June Blake, Gardener

June was born in West Wicklow, where she still lives on the family farm. Initially, she trained as a jeweller before turning her hand to sheep farming. Then, in 2002, June drifted into gardening, and realised very quickly that this was her true passion. Using the same skill and creativity that she did in her earlier career, she created what has been described as an ‘excitingly contemporary garden’. Situated around her home in the townland of Tinode, June’s garden spreads over three acres. According to Shirley Lanigan’s The 100 Best Gardens in Ireland, ‘June is one of the best plantswomen in the country. Her garden is a rare treat, a modern garden that draws in the visitor and wraps them in flowers’.

Photo: Beta Bajgart