EPISODE FIVE (20th May 2025)
In episode five we see Rosie Alabaster, Kildare based but originally from Stamford in Lincolnshire, designing a garden for young couple Adrian and Gabriella, and their dog Leo. Rosie has come up with a strong concept that she hopes will take her to Bord Bia Bloom, a garden inspired by the poem by WB Yeats, Lake Isle of Innisfree. Rosie will be bringing the lake from the poem to her garden with a large wildlife pond which will be the most dominant feature of the design and something that is a first for Super Garden.
Rosie, aged 47, has a background in theatre, having worked as a theatre designer for 20 years and taught at Royal Holloway college. She also wrote children’s books as well as illustration and animation. At the moment Rosie is pursuing a MA in landscape architecture online with the University of Arts, Bournemouth. The course combines her two loves; plants and outdoor spaces. Rosie moved to Ireland 3 years ago as her husband’s job relocated them to Ireland. Her husband, Pascal, is originally from Leitrim, and together they have two children Jack (13) and Meabh (11). Rosie is currently designing a small garden for a charity in north inner city Dublin, that provides education for teenage mums, asylum seekers and anyone in the surrounding community.
Super Garden Series 16
Super Garden, the garden design challenge, is back for its 16th series on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player. Super Garden is proudly sponsored by Woodie’s and Dulux Exteriors.
The winning designer is given the chance to showcase their winning garden at Bord Bia Bloom, where over a hundred thousand visitors will have the chance to see their winning design brought to life, joining the ranks of Ireland’s top garden designers. Each designer is given three weeks and a budget of €15,000 to create their gardens. They are each given a similar sized garden to create their designs, working alongside each other in the new housing development.
Baker Hall in Navan, County Meath, built by Glenveagh Homes, is the location for this year’s Super Garden. The designers will be creating gardens for homeowners, who have recently purchased these new homes with the support of Meath County Council and the Land Development Agency, through the affordable housing scheme.
Overseeing the competition are the three judges;
Brian Burke, representing Woodies and former Super Garden winner
Monica Alvarez, representing Dulux Exteriors
Carol Marks, representing Bord Bia.