… the Shannon

‘A gentle answer turns away wrath/indignation/vegence/retaliation, but a harsh word stirs up anger.’ A little advice from long ago. Proverbs 15:1

And here is a little from a popular Bible character, Joseph when reconciling with his brothers. Here he is speaking: ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done. ‘ Genesis 50:20. ( His experience worth reading.)

The river Shannon is the major river on the island of Ireland and at 360km (224 miles) in length, is the longest river in the British Isles. It drains the Shannon River Basin, which has an area of 16,900km² approximately one fifth of the area of Ireland.

Next to the River Shanon in Limerick is King John’s 13th Century Castle located on King’s Island…

The castle saw fighting but King John never came here. Then apparently in the town there is this written on a plaque, but there is debate as to whether the Limerick form is named after the town.

‘ The Limerick is furitive and mean, you must keep her in close quarintine, or she sneaks up to the streets and promptly becomes disorderly drunk and obscene.

King John’s Castle.

Then at the mouth of the Shannon is Kilrush where we visit the Vandeleur Walled Garden. It specialises in unique, tender plants that thrive in this area’s western latitude microclimate. We will experience this in five photographs. I am also impressed by the Frank O’Conner butterfly collection.

An unusual presentation of wild plants growing from a wrecked car draws our attention.

Lupins gone to seed in the foreground and evidence of heat induced early seeding in most plants.

Well cared for labour intensive bedding plants bring bright yellows and oranges of marigolds in close contact with bright pink busy lizzie and the cool silver of dusty miller. All this below well kept beech trees.

The colour is intense as these bedding plants then sink into green lush lawns. It has been hot but there has also been plenty of rain. I heard a local say how pleasant the summer had been for them with sunshine!

The vegetable garden is allowed to go to seed in parts and showed a good crop of sweet peas and green beans growing together. It is a garden with not only a fine stone wall but also trees protecting it.

Here are a few plant details and an owl.

I saw this dark centred rose in the Tralee rose garden as well and I am not satisfied with its identification. There is also a pinker one. Both are simple but profuse bloomers.

A indignant owl with some resiliant lower planting.

Elecampane is tall and a haven for insects. It belongs to the sunflower family and makes a statement with its tapered look of bold big leaves at the base getting smaller at the top with flowers.

A much smaller bee/wasp on the Elecampane.I wonder if it is the black bee.

Our cycle from the marina, through Kilrush went along a path with some well established woodland. Here are three photographs.

Kilrush a listed heritage town near the mouth of the River Shannon.

The marina where we had paid night parking.

Woodland cycle track to the Vandeleur garden.

Take care,

Sandy 🙂

Ps

And here are some sayings to go with these fine butterflies. They are part of a collection by Frank O’ Conner in an exhibition area in the gardens. I really enjoyed spending time here.

There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you its going to be a butterfly.

Buckminster Fuller

The mark of your ignorance is the depth of your belief in injustice and tragedy. What the caterpillar calls the end of the world the master calls a butterfly.

Richard Bach

The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.

Rabindranath Tagore