Gardeners' Corner

A garden that has to look good in every season is the Horatio’s Garden at Musgrave Park Hospital in south Belfast. Two years after it was planted up, David Maxwell chats to head gardener Matthew Lee about how the garden continues to change, and about the great groundcover plants that help keep weeding to a minimum. Adam Frost begins his new ‘Bulb of the month’ series with the common snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis. Ahead of the Big Garden Birdwatch, the RSPB’s Claire Barnett visits David’s garden to find out what’s coming to his feeders. In studio, gardener Anna Hudson, brings some seasonal highlights from the Ballywalter and answers questions live. Contact the programme on [email protected]

As the film Hamnet goes on general release, David Maxwell chats to herb expert Jekka McVicar about the role she played in advising the production on Elizabethan herbs. In Ratoath, County Meath, nursery owner John Lord is finding new opportunities in a garden he’s developed over 30 years. He explains how it’s become a playground for plants that serve to inspire both expert and novice gardeners alike. Listener Michael McLean gets a visit from Gardeners’ Corner – he invited the programme to see a garden he’s lovingly creating over a lifetime on a hillside above Newcastle. Also on the programme, a tribute to the late Seamus O’Brien who was head gardener at the National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh in County Wicklow and widely regarded as one of Ireland’s greatest plantsmen. Ann FitzSimons joins David in studio. Email the programme at [email protected]

As one year gives way to the next, join David Maxwell on a journey through the seasons with highlights from the last 12 months of Gardeners’ Corner. From clearing up after Storm Éowyn to pristine show gardens, from celebrities to school children and with callers from Ballyclare to San Francisco, David sums up the joy of a programme that celebrated 40 years on the airwaves in 2025.

In this episode of Gardeners' Corner, David Maxwell visits what some call 'Ireland's secret garden' - Kilmacurragh in County Wicklow. The site became part of the National Botanic Gardens in 1996 and since then a restoration programme has been underway. Leading the tour of the gardens, which boast a vast plant collection, is head gardener Seamus O'Brien.
From a 'Peter Pan' tree which thinks it's a child but is over 100 years old to a plant which traps animals so their decaying bodies give it food.
Seamus is also continuing the work of the Victorian plant hunters. He has gathered plants from Chile, China and Tasmania on his own plant hunting expeditions. Also joining the tour of the gardens is Neil Porteous from Mount Stewart. The two gardens cooperate in the work of creating a 'Noah's Ark' of endangered southern hemisphere plants in the temperate Irish climate.

Join David Maxwell and the gardening gang for a very festive Gardeners’ Corner Christmas special from the National Trust’s Rowallane Gardens in Saintfield, County Down. The team leave behind their dirty denims and don their festive finest for an outdoor gathering around a crackling fire. With mystery seeds in crackers, Secret Santa silliness, and festive food from the garden, all washed down with some seasonal gardening know-how – this is one Christmas Special you won’t want to miss. Email the programme at [email protected]