For years, my gardening routine has included a vital ritual: sitting down with a cup of tea and watching the latest video from John Lord’s Secret Garden YouTube Channel. John’s no-nonsense, energetic advice has given me the confidence to create my own garden. He has an incredible knack for stripping away the snobbery of horticulture, tackling projects with his famous enthusiasm (and interesting tools!), and making the whole process of gardening feel completely achievable rather than daunting.
Eventually, I began to wonder what it would be like to actually visit the garden I had watched for such a long time. That wonder turned into action; I packed my bags, hopped on a flight from England, and made the pilgrimage to County Meath, Ireland, to see the magic in person.
While I always love visiting a garden or plant nursery, I can hand on heart say that I’ve never felt as excited as I did when approaching the entrance to Ratoath Garden Centre. Visiting this place after watching it on a screen for many years felt like a dream. The garden centre itself was bursting with row after row of healthy plants, and I was very struck by how clean and tidy everything was. Then, my visit became even more amazing when I spotted the man himself walking towards me with his dog, Lily!
I was a bit starstruck and stood there like a grinning idiot as I watched John gather up some potted plants from the sales area and head towards the secret garden, but I gathered my courage to follow him and say hello. John could not have been more welcoming, warm, and generous with his time. Meeting him in person completely confirmed what shines through in his videos – he is a true plantsman who is utterly passionate about gardening and wants to help others succeed.
John was genuinely delighted to learn that I had travelled so far to visit his garden centre, and to hear how much I enjoy his YouTube channel. He kindly offered to show me around the garden, and we chatted about the plants and planting techniques as we walked together. I finally got to thank him face-to-face for giving me the confidence to make changes in my own garden. After spending around an hour chatting with John, I continued my tour of the secret garden. I headed over to the pond, which is home to a group of turtles, and was lucky enough to spot a few of them out basking in the afternoon sun.
Stepping into the secret garden felt exactly like walking into one of his videos. The space is beautifully designed, hiding the true scale of the grounds until you pass through the entrance to give visitors a genuine surprise. Walking along the winding pathways, I was completely blown away by the sheer density and health of the planting.
John’s masterful eye for colour and form is evident everywhere you look, from the massive, vibrant herbaceous borders to the lush prairie and woodland areas. I’ve never seen such healthy-looking ferns – obviously thriving in the Irish soil alongside stunning trees. It is one thing to see the garden on a screen, but standing among the many expertly placed plants is an entirely different experience.
I was absolutely itching to buy some plants to replicate John’s iconic style back home. Sadly, I couldn’t due to restrictions at the airport. Instead, I picked out some wonderful garden keepsakes to remember my time at John Lord’s garden – a stone robin and a stone snail, which I shall treasure forever in my own garden plot.
I capped off the perfect day with lunch and a cup of tea at the Wildflower Café right on site, looking out over the borders and feeling incredibly inspired. If you ever get the chance to make the trip over to Ireland, Ratoath Garden Centre is an absolute must-visit destination for any plant lover. If you’re lucky, you might even bump into John Lord!
