This year's Buds & Blossoms Garden Festival promises a weekend of fantastic events, tours, talks and workshops.

From June 6 to June 8, gardens will open across Laois for fabulous events, leading up to the official festival in Spink's Community Grounds on Sunday June 8.

This fabulous festival promises a celebration of plants, gardening, green living, and outdoor inspiration continues to grow in popularity with visitors from across the country.

This year’s event boasts an exceptional line-up of renowned speakers, including:

Tom Coward, Head Gardener at the world-famous Gravetye Manor, former home of Laois- born gardening pioneer William Robinson. Tom brings decades of insight from his work in some of the UK’s most admired gardens, including Great Dixter and Kew.

See More: PICTURES: Blooming great time at Laois Buds and Blossoms festival!

Colin Jones of Salterbridge House & Gardens, Co. Waterford, will share expert advice on growing your own cut flowers.

John Jones returns with his engaging and informative talk on ‘Garden to Fork’, focusing on growing your own food and using it creatively in the kitchen.

Beyond the talks, Buds & Blossoms offers a full day of activities and entertainment for all ages.

Families can enjoy free children's activities, including Pot-a-Plant, Giant Games, and lots of dedicated children’s entertainment throughout the day.

Visitors can browse the bustling plant village, explore a variety of garden and craft stalls, indulge in delicious bites from the Laois Taste Collective and other food vendors, and chat with local producers.

Adding to the vibrant atmosphere, live music from Paris Swing will provide a perfect soundtrack to your day out.

See the full roundup of events below.

Friday, June 6

On Friday June 6, there will be a polytunnel course provided by Dunmore Country School in Durrow.

Learn how to manage your polytunnel intensively and sustainably, with tips on water saving, disease prevention, tomato production, growing peppers, cucumbers, basil, sweet potatoes, sun berries and more.

Tickets for this event are €63.60 each. There is a 15% discount for attendees during Laois Garden Festival. Please use the special promotional code LGF15% when booking online. Offer applies only to courses on June 6 and June 7, 2025.

Advance booking is essential as places are limited.

Saturday, June 7

Dunmore Country School will also be providing a Grow Your Own Food workshop on Saturday June 7.

This one day workshop will teach attendees how to grow food sustainably using simple, no-dig gardening techniques.

This method not only improves soil health but also saves time and reduces strain, making it a back-friendly gardening solution.

The approach also encourages minimal weeding through the use of mulching techniques and old techniques like coppicing and pollarding.

Ticket price is €127.20, with booking essential.

Gash Gardens will hold a guided Walk'n'Talk with owner Mary Keenan.

The garden features an amazing oasis packed with interesting and unusual plants to lure and inspire both the keen plants person and the garden novice.

Colourful herbaceous borders, a large rock garden and a well established collection of trees, shrubs, rhododendrons and deliciously perfumed old style roses all feature.

Enjoy the soothing ambience of still ponds and meandering streams. Whether you are a keen gardener, an armchair gardener or a visitor looking for an enjoyable day out, then Gash Gardens is for you.

Tickets €10 per person, with advanced booking essential.

The garden will also open to visit 11am-5pm on Thursday  June 5, Friday 6 and Saturday June 7.

Gortnalee Garden in Donaghmore will open for an afternoon of music.

From 2:30pm to 5:30pm, enjoy a traditional music session with the group Teallach, featuring John Brennan, Joe Brennan, Paul Fox, Colum King and Mary McColgan.

Their name means ‘Hearth’ and their music reflects the music of the fireside. Afterwards, owner Hazel Luskin will bring visitors on a tour of the garden exploring her use of self-seeding plants. Music at 3pm.

Admission is free. Donations for the favourite Charity of these gardens, Laois Hospice.

Due to limited space, tickets are essential.

From 11am to 5pm, Hazelbrook Gardens will open to the public.

There will be a floral demonstration with seasonal flowers from 2pm to 3pm.

The price for this event is €10.00 per person. Advance booking is essential as places are limited.

For more information or to make a booking contact: Julie-Anne Kelly at 087 7587178 or email: JulieAnne@thesoulfulgardener.ie or message via Instagram @thesoulfulgardenerlaois

Sunday, June 8

The weekend of events will come to a close with the Buds & Blossom's Festival in Spink Community Grounds.

The event will feature gardening speakers, leading plant specialists and suppliers, local food producers, music and entertainment.

Speakers include Tom Coward, Gravetye Manor; Colin Jones, Salterbridge House and Gardens; and John Jones, Master My Garden podcast.

Early bird tickets are €8 plus booking fee, with tickets €10 on the day. Student tickets are €5 plus booking fee. Children under 12 go FREE.