I don't think I have fully grasped the 'Selfie Stick' concept...
Until recently I used to claim that I was an avid “selfie”
photo taker. Well before everyone was stretching their phones at arm’s length I
was there in my garden taking images of myself pressed unnaturally close to whatever
it was I was talking about. I did used
to get someone to take the picture for me but it was too much trouble and the
moment was usually gone before the picture was taken.
I usually embellish my own images by including myself with a
huge grin or a look of quizzical wonderment at what it was I was looking at.
It’s a simple formula but seems to work for me and stops people being shocked
when they see me in the street for the first time in a few years.
Selfie Stick
My lad got a “selfie stick” this week and as soon as I saw
it I knew this was the way to go for me. I can be far more animated with my
weekly pictures now as it has a remote control.
I haven’t quite got the use of it yet as I think I’m supposed to keep
the actual rod out of the picture. The idea of using the telescopic stick is made
more enjoyable knowing that they are now becoming classed as antisocial, even
some museums and other public places are banning them. That’s my kind of
gadget. As long as no-one shoves one in my face.
The Wildflowers of
Ireland
One person that takes her own images but manages to keep out
of them is the wonderfully talented Zoë Devlin.
Zoë has taken hundreds of beautiful images of Irish wild flowers over
the last 35 years and published a book called ‘The Wildflowers of Ireland - AField Guide’ along with a new website titled wildflowersofireland.net.
Zoë hopes to add a new dimension to a country walk by
drawing our attention to the amazing but often overlooked beauty of what is
growing along the way.
“Even in the earliest
parts of the year, there are wildflowers to be found, and when you get into the
habit of looking at every hedgerow, wayside and ditch, you’ll be well rewarded.”
Zoë is also including folklore with regard to many of these wildflowers and any
other relevant herbal information, historical or literary allusions.
800 Irish Wildflowers
Zoë tells us more
about the wonders of wild flowers. “In Ireland, we have over 800 flowering
plants. Our mild climate and varied soil types are the major influences on the
range of plants growing here. Our flora,
though much shared with Great Britain, contains fifteen plants which are not
found there and this group of plants is collectively known as the Lusitanian
Flora. The members of this plant group would have relatives more usually found
in the Mediterranean.
One of the most interesting areas for Irish and visiting
botanists alike is Co Clare’s limestone pavement, The Burren and there are
several of the Burren’s wildflowers listed on the website, including Mountain
Avens, Hoary Rockrose, Lesser Butterfly Orchid, Shrubby Cinquefoil and Spring
Gentian. In our natural woodlands,
plants such as Wood Sorrel and Enchanter’s Nightshade occur, and on our blanket
and raised bogs one can find Bog Asphodel, Common Butterwort and Round-leaved
Sundew.
Many plant families are well represented in Ireland. The Daisy Family – Asteracea – is widespread
with varieties of Ragwort, Thistle, Knapweed and Hawkweed. Also the Geranium Family – Geraniaceae –
containing the wonderful Burren wildflower, Bloody Cranesbill, several other
Cranesbills and the well-known Herb Robert."
Conservation
“Conservation of our wildflowers is of the utmost importance
as they are now facing threats on several different sides. One is the changing uses of land for building
purposes or different agricultural practices and there is the increase in
invasive species, particularly aquatic plants, which crowd out our native
species. Also it is estimated that
climate change will affect 15% of our Irish flora, the most vulnerable being
alpine plants. Estimates are that as
many as 120 species are under threat in Ireland, six on the verge of
extinction. Through education and
awareness of the diversity of our wildflowers, perhaps, just perhaps, the tide
can be held back a little longer.”
Zoë does say that she has a scientific approach to the
flowers to some extent, but she is in reality very much drawn to the wonderful,
delicate, magic creation which is a flowering plant. They are her passion and she closes by saying:
“I hope that I can
pass on some of that feeling for the beauty that is all around us if we just
choose to find it.”
