The Dublin National Botanic Gardens host some of the most beautiful varieties of exotic plants in Ireland. An impressive 20,000 living examples of flora flourish within its bounds, many of which are kept in individual rooms where climate is delicately controlled. The colours displayed by the intermittently flowering cacti and the world class collection of orchids present offer sights of peculiar loveliness. Outside, the willows overhanging the waters likewise act to illustrate beatific plant beauty.
As well as being interesting for the botanic variety and staggering biodiversity on display, the National Botanic Gardens are themselves comprised of architecturally important greenhouses. Its Palm House was assembled in the 1860s – although renovations have taken place since, the structure remains much as it was. A recent innovation is the audio tours that allow people with mp3-capable phones the opportunity to guide themselves throughout the displays.
| Address: | Garden Catering & Tearoom, Education Visitor’s Centre, National Botanic Gardens, Botanic Road, Dublin 9, D09 YV29, Ireland. |
|---|---|
| Phone: | +353 1 804 0300 |
| Email: | botanicgardens@opw.ie |
| Website: | http://www.botanicgardens.ie/ |