joined by Danielle Doody of Naturally at the Wren's Nest who shares her passion for Irish native plants and her journey in creating natural products.

The conversation explores the importance of native plants, sustainable gardening practices, and the benefit of using natural remedies. Danielle also discusses her personal projects, including her garden and making herbal tinctures.

Geraldine talks mulch and explains how to make Leaf Mould "nature's gift" and it's finally time to plant those Tulip Bulbs.

Claire rediscovers her love for a yellow David Austin rose called "Bring me Sunshine" and gets over her aversion to eating pumpkins.

Tune in for more.

She also explains her new approach to dividing Dahlias.

Claire plans to move some Bush Grasses - Calamagrostis and asks Geraldine for tips on growing Snowdrops.

`Also, plenty of chat on Autumnal colour and jobs to do in the garden at the moment,.

Expect plenty of chat about Spring Bulbs and the top "Do's and Don't" for successful planting of Narcissi, Hyacinths and Allium.

Claire explains how to get going on forced bulbs that will provide much-anticipated flowers for Christmas, while Geraldine gives her Top Three Shrubs for Winter Scent.

Plants Mentioned in Episode 06

1. Kirengoshima Palmaka
2. Hosta
3. Malus (Crab Apples)
4. Thunbergia

Shrubs for Winter Scent

1. Sarcococca
2. Viburnum Bodnantense
3. Daphne (Mezereum, Odora, Bholma)

@mickkellygrows

Claire reflects on the plants that have done well and earned their place in her small garden, as well as those that haven't thrived in pots.

While Geraldine talks Asters and prolonging colour in the garden for as long as possible.

They also chat Irish Grown Cut Flowers and the importance of helping this industry to continue flourishing.

Asters

1. Aster Frikartii
2. Aster Little Carlow
3. Asmster Nonae Angliae Alma Potschke
4. Aster Asperulus

Mentions

1. @flowerfarmersireland
2. @rhsi
3. @theshackletongarden
4. @theirishflowerfarmer

Claire arrives back from holiday in France to find her plants have flourished in the good weather at home. Geraldine gives an update on her dry garden and profiles the dependable and very pretty, Japanese Anemone.

They also help some listeners with their gardening conundrums and announce an exciting Seed Giveaway!

This episode's Plant Profile:

Japanese Anemones, also known as Anemone Hupensis, now called Eriocapitella.

Varieties:

1. Honouring Joubert
2. Serenade
3. Queen Charlotte
4. The Swan Series

Seeds Available for Giveaway

1. Opium Poppy
2. Nigella
3. Aquilega (actual ejits!)
4. Sweetpea

There's also the usual catch up on what's been happening in their gardens, as well as more Spring Bulbs.

Here are some of their favourite Dahlias

1. Dinner Plates - Cafe au Lait, Shiloh Noelle
2. Pom Pom - (All the Joweys) e.g. Jowey Winnie, Jowey Paula, Jowey Nicky & many more., Downham Royal, Cornel Bronze, Purple Fox
3. Cactus - Nuit d'Ete, Hollyhill Spider Woman, My Loved, Park Princess
4. Waterlily - Onesta, Eveline, Bracken Ballerina

In today's episode of Big Garden Little Garden we talk colour and how to use it to create show-stopping, displays of tulips.

We also catch up about jobs we've been doing in our gardens and discuss an interesting aspect to prolonging the length of the Antirrhinum cutting season.

As promised, Geraldine has listed some Tulip Recipes below to match the named colour combinations that Claire discusses in the podcast.

She has also included a list of Double Tulips (Claire's favourite), as well as some suggested links to help get you started with tulip planning and purchasing.

Enjoy!

Golden hour

1. Apricot Delight
2. Angel's Wish
3. Amazing Parrot
4. China Town
5. City of Vancouver
6. Blushing Impression

Berry Tones

1. Princess Irene
2. Havran
3. Couleur Cardinal
4. Black Bean
5. Ballerina
6. Lilac Perfection

Carnival

1. Mariette
2. Orange Marmalade
3. Crown Jewel
4. Rococco
5. Daydream
6. Ballerina

Cool and Crisp

1. Spring Green
2. Green Star
3. White Trumphator
4. Concerto
5. Exotic Emperor

Monochrome

1. Ballerina
2. White Trumphator
3. Any Lily Flowered Tulip

Double Tulips

1. Angelique
2. La Belle Epoch
3. Black Hero
4. Amazing Grace
5. Danceline

Suggested links:

https://www.mrmiddleton.com/

https://www.peternyssen.com/

https://www.tulipstore.eu/en/

https://www.farmergracy.co.uk/