Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Travel / Places to Visit => Topic started by: Michael J Campbell on May 23, 2008, 08:17:57 PM

Title: The Burren
Post by: Michael J Campbell on May 23, 2008, 08:17:57 PM
Here are a few pics from the Burren which is about 30 miles from here
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: ChrisB on May 23, 2008, 08:23:38 PM
Much better than tourism commercials  ;D
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: Michael J Campbell on May 23, 2008, 08:25:15 PM
The Burren 2

The Gentians are growing by the beach at Fanore
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: Michael J Campbell on May 23, 2008, 08:28:32 PM
The burren. the last few.
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: Maggi Young on May 23, 2008, 08:39:13 PM
What a marvelous place.... one hears so much about it and it is great to see these photos, showing the flowers and the sunshine and blue sea.... nature's perfect rock garden.



That is a very handsome son you have there, Michael.... are his brothers all that good-looking? ;)
 Mrs Campbell must be a real beauty, you are a lucky man. 8)
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: Michael J Campbell on May 23, 2008, 08:52:38 PM
Maggi,you must come a see the Burren, it is one hundred square miles of rock,alpine plants and orchids with lots of ancient monuments.  I spend a lot of time there.
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: Armin on May 23, 2008, 09:49:12 PM
Michael,
thanks for posting - I just want to sit there on the rocks :P 8)
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: Lvandelft on May 23, 2008, 10:57:00 PM
Maggi,you must come a see the Burren, it is one hundred square miles of rock,alpine plants and orchids with lots of ancient monuments.  I spend a lot of time there.

Wouldn't we all like to do that?
Thank you Michael for showing these pictures. What a place to walk around.
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: Anthony Darby on May 24, 2008, 12:26:14 AM
Beautiful beyond words. Thank you for taking us there. 8)
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: t00lie on May 24, 2008, 03:54:29 AM
Michael

Your Gentian pics show what i presume to be G. verna burren form.
In all your wanderings over the area have you noticed whether there is much colour variation ?.
Does the dark form also grow there?.

I ask because i've raised 3 plants,(x NARGS seed sown march 07) of Gentiana verna 'burren form' light blue ---admittedly my seed was not wild collected, however your reply might give some insight to what shade of blue they could be when finally flowering. Ta

Cheers dave --on a cold dreary wet afternoon.
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: ranunculus on May 24, 2008, 08:20:57 AM
Michael,
Wonderful images sir.   I remember an area (out near Lisdoonvarna I believe) where one large spherical rock dominates the surroundings and, upon closer inspection, is found to be covered with tiny ferns, gentians, dryas, etc., etc.   A perfect rock garden in itself.  Must get back to Dingle, Kerry and your beautiful Burren as soon as possible.

The trouble is, of course, so much of the 'alpine' world to see and so little time to do it!
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: David Shaw on May 24, 2008, 08:54:15 AM
Michael
Can we assume that you have just taken these wonderful pictures and so mid-May is the time to visit the Burren?
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on May 24, 2008, 01:26:16 PM
Wonderful pictures  Michael !  :o
What a stunning area.
Another one to go on the list of places to visit !!!
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: ChrisB on May 24, 2008, 01:36:53 PM
Guess there will be a bus load coming next May Michael, you might not be alone... looks too good to miss!  Thank you for the pics, they are just super.  Was the pink ball Armeria maritima?  Couldn't tell properly....
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: Kristl Walek on May 24, 2008, 03:49:43 PM
I love threads of wonderful wild places. Thank you so much, Michael for posting these and educating someone who did not know about this area!!!!

It reminds me so much of a very special place in my end of the world in northern Ontario---Manitoulin Island on Lake Huron. Manitoulin is the largest freshwater island in the world, known for its alvar (limestone pavement) geology and accompanying flora. Here I was collecting seed of Primula misstassinica that grew in the wet cracks of the alvar along the great lake.

Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: Michael J Campbell on May 24, 2008, 04:49:14 PM
Quote
In all your wanderings over the area have you noticed whether there is much colour variation ?.

Thanks for all your kind comments folks.

Dave the Gentians vary through every colour of blue and with a few white ones on the sand dunes at Fanore.
There are millions of them and I would dearly love a white one, but they are protected so I cannot have one unless I can source seed from somewhere else.
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: Michael J Campbell on May 24, 2008, 04:52:38 PM
Quote
A perfect rock garden in itself.
Cliff, I know the rock very well and must take a picture of it next time I visit.
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: Michael J Campbell on May 24, 2008, 05:00:35 PM
Quote
Can we assume that you have just taken these wonderful pictures and so mid-May is the time to visit the Burren?

