Aug 19, 2008

Ireland


My sister, Jen, and I took a trip to Ireland for a few days - which is something we have spoke about for ages. A trip to the motherland...... We stayed in Dublin, on the East coast, and spent each day driving in a different direction.





Something I didn't expect was that Ireland has art everywhere, especially sculptures.


Of course, while driving, as my eyes should be on the road, I am scanning the passing countryside for flowers and sculptures. And all of a sudden I am seeing red flying by us. Of course I knew I had found one of my favorites......

The one and only poppy..... They were everywhere, the motorways looked like they had recently had work done, which would explain why they were there. They germinate heavily on disturbed soil.....


And then I came across this montage of splendor, doesn't mother nature just make you sick because sometimes it's so sweet. You can't beat that- even the grass in the background.....My poor sister had to endure me running up and down the hills to take photos while she sat in the car. thanks for that....







One of the many sculptures, done by different artists, that are seen while driving along the motorways. I have seen a few sculptures of trees and by far have found this to be the most interesting and beautiful one to look at.




The city view near Waterford on the Southern end of Ireland.




Got the brilliant idea of driving all the way west one day, which took 5 hours, one way.. Made it to County Clare where we are from and saw the Cliffs of Moher


As everyone was gawking at the cliffs, I was looking at the plants. Even though they are common plants, they seemed more exciting because of their location.



The sight was beautiful though.......


We came across green field after green field, as lush as you could imagine. And the stone walls everywhere were incredible.




There were many different types built, depending on the areas.


This one was interesting with slabs pushed up sideways and then filled in with soil. A new way to plant a wall in the garden?!

We made it to Helen Dillons garden in a suburb right outside of Dublin. It didn't rain the whole time we were in Ireland, but go figure, the second we got to the garden the sky just dropped buckets and it stopped the second we left the garden. This was such an oasis in an urban environment. The house was a bit hard to find but you knew you found it when the other front yards just paled in comparison.



This is the back garden, which is made up of borders and rooms built around this pool of water.

You have your warm border on your left and the cool on the right.















A painted stone in the garden..

A Dublin bridge.


A moody but mesmerizing scene of bridge and castle..


While in Dublin, there were many works of art on the streets. Here was a fountain, with some figures, that some people put bubble bath into... It was foaming all over the sides into the streets....


Typical colors in an old town.


Nothing more Irish than a old man, his horse, his sweater, in his field surrounded by his rock wall.....

Thanks for such and amazing time Jen, love you lots. When are we going back?!