Ciara C.
Yelp
On a sunny bank holiday in May, there may be no better place to come to observe almost as broad a cross-section of Dublin life as its worldwide plant counterparts, for on such days Dubliners in search of diversion flock to these gardens in their droves. All ages, shapes and sizes are to be found wandering its grounds, happily lulled into an easy sense of harmony with nature, however man-made.
And why wouldn't they? This Irish treasure is big, beautiful, and exudes a welcoming atmosphere, with the exception of the odd underwhelmed botanist whom you'd guess may have devoted their life to plants to escape all that messy human-interaction business, as they glare beadily at anyone who gets too close to a rooted thing for their liking. But, in the main, Homo sapiens is a welcome genus here.
In all seasons, the Bots, their local moniker, are well worth a visit, and there is artistic life to enjoy including the stunning new DNA sculpture of a double helix, down by the river, which was recently unveiled in the presence of none other than D-H discoverer himself, Nobel laureate Jim Watson.
In spring and summer, though, the gardens come into their own, and the array of colour and diversity stops people in their tracks. You can almost taste the delicious aroma that wafts your way as you walk the flower pathways. There's also an organic walled garden and bee hives.
The Tolka River runs through the Bots and there are large ponds which are gorgeous to sit beside and read or have a picnic, though I think that strictly speaking picnicking is out here, so it wouldn't be a lavish or overt affair. Surreptitious snacking, let's call it.
There are two cafes, one large and a little canteen-feeling, but run by very friendly staff, even if the quality of the food doesn't quite live up to the service. I think it's improved over the past while though and there's a good range as they attempt to cater to all tastes. The alternative, newer café has less choice but is pretty good, and has a good range of cakes and sweet things. Oh, and the ubiquitous whipped ice cream (an Irish institution) that kids go crazy for when the clouds split for even five minutes (which, go figure, is the amount of time it takes for the vans that churn out the stuff to arrive, happiness-sirens sounding, in a suburban estate near you).
SAD sufferers far and wide can take winter refuge in the huge central glasshouse, in fact I've harboured fantasies of moving in for just a week or two in the darkest months, its tropical temperatures being a welcome reprieve from the cold and grey, as you become temporarily engulfed in a canopy of green. There's a little bamboo house in its centre, and my kids have spent many happy times here playing games as I've sat on the steps and gazed into the mini-jungle of green, lapping up the warmth.
The Bots borders Glasnevin cemetery and I have it on good advice that before too long there will be an adjoining gate between the two, which is a fantastic plan as both are places of great interest and exploratory possibility, yet to get from one to the other currently is quite the round trip. So come on Dublin council, make good on your promise and don't make us wait.
One of the things I love most about this place is that it's not a park (with added advantage of no dogs, therefore no messes on kids' shoes), there is no playground, and therefore kids are ushered into the world of self-invented play. Trees with canopies become houses, sticks and fallen foliage are gathered and put to use, mostly clean-intentioned, and they proudly collect the small spoils of nature so essential to their adventures in the outdoors. It brings me back, and I never walk the river path without remembering my own indelible childhood moment from these gardens: age five or six, stopping with an open lace along that path and being shown how to tie it and, for the first time, succeeding all by myself.
The Botanical Gardens is a great place to make memories, to watch children bloom, to take an elderly parent or relative, to talk with friends, to walk, draw or read a book by yourself, in an environment of botanical glory. So, not a bad spot to be a botanist, too. But, most of all, the perfect place to simply be.
