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Writer's pictureAli Isaac

Walk of Wonder

Updated: Sep 5, 2020

Bright One
 

I took Indi the Mutt-Hound for a walk up the lane yesterday. Hadn’t been that way with him for a while, and I was blown away by what I found! Irish wildflowers are flourishing in the verges and hedgerows of Ireland, and no one seems to notice or care. Ireland’s countryside is alive with flora and fauna, which we seem oblivious to.


Do I just walk around with my eyes closed? Why have I never noticed this thriving diversity crowding our roadsides? It may sound crazy, but I felt like these beauties were introducing themselves to me, they were just jumping out at me wherever I turned! I feel so glad, but saddened that it’s taken so long.


There were daisies and dandelions and buttercups everywhere of course. But then I spotted this…

 
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Ferns are beginning to unfurl. There is something wonderfully prehistoric and primeval about ferns, I think, especially at this stage. I love them.

 

I thought these tiny little stars of gorgeousness were forget me nots, they were rambling everywhere, but they’re actually a type of speedwell, and quite common in Ireland’s verges and roadsides.

 
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I’ve never seen these little purple and white lovelies before, which surprises me because there were so many of them. I think they are a type of vetch.

 
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Next up… do my eyes deceive me? I thought this was a wild orchid, which made me feel very excited! But no, I think it is a lone dog-violet, and very beautiful it is too!


There are thirty types of wild orchid native to Ireland, who knew? Their Irish name is magairlín (mog-er-leen) which means ‘testicle’, on account of the shape of the bloom of the native early purple orchid… just thought you’d enjoy that little nugget!

 
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Hawthorn.

 
 

These need no introduction… I think you know very well what they are, and how much I love them. I was able to get a picture of a field border hedged in gorse, you can see how invasive it is. Left to itself, it just creeps further and further into the field. It can gladly invade my garden!


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