Complete Index

With sumptuous views of the gardens and the nearby mountains, the house and Garden Room are the perfect classrooms for the variety of courses offered by Jimi and wide range of enthusiastic teachers. For practical demonstrations, the whole of Hunting Brook becomes an outdoor classroom.

This year's schedule includes courses on many aspects of gardening including design with plants, vegetable growing. introductions to rare and exotic plants and garden maintenance.  These classes are designed to be enjoyable, informative and, in many cases, practical in nature and are taught by enthusiastic instructors who know and enjoy their craft.

Gift vouchers are available from €50 upwards.

We can also organise specific courses or days out for groups such as garden clubs, staff days or corporate events. Just contact us for details.

1. TUESDAY MORNING BEGINNERS’ GARDENING COURSE
2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th March & 6th April;10am-12.00pm.

This course is for the beginner for practical hands-on gardening. The course covers topics such as soil preparation, cutting back, pruning, growing plants from seed, cuttings and division, growing vegetables, fruits and herbs, How and where to plant them properly, Plant combinations and many more techniques. 
Cost €190

A 50% deposit is required to book this course.

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2. BEGINNERS’ VEGETABLE GROWING WITH JIMI BLAKE
ONE-DAY COURSE
27th February, Repeated on 13th March,& 18th April; 10am to 4pm

Jimi will take you on a trip through the seasons and show you how to bring organic vegetables straight from the garden to the larder as he reveals the wide range of produce you can grow yourself. Learn how to keep your vegetable garden packed all year round with tasty, healthy and varied produce. The class will conclude with visit to the Hunting Brook allotments. Cost €120

A 50% deposit is required to book this course.

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3. GROWING VEGETABLES IN POLYTUNNELS OR GLASSHOUSES WITH KLAUS LAITENBERGER
21st March; 10am to 4pm

Klaus will help us maximise our glasshouses and polytunnel to extend our vegetable harvest all year round while learning to grow tender crops and herbs. Discover how to prepare the soil, rotate crops, best varieties to grow and much more. 
Cost €120

A 50% deposit is required to book this course.

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4. TUESDAY MORNING BEGINNERS’ LEVEL 1 GARDENING COURSE 
WITH JIMI BLAKE 10.00am – 12.00pm.
13th, 20th, 27th April & 4th, 11th, 18th May

For details, please see course number 1.
Cost €190

A 50% deposit is required to book this course.

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5. WEDNESDAY MORNING BEGINNERS’ LEVEL 2 GARDENING COURSE WITH JIMI BLAKE
14th, 21th, 28th April & 5th, 12th, 19th May; 10am – 12.00pm

This course is designed for those who have a basic knowledge of gardening and would like to know more. It will cover both ornamental gardening and vegetable growing, with lots of hints and techniques to help you make the most of your garden. This course is an ideal follow-on from the beginners gardening course.
Cost €190

A 50% deposit is required to book this course.

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6. CAROL KLEIN (Gardeners World) PROPAGATION MASTERCLASS
12th June; 10.15am to 4.30pm

Carol is making a welcome return to Hunting Brook to share her knowledge and passion for propagation. Today she gives a master class demonstrating her techniques of propagation for a wide variety of plants that she uses in her own garden and nursery. (Based on her new propagation book) Cost €180

A 50% deposit is required to book this course.

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7. CAROL KLEIN (Gardeners World)– A YEAR IN THE GARDEN
13th June; 10.15am to 4.30pm

Carol will talk about her year in the garden telling us month by month what she does in her own garden at Glebe Cottage. Carol will give lectures and practical demonstrations at the gardens in Hunting Brook.
Cost €180

A 50% deposit is required to book this course.

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8. WILD FOOD FORAGING WITH PAUL MCCULLA
3rd July; 10.15am to 4.30pm

The aim is to provide a general introduction to seasonally available Wild Plants, how to harvest them sustainably and how to utilize them as food. Including wild food lunch.
Cost €120

A 50% deposit is required to book this course.

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9. FERGUS GARRETT – GREAT DIXTER
‘Planting for a Longer Season’ & ‘Designing with Plants’
24th July; 10.15am to 4pm

Fergus Garrett will talk you through how to plan and put into practice a long season border using; structural plants, under planting and interplanting of bulbs, use of self-sowers, pockets of bedding, masking with climbers, and good maintenance. This is a very intensive day. The afternoon will be discovering how to combine great planting, learn whether colour is more important than shape or form and uncover the art of truly great planting. Cost €170

A 50% deposit is required to book this course.

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10. FERGUS GARRETT - EXOTIC GARDENS AND MEADOWS
25th July 10.15am – 4.30pm

In the morning Fergus will give us an insight into Great Dixter’s Famous Tropical Gardens. From design, plant choice, the act of planting and maintenance, to the winter care of plants
for the afternoon Fergus will share the secrets of Meadow Gardening using the marvellous Great Dixter Meadows as an example through his slide shows. Fergus will take you through the process of creating your own meadow and maintaining it.
Cost €170

A 50% deposit is required to book this course.

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11. BOTANICAL DRAWING & PAINTING WITH SUSAN SEX, BOTANICAL ARTIST
4th, 5th September; 10.15am to 4pm

Enjoy two full days of botanical art; create realistic images of living plants at Hunting Brook when it is at its most picturesque. Susan is one of Ireland’s foremost botanical artists, and has been awarded three gold medals by the Royal Horticultural Society and is responsible for An Post’s ‘Wild Flowers of Ireland’ series. Basic knowledge of drawing is needed and places are limited to 12 people.

Cost €210.00 (2 Days)

A 50% deposit is required to book this course.

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12. ONE-YEAR PLANTS PERSONS COURSE –
ONE SATURDAY A MONTH STARTING:
10.15am – 4.30pm

This lecture and garden-based course is designed to give a thorough understanding of a broad range of plants from the common and reliable to the rare and unusual. The course is especially suited to the enthusiastic gardener with a basic knowledge of plants. The course takes place on 12 Saturdays throughout the year, from September 2010 to August 2011. The first class will take place on 18th September.
Cost €895. Deposit €150 (Balance can be paid in instalments).

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13. TUESDAY MORNING BEGINNERS’ LEVEL 1 GARDENING COURSE - WITH JIMI BLAKE

7th, 14th, 21st, 28th September & 5th, 12th October
For details, please see course number 1.
Cost €190

A 50% deposit is required to book this course.

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14. GARDENING MASTERCLASS WITH JIMI BLAKE
19th September; 10.15am to 4pm

Jimi will give illustrated talks and practical demonstrations on the use of ornamental grasses and perennials in the garden, designing with plants and extending the seasons of interest.
Cost €120

A 50% deposit is required to book this course.

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15. CHRISTMAS FLORAL ARRANGEMENT DEMONSTRATION WITH YVONNE O’NEILL
27th November; 10.15am to 4pm

A day-long demonstration of Christmas and festive contemporary flower arranging for the home and special occasions. You are guaranteed to go home inspired to create flower arrangements that are stunning and different from the norm.
Cost €120

A 50% deposit is required to book this course.

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In addition to the courses offered by Jimi at Hunting Brook, we are pleased to announce other independent courses which are being offered by other instructors who are using the facilities at Hunting Brook.