Glasnevin: Dublin's Botanic Garden

No horticulturist or lover of gardens and plants should miss visiting the botanic gardens at Glasnevin, situated not far from the heart of the city of Dublin, southern Ireland. The 27 acre garden is also a quiet, green refuge for those just seeking beauty and peace away from the bustle of city life.


One of its greatest attractions has to be the magnificent ironwork of the glasshouses. The Palm House, built in 1884, dominates the garden yet it is the Curvilinear Range that was pioneering in its structure having been built almost 40 years earlier in 1848.




The smallest insectivorous plants to the mighty palms themselves find a home within these buildings. A walk through the houses is one of contrast, not just in leaf texture and flower colour, but also in temperature and humidity.


insect catching sundews

an insectivorous pitcher plant

Perhaps one of the finest flowering plants was this pale pink Protea, so typical of its type, although I was rather taken by this relatively tiny, deep pink version too, with which I was quite unfamiliar.




The Jade Vine, Strongylodon macrobotrys, was another plant that was totally unknown to me. It's luminous, turquoise, metre long pendants of flowers looked quite eerie hanging high in the canopy - if it had not been for the fallen petals glowing on the floor they would have gone unnoticed. The plant, which naturally grows in the forests of the Phillipines, rarely sets seed when grown in these conditions as it has to be physically damaged by a large pollinator (what, I don't know).



The sunniest day of the year so far ensured that light falling onto the plants revealed them at their finest, especially when the leaves were backlit - every photographer's dream!





The gardens, themselves are deserving of attention and exploration and these will be featured shortly.

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Comments

  1. Hello Johnson, I found your bog by way of Rhonda's Down to Earth.I know I am going to enjoy your blog immensly now i just have to make the time to sit quietly and enjoy it all. i am in Australia and when i saw the proteas I thought what a small worldas they grow very well over here .I am just starting my own blog and as a rural mail lady i see some beautifully delightful things as i travel each day so i hope when i get up and going you may one day enjoy looking at the Australian countryside. You have a wonderful informative blog thank you for sharing,as an obsessed Uk person i will enjoy it even more, I have been twice and fell in love with your country and hope to come back in 5 years to have a long slow look around. Carole

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  2. It is wonderful that you were featured with the beautiful flowers you post. It was nice going through it.keep on posting. Iflorist.co.uk

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  3. I have just found your blog via Down to Earth ... and am in the process of reading some of it. I loved your Exmoor posts (my husband was born there). I'm not that far from you - near Bath.

    I'll put you as a favourite on my blog if you don't mind.

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  4. Johnson, what a magnificent structure! as is the Protea ;) You are fortunate to have such beauty around you. Hope you are having a great week.

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  5. Carole - welcome to the blog and welcome to blogging. It is a great way to express your interests and to 'meet' people from all over the place. It would be nice if I can get to the standard of writing of Rhonda's blog!

    Beth- thank you very much!

    Dancing - I am delighted to become a favourite! I am intrigued by the Exmoor connection: I think I know just about everyone between Lynton & Porlock & Simonsbath (which covers quite a big chunk).

    Diana - Rarely does a day go by without my reminding myself how fortunate I am with career, family and living here. I've been very lucky.

    Johnson

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  6. Thank you Johnson, I have added this garden to my wish list :-)

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