IVEAGH GARDENS IN FEBRUARY 2023
The Iveagh Gardens are among the finest and least known of Dublin’s parks and gardens. Designed in 1863 they include a rustic grotto, cascade, fountains, maze, rosarium, archery grounds, and woodlands.
A MUCH FASTER SITE AS IT IS HEADLESS
by infomatique
IVEAGH GARDENS IN FEBRUARY 2023
The Iveagh Gardens are among the finest and least known of Dublin’s parks and gardens. Designed in 1863 they include a rustic grotto, cascade, fountains, maze, rosarium, archery grounds, and woodlands.
by infomatique
IVEAGH GARDENS DUBLIN
Daffodils are naturally suited to the growing conditions in Ireland. These hardy, perennial bulbs, whose preferred habitat is deciduous woodland, flower in early Spring before leaves form on the trees.
Wild daffodils are native woodland plants in much of western Europe, including England and Wales but it is claimed that they are not native to Ireland which is surprising to me because when I lived in a remote area near Muff in Donegal there were three of four fields near our house which were full of “wild daffodils” every March. Our nearest neighbour was about a mile away and there were no gardens nearby.
The true wild daffodil is small with a trumpet that is darker yellow than the surrounding petals. However, most if not all of the daffodils flowering in the wild in Ireland at present are garden escapees. They survive well in the wild because they protect themselves from grazing animals by containing an alkaloid poison called lycorine. The highest concentration is in the bulbs but it’s also present in the foliage and flowers. Lycorine is also poisonous to humans and there are recorded cases of illness and even death, usually caused when people mistake the bulb for an onion.
“I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” (also commonly known as “Daffodils”) is a lyric poem by William Wordsworth. It is one of his most popular, and was inspired by a forest encounter on 15 April 1802 between he, his younger sister Dorothy and a “long belt” of daffodils. Written in 1804, it was first published in 1807 in Poems, in Two Volumes, and as a revision in 1815.
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
and twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretched in never-ending line
along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
in such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
what wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
by infomatique
PHOENIX PARK – PEOPLE’S FLOWER GARDENS SECTION
PHOTOGRAPHED MAY 2008 PUBLISHED 5 JANUARY 2023
You will find the People’s Flower Gardens between the Parkgate Street entrance and the North Circular Road entrance to the Phoenix Park.
The garden was laid out and opened in the mid-nineteenth century as the Promenade Grounds. It provides an opportunity to enjoy the horticulture of that era at its best. A large ornamental lake with various fowl, a children’s playground, picnic areas and Victorian bedding schemes are just some of the attractions you will come across here.
by infomatique
A MURAL AT MOUNTJOY SQUARE PARK
A few years ago I was advised by the police (Garda Síochána) that it was not safe for me to photograph in the area as they had been made aware that my camera was attracting attention. Of course I took their advice and left area but I could never decide if what they said was a general comment or related to a specific incident or current activity.
Fionnula is an artist working across the mediums of paint sculpture and installations, as project manager in collaboration with other artists for murals and public art and also as artistic designer for events. The artist works closely with businesses, schools, community groups and city councils to bring a high quality of work to the streets of Ireland as she believes in the power of art to transform communities.
Mountjoy Square is located in the middle of a square of Georgian buildings on the Northside of the city centre. This historic park has a playground, three tennis courts and 7-a-side all weather football pitch.
by infomatique
PHIBSBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Dublin UNESCO City of Literature Show Garden, located at the library, won two awards at the Bloom Garden Festival in 2011. The garden won best in its category (small gardens) and a Bloom silver medal for small gardens. ‘River Run’ was designed by Dublin City Council Parks and Landscape Services to honour Dublin’s designation as a UNESCO City of Literature.
Back in 2014 when I first photographed this garden I commented as follows: ‘I must admit that I was somewhat unimpressed if not totally disappointed by this garden now located in the grounds of Phibsboro Public Library. In my opinion the setting is not at all suitable and elements [the pool to name but one] appear to be missing from the prize winning garden. I suspect that little of this will remain in two or three years due to lack of maintenance and appropriate attention. Note: The water pump may need a service as it appears to be rather noisy.’