Last Wednesday cycling along Dyke road, against the wind and rain, I noticed something strange. The wind, for the first time in more than a month, was warm. We finally have our prevailing winds back, from the Atlantic bringing us back spring. Since then I've been out walking a bit and noticed spring suddenly picking up in pace.
Today, I went across the scrubland hills (which are similar to the burren) and I found some plants of interests:
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| Cowslip (P. veris) |
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| False Oxlip (P. x polyantha) |
Both of these are in the same genus as Primrose and the second is a hybrid. I found all 3 in close proximity. If you find them,
please don't pick either of these two as they flowers are in decline due apparently to over-picking, farming practices and habitat change. The area where I seen these seemed like it was poorly managed farm (over grazed maybe), yet these were abundant albeit locally.
I also found some spring gentians - but they have yet to open their flowers. I passed some lovely smelling juniper - the berries green and unripe.
Some other flowers to be seen on limestone pavement at this time of the year (that I've noted) include the Blue Moor Grass, Wood Anemone and the barren strawberry. http://www.wildflowersofireland.net/ is great to see what is in flower and where - anywhere in the country.
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