Reminds me of childhood holidays down the country: the callows, the hedgerows, the tracks and boreens. But why have they introduced this area in the National Botanical Gardens? Because the wild meadows and woodlands have largely disappeared down the country and science needs to preserve a remnant. When I was a child, there was a stern notice at the entrance to the Botanics. I don'r recall the exact words, but the import of the notice was: "This is not a recreational park, but a scientific institution." All my life I have been taking a furtive pleasure in this serious place of science.
Click to enlarge and read the notice
Around the ruins of old houses, we find many medicinal plants, some from the garden and some remnants of plants grown indoors, non-native as well as native. Country cures for all ills!
Wild strawberries: ripe now
Bramble blossoms: blackberries in a few months' time
A prayer tree: old tradition: tie a rag to the tree as symbol of your prayer
Wild plum tree: you'll have to enlarge (by clicking the image) to see the unripe plums
Recreating the Burren
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