Annette Dalton interview
Biography
Born to Irish parents in New York, Annette moved to Kerry with her family at the age of 4 ½ and discovered a love of gardening later in life. A career in TV as a wardrobe and props trainee gave way to a passion for gardening when she moved to a rented house with her sister and decided to tackle the mess that was the garden. It was at this time that she was the happiest – being in the garden and making it beautiful.
This discovery led to a Landscaping Course (City & Guilds), followed by a certificate in Horticulture and a year as a Rural Field Officer for Conservation Volunteers Ireland before Annette took the decision to do the 3 year Diploma in Horticulture at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin in Dublin. She moved to London in 2002 and found a job at Kew Gardens. She has been here for almost 4 years and now manages two teams of 12-14 people each and is also a Sectional Volunteer Co-ordinator.
Who has influenced you the most in your gardening and why?
My father was a keen gardener and always supplied half the neighbourhood with produce from the garden. My grandmother on my mother’s side is still a keen gardener at 94 so it seems to run in the family.
What has been the best moment while working on your garden?
Probably standing on a ladder pruning something on a wall in a client’s garden and getting a phone call on my mobile saying I had got the job at Kew.
What has been the worst moment?
The first time I used an electric hover-mower. The grass was very long, and the whole thing was a bit of a disaster!
Which gardening personality do you most admire?
I really admire Diarmuid Gavin. He’s a friend of mine, and he has taken a lot of stick over the years, but he has always been true to his own vision. He has pushed the boundaries of garden design and made a lot of people look at, and think about their gardens in a different way. He is a gardener and an artist!
What is your favourite garden and why?
The National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, in Dublin. It’s 44 acres, a manageable size, and is very close to the city centre. It has a lovely pond & the river Tolka flows through it also. The Curvilinear Range of glasshouses and the Palm House were built by Turner, who built the Palm House at Kew. It’s lovely…and it’s free!
What is your favourite garden tip?
Get out there and just try it. Don’t be scared. Just get started.
Name your favourite plant
I’m loving sweetcorn this season – it’s jumping out of the ground. You can almost see it growing, and it makes the end of my garden look so lush!
What is your favourite gardening season and why?
Spring because it’s exciting to be planting seeds, and the Woodland Garden at Kew is just amazing at this time.
What is your first gardening memory?
Making mud pies! I must have been 4 as it was in our backyard in New York before we moved back to Ireland.
What is the most exciting wildlife you have seen in a garden?
I saw a badger in Kew one night, and got about a foot away from it before it ran off. That was exciting.
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