Zoom Talks Round-Up – 2025

As the sun begins to shine brighter and the garden calls us outdoors once more, it’s time to pause, take a breath, and reflect on another fantastic season of RHSI Zoom Talks.

What a line-up we’ve had! From award-winning garden designers to globe-trotting plantspeople, vegetable-growing revolutionaries to soil-whispering sages — we’ve truly covered it all. These talks have taken us from the windswept coast of Tramore to the sacred peaks of Yunnan, and even deep underground to the mysteries of the soil itself.

Huge thanks must go to our wonderful speakers, who so generously shared their knowledge, stories, and a good dose of inspiration. Just a few highlights (and we really mean a few, because every single talk was a gem):

Laura Cassin transported us to the poetic beauty of the Lafcadio Hearn Garden — a tribute in green to an extraordinary Irish-Greek writer with a Japanese soul.
Mick Kelly reminded us that growing your own veg isn’t just about food — it’s about empathy, connection, and getting our hands gloriously dirty.
Marcus Chilton-Jones led us through the monumental creation of RHS Bridgewater — a masterclass in vision, grit, and horticultural passion.
Ben Preston inspired with the story of Cliff Bank Nursery, where dreams (and perennials) are being tenderly brought back to life.
We ventured to Yunnan with Seamus O’Brien to trace the path of Frank Kingdon Ward, where rhododendrons meet monsoon mist and giant lilies bloom beneath ancient trees.
John Anderson, with the wisdom of experience from Windsor to Wicklow, looked to the future of trees in a warming world.
And of course, Jeff Lowenfels, the Lord of the Roots himself, left us all wide-eyed with his epic tales of soil life and the secret world beneath our feet.

And that’s not even the full list!

Of course, none of this would be possible without our tireless Events Committee, who, all as volunteers, continue to pull together such a stellar roster of speakers season after season. Their dedication is truly the roots and backbone of this programme — thank you, thank you, thank you.

A very special shout-out must go to our Chair, Philip Hollwey, who brings such grace, warmth, and humour to every single Zoom session. His inclusive hosting style, thoughtful introductions, and turns of phrase so lovely they could be bottled and sold at the Chelsea Flower Show, make each talk feel like a gathering of friends rather than just another online lecture. We are so lucky to have him.

If you missed a talk (or simply want to watch them again with a cup of tea in hand), most of them have been recorded and are available in the Members’ Area on our website RHSI.ie. Forgotten the password? No problem at all — just drop me an email at info@rhsi.ie and I’ll be delighted to send it on.

And with that, we gently close the Zoom curtain for this season. We’ll be back in September with more horticultural goodness — but for now, soak up this glorious weather and spend as much time as you can with your hands in the soil and your face to the sun.

See you in the garden,
Orlaith

RHSI Zoom Talks