We all want to be a bit more mindful of what we put in our bodies. Especially when we’re feeling under the weather.
One ingredient that might often be overlooked is honey! Yes, we’re all big fans here at VIP.
We caught up with award-winning gardener Leonie Cornelius who is working with honey-led brand Zarbees to create a gorgeous garden at Bloom this year.
And why we should be bringing honey into our lives…
Tell us a bit about Zarbees and working with them in the garden.
Zarbees is a fabulous new honey-based range of cough and sore throat syrups and immune support supplements made with naturally sourced ingredients. What I love most about the brand is the fact that it supports us using the power of wild nature. This ‘liquid gold’ is what inspired me to create Óir- The Zarbee’s Garden which will be shown at Bord Bia Bloom this June bank holiday weekend.
We are such big fans of honey, tell us about the benefits of it!
Honey is magic! It has the most amazing health benefits. It is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and has antibacterial agents in it. It’s one of these incredible things that has so many health benefits.
Should we be including honey in our daily routine?
I have heard that including a spoonful of honey-especially unprocessed honey- in our everyday routine is linked to many health benefits. I love having it in everything from tea to toast.
Being more mindful of what we’re putting in our bodies is so important. Is this something you feel strongly about?
Being mindful of what we are putting in our bodies is so important and something that I feel very strongly about. We really are what we eat and by adding something like honey to our diet we are getting so much beneficial goodness. I like to think that the more we embrace the power of wild nutrition – be it honey organic salad flowers or seasonal produce – the more we are living in tune with nature and the healthier we become as humans. It’s actually common sense when you think about it and it all links back to being aware and mindful about what is good for us and what isn’t. We literally have a gut reaction which we need to trust more!
Tell us about your gorgeous Garden at Bloom – what is the inspiration and what do you hope people get from it?
The garden is called ‘Óir- The Zarbee’s Garden’ and it takes its inspiration from the power of the wild and precious liquid gold that is honey (which is one of the main ingredients in the Zarbees products). The garden will explore big ideas on well-being, how planting can attract both glimmers of light and life to the smallest spaces and how the tiniest things can bring the greatest joy.
The garden will be filled with scent and colour with pollinator-friendly planting, soft blues, pinks and lavenders, headily scented herbs along with surprise pops of colour from the lowly dandelion, a vital first food source for bees that brings bursts of sunshine and draws hum to the hedgerows after a long winter.
We will also have some really beautiful custom pieces of sculpture, amazing furniture mature trees and some beautiful details in the garden which celebrate bees, wild nature and connection.
Essentially I really hope that people who visit the garden will feel a sense of connection – like a great big comfortable hug – and feel connected to nature and themselves. The planting will really be chosen to celebrate bees and evoke a sense of wild joy and I really hope it will draw people in and make them feel connected and joyful.
Óir – The Zarbee’s® Garden, designed by Leonie Cornelius will be located in area 19 at Bord Bia Bloom in the Phoenix Park, May 30th to June 3rd, 2024, running from 9am to 6pm daily. The Zarbee’s® team will be there all weekend where you can taste the range, pick up some planting inspiration or activity sheets and stickers for little ones. For more information on the Zarbee’s® range visit www.zarbees.ie or on Óir – The Zarbee’s® Garden, visit www.bordbiabloom.com.