Bugle Bugle (1) E. Ó Murchú Bugle (Ajuga reptans) or Glasair choille in Irish is a perennial plant that can be seen from now until June in damp woods and shady places, in hedges, on roadsides and on grassy banks as it displays its deep blue flower spikes to passing bees and butterflies (1) Patch…
Plants for the May Pot Wild garlic (1) Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum) or Ramsons or Creamh in Irish has been carpeting damp woodland and hedge banks since April displaying its starry clusters of white flowers and contrasting with the bluebells that favour the same habitat (1). Leaf of Wild garlic (2) The leaves are broad…
Red Campion Red Campion (1) The Red Campion (Silene dioica) or Coireán coilleach in Irish can now be seen displaying its rose-pink, attractive flowers in the shade of hedgerows, woodland clearings, meadows, cliffs and grassy banks (1). Leaves (2) This is a short-lived perennial plant, 30cm to 1m tall which continues to flower into June…
Stars of the Hedgerow Greater stitchwort (1) Credit E.Ó Murchú The Greater Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea) or Tursarraing mhór in Irish is now scrambling along the hedgerows and brightening up their shady bases (1). It can also be seen in woods, gardens and waste places. April, May and June are its flowering months. It bears five…
Survivor from Dinosaur Days Spore producing cones (1a) Spore producing cones (1b) The Common Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) or Scuab eich ghoirt in Irish is about to begin its journey of growing and propagating itself after lying dormant and underground over the winter. Just now its white or pale brown fertile stems are appearing above ground…
April Buttons of Gold Bank of dandelions (1) The Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) or Caisearbhán in Irish is very noticeable now on road verges, waste places, embankments, lawns and banks of canal, stream and river. It flowers from March to October (1).Many people consider it a troublesome weed because it spreads quickly, and its deep tap…
Ovals of Gold Male catkins (Credit E. Ó Murchú) (1) The Goat willow (Salix caprea) or Saileach dubh in Irish is inconspicuous for most of the year. However, in March it displays its male catkins which are covered in golden pollen. These make it stand out in the hedgerows before it fades back into obscurity…
Bud Detectives in March Rowan bud (1) Credit E. Ó Murchú It’s always interesting on March walks to examine different types of buds and identifying the trees they are growing on. Today, we will concentrate on the above three. Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) or Caorthann in Irish has buds that are egg shaped, grey, pointy and…
Shamrock Yellow clover (1a) Scrambling yellow clover on wall (1b) St. Patrick arrived to spread Christianity throughout the island in 432 A.D. and it is said that he used the shamrock as a metaphor for the holy Trinity. But which one? There are five contenders for the title.The word “Shamrock” itself is derived from two…
Primroses Primroses (1) Primrose (Primula vulgaris) or Sabhaircín in Irish is a true harbinger of spring. Its English name derives from the Latin words prima rosa which means “first flower”. It has pale yellow petals and wrinkled dark green leaves (1). There are lines of darker yellow towards the centre of the flower. These are…
What is important is that children have the opportunity to bond with the natural world, to learn to love it, before being asked to heal its wounds
(David Sobel)
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