With their glorious curvilinear glasshouses, exotic plants and remarkable trees, a visit to the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin is one of those wonderful things you keep meaning to do.
The opening of Sculpture in Context, now in its seventh year at the gardens, should give you all the extra impetus you need. For lurking in the shrubberies, nestling among the alpines, and standing in the shade of the trees are some extraordinary works of art. Some are surreal, some simple, and some fantastical. The 100-plus artists include Jackie Ball (whose ceramic snails appear to crawl up the walls of the visitors' centre), Alan Ardiff, Gyr Penn (whose work, Aliens, is pictured above), Leo Higgins, Sonja Landweer, Katy Goodhue and Anna Spearman.
Sculpture in Context 2008 is at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, until October 17th, admission free. www.sculptureinconext.com, www.botanicgardens.ie Gemma Tipton