Abbey Blooms Gardens Summer 2025 in review

Summer 2025 was a great time for growth in the gardens. It was the best year yet since the gardens opened in 2021. We had magnificent and vibrant displays of color throughout the summer in all the flower beds. The butterfly loving plants such as buddleia were awash with color, with the Conical-shaped flower heads in purple and white. Red admirals and cabbage white butterflies added to the bursts of color.

The peony roses were showcased with their clusters of unfurling petals, while annuals like dianthus, geraniums and verbena remained ever popular with our visitors to the gardens. The highlight of the gardens this year has been the rose garden with its wonderful display of color and variety—something any gardener would be proud of

Some of our beautiful blooms

Our customers like to stroll around the winding paths and immerse themselves in the tranquil atmosphere here at Abbey Blooms, listening to the flowing waters from our water feature and enjoying the scent of the wisteria canopy overhead.

This summer, our garden cabin was newly renovated with a large window overlooking the gardens—perfect for those not-so-sunny days. It has been freshly painted both inside and out, helping it blend with the garden's calm atmosphere. We've introduced high barrel tables and stools so that customers can enjoy a panoramic view of the gardens while sipping coffee and enjoying treats from our wonderful café.We had some wonderful events in the garden this summer. One highlight was a talk by local beekeepers on beekeeping and biodiversity—a fascinating few hours filled with insights into the life cycle of bees and their vital role in the health of our garden. We also hosted workshops in our polytunnel and throughout the gardens with the Longford and Westmeath Down Syndrome groups We had many people though our door including our fantastic Interns who completed their Internships in Cafe & Event managment. The TY group from Wilsons Hospital school who came for a talk on managing a business like Abbey Blooms. Well done to all!

Ruth with Cafe staff

Students from Wilsons Hospital School

The local Men's Shed plays music in the gardens on Thursdays, lightening the mood with the sounds of guitars, banjos, and melodious male voices. All in all, it has been a great summer here at Abbey Blooms. Now, as we head into autumn, we're preparing for the arrival of the man in the red suit and our Christmas experience—which promises to be even better than in previous years