David any time after the middle of May is fine but it depends on the seasons. There is always lots to see at any time of year.
Mediterranean plants grow side by side with alpines,that is what makes unique. there are also lots of beautiful caves some of which you can visit and explore.
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: mark smyth on May 24, 2008, 07:01:58 PM
Not many photos from my trip to the Burren. It rained and rained and .... but I want to go back. Michael I wanted to go and visit you  but the driver didnt want to. Next time!

Anyone know how to safely remove ticks?
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: Anthony Darby on May 24, 2008, 07:08:40 PM
Anyone know how to safely remove ticks?

Alcohol and a pair of forceps in that order. I had one a couple of weeks ago and I hadn't strayed more than 100 yards from the garden! ::)
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: Lvandelft on May 24, 2008, 10:10:03 PM
No alcohol!  :o :o  A pair of forceps, yes. Turn a little around and pull is the best way!
Good luck, Mark.
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: David Shaw on May 25, 2008, 08:33:07 AM
Yes alcohol! Alcohol taken internally goes into the bloodstream and, therefore, into the tick. It follows that if enough alcohol is consumed then the tick gets drunk and falls off. Simple! The trick is not to fall over yourself on top of the tick.
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: Lvandelft on May 25, 2008, 10:20:59 AM
David, that sounds much better!  8) ;D :D :D
I meant anaesthetizing the tick which doesn't help at all.
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: mark smyth on May 25, 2008, 11:56:01 AM
Michael, B&Q sells white Gentiana verna. When they are next in stock I will get you some
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: Michael J Campbell on May 25, 2008, 03:26:04 PM
Thanks Mark,  :)
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: Anthony Darby on May 26, 2008, 10:12:13 AM
Alcohol (e.g. aftershave) causes the beastie to loosen its grip so when you pull it out it doesn't leave its mouth parts behind. It also sterilises the puncture wound.
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: Joakim B on May 26, 2008, 02:00:28 PM
Great photos of a great place Michael thanks for showing us. 8) I almost gets nervous of plants growing in what looks like a buren landscape, being from the fat lands with woods around as I am.


Regarding ticks:
The recommendations in Sweden is no alcohol since there is a risk that the tick vomits (into the wound) and hence is more likely to spread TBE or borelia coming from its gut. After the tick is removed alcohol is great in sterilizing the wound/bite.
If the ticks in the area do not have any deceases then the Advice from Anthony is correct but if there is risk of deceases from the tick I would not use any alcohol on the tick prior to removal. Have the bite under observation to see if there is any inflammation or infection around it.

Kind regards
Joakim
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: Lvandelft on May 26, 2008, 04:30:31 PM

Regarding ticks:
The recommendations in Sweden is no alcohol since there is a risk that the tick vomits (into the wound) and hence is more likely to spread TBE or borelia coming from its gut. After the tick is removed alcohol is great in sterilizing the wound/bite.
Thanks Joakim, that's why gave my reaction of no alcohol, but had difficulties to explain myself.

Quote
If the ticks in the area do not have any deceases then the Advice from Anthony is correct but if there is risk of deceases from the tick I would not use any alcohol on the tick prior to removal. Have the bite under observation to see if there is any inflammation or infection around it.
Here in our area in Holland (the dunes!) 50 to 70 % of the ticks have a decease.
I was so unhappy to make the experience already and the specialist in the hospital told me
about not using alcohol and why.
Only after removing of the tick, alcohol is o.k., but then at least 70%!
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: Anthony Darby on May 27, 2008, 11:11:10 AM
Diseased ticks are rare in Scotland, with only 177 cases of Lyme disease (Borreliosis) in 2006. Other diseases, such as the Louping-ill, rarely affect humans. The avoidance of using alcohol seems to be good advice though, especially as more people are taking up hill walking and other outdoor pursuits which may account for the increase in numbers of cases of Lyme disease from 10 in 1996 to 177 in 2006? This company sells a tick removing tool. http://www.bada-uk.org/products/tickremover.php
Here's more info: http://www.bada-uk.org/learn/factsdidyouknow.php
Title: Re: The Burren
Post by: art600 on May 27, 2008, 12:20:07 PM
We were troubled by ticks in eastern Iran.  Fortunately all spotted on clothing and easily despatched.
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