With all the rain, and the temperate climate, you know that Ireland is going to have an abundance of flowers to enjoy. Armed with our fancy-dancy Canon DSLR cameras, Bill and I jumped at every opportunity to get up close and personal with the flora. He is still a class or two ahead of me in the technical aspect of photographing flowers, but these, I think, are pretty good.
On Sunday in Killarney we decided to opt out of the excursion planned and relax, go to church, and explore the town. Church service didn't start until 11:00 so to kill some time, Bill and I, clutching our cameras, set out on foot to photograph Killarney. Before we knew it we had ventured away from "Main street" into some of the residential areas and this is some of what we found there.
Luscious purple wisteria.
Spikes of pink something or other... I bought a book and will look for names!
This one has to be named "snow" something!Tordylium pestalozzae / Zirmet
One of the more interesting sights was our discovery of the "Burren" in County Clare. I'm quoting now, "The Burren lies south of Galway in County Clare, Ireland. The name Burren is from the Irish - bhoireann meaning a stony place. Its formation has lain unspoiled since the ice-age and is composed of karstic limestone, the largest area of such in western Europe. It is a place of surprise and delight to botanists, archaeologists and ecologists alike and occupies an area of approximately 300 sq. kilometres. The area itself is very bleak in appearance with glacial soil loss at a maximum. However is does have sufficient soil to grow a wide variety of the most unusual and rarest of plants, many of them strange bedfellows. "
Another one to look for in the book! Geranium sanguineum, commonly called Bloody Cranesbill
This one too! Stone Bramble
Same here. I have some homework to do!
And I'll get to it real soon. I promise.Helianthemum canum, commonly called Hoary rockrose
These are taken in the lovely garden of the Butler House in Kilkenny. Bill and I happened upon it while exploring an area behind the grand Kilkenny Castle. It was an "Alice in Wonderland" moment, coming upon an opening in a wall and finding this amazing garden.
Pink blossoms and Japanese maple
Here, kitty, kitty!
Bright orange poppy 
Pure loveliness. If you want to look at all 85 pictures, here is a link to them on Shutterfly:
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