The young, the old, the brave and the bold came, their duty to fulfill. [Line from verse 2 -“Spancil Hill”]
Sliabh na mBan Meadows Annual Spring Clean
A large turnout of persons, all residents of Sliabh na mBan Meadows housing estate, eagerly set about their annual Good Friday clean, on April 2nd last.
Strictly observing National Public Health Guidelines regarding C-19 virus restrictions; eight determined women and two men, equally displaying resolve, (one ‘trailer man’ missing from picture) armed with shovels, yard brushes, spades and rakes, arrived out to start their own Easter Rising of 2021.
Woe betide any weeds, leaves, or discarded other, that came into their field of vision; same quickly finding themselves in the dark insides of a black plastic refuse sack, and “before you could say Jack Robinson“.
For your pedagogy, tutelage and finer edification, (which is ever only available here on Thurles.Info); John (Jack) Robinson was Lord Mayor of London in 1662, and was also Constable of the Tower of London, latter a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. Same Mr Robinson built a much loved reputation for being able to speedily condemn a felon, before having him swiftly transported to the Tower, to have his head severing off. [Nice friendly sort of guy.]
Meanwhile, even the signposts got a rub of a wet dishcloth. Result, within two hours, one pristine, immaculate and shining Sliabh na mBan Meadows estate.
Well done folks, community spirit lives on in Thurles.
Snowdrops, of which there are some 20 varieties identified of this bulbous perennial herbaceous plant; begin flowering in January. Almost every year this little flower lifts our spirits, informing us that Spring is just around the corner.
January Snowdrops camouflaged against a gravel background.
However, what is not commonly known is that there is very much more to our simple dainty snowdrop, than just meets the eye.
These small white drooping bell shaped flowers with their six petals, more properly identified as ‘Galanthus‘, (from the Greek meaning “Milk Flower”) can be found spread throughout Europe and the middle East and are not actually native to Ireland. The first human record of snowdrops was recorded by the Greek author Theophrastus, recorded in his book “Peri phyton historia”( from the Greek, meaning “Enquiry into Plants”).
Snowdrops were possibly introduced into England by the Romans and later into Ireland during the early Plantation of Ulster in the 1600’s.
The presence of snowdrops is known to effective in pest control, as it contains a chemical called ‘Galanthus nivalis agglutinin‘ (GNA), latter known to possess a broad range of biological functions such as anti-tumour, anti-viral and anti-fungal activities.
Snowdrops are effective in deterring and possibly killing off small destructive sap-sucking insects like aphids (greenfly) and also nematodes (roundworms). Try growing them under your rose bushes.
Currently elements found in snowdrop are being used for the treatment of cognitive decline in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s patients and various other memory impairments, and also in treatments connected to post-polio paralysis and other neurological problems.
Snowdrops don’t often, if ever, multiply from seed here in Irish gardens due to our cold climate, latter which deters insects in coming out to assist with pollination. However, they will multiply by bulb offsets at the edge of their basal plate, with the original mother bulb nourishing them as they grow. After a couple of years, these small clumps of bulbs will enlarge to become quite dense and clumps can be split to be replanted elsewhere.
Christmas Trees here in Co. Tipperary can be dropped off Free of Charge for recycling from Monday January 4th, 2021 until Saturday January 16th 2021 at the following locations.
Parnell Street Car Park, Thurles. Clonmel Recycling Centre Carrigeen, Clonmel. Waller’s-Lot Recycling Centre Cashel. Donohill Recycling Centre, Tipperary. Fair Green Car Park Carrick- on- Suir. Nenagh Recycling Centre, Nenagh. Roscrea Recycling Centre, Roscrea. Templemore Town Park, Templemore. Co. Council Depot Cahir Business Park, Cahir.
Your recycled Christmas trees will be most possibly mulched for use in gardening and landscaping.
Mulch, as every good gardener knows, serves several purposes.
Weed Barrier: Mulch blocks the light and helps suffocates weeds.
Moisture Retention: By blocking the light, mulch helps your soil retain more moisture so you have less watering to do.
A Perceived Well Maintained Finish: Mulch adds a clean, decorative edge to your yard, boosting pathway curb appeal, which, in turn, adds to your home’s perceived value from the outside.
It’s called sakura season in Japan; the time when pink and white cherry blossoms signal the beginning of spring.
Photographed yesterday (November 17th 2020) a fruit bearing Cherry tree in bloom here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
The unique variety of cherry tree known as Kawazu-zakura is usually the first to bloom in late February, while most other variety’s come into bloom between mid March and early May.
Japan’s cherry blossom season famously begins in late March and April lasting for around two weeks, with the best places to see the blush-tinted blooms being in Maruyama Park, Mount Yishino, Himeji Castle and Fuji Five Lakes.
However, this year you only have to travel to the Pallottine Prayer Garden, Kickham Street, Thurles, Co Tipperary, where half of a fruit bearing Cherry tree has burst into bloom just this week, November 7th 2020.
The tree and this unusual delightful ‘blooming’ phenomenon can be viewed on the North facing side of the Pallottine Prayer Garden.
Can anyone please enlighten us as to why we have a Cherry tree blooming in early November? We would love to hear your explanation.
Would the fact that this tree may have been grafted at the root have anything to do with its decision to burst into bloom or is Mother Nature simply trying to cheer us up?
The Daffodil or Jonquil (Narcissus) is usually among the first plants to emerge, normally in early spring. Grown from bulbs planted between September and November, (Up until the ground starts to freeze), they emerge out of the soil as temperatures begin to rise in late February and early March to produce welcome bright trumpet-shaped blossoms on top of thin tubular stems.
However, this year we report that, here at least in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, daffodils are already emerging since late October, which, to use a now rarely used phrase, surely ‘Beats Banagher’.
[“Beats Banagher” – Primarily used here in Ireland to mean beyond the bounds of imagination; surprising; shocking, or an amazing occurrence.]
Note: These bulbs were first planted four years ago
What is the reason for this unusual phenomenon I hear you ask? I regret I have no answers, but maybe someone out there can explain this early premature birthing, same almost four months ahead of time.
Recent Comments