jLiue, 1S98.J J 29 



WII.D-FLOWKRS IN A COUNTY DUBININ GARDEN. 



BY KMII^Y M. TATI,0\V. 



DEiyBROOK lies about a mile south of Dundruni, near the foot 

 of the Three-Rock Mountain, at an elevation of 300 feet. 



When we came to it eight years ago the place was a blaze 

 of Cowslips, and later on the fields were here and there dotted 

 over with the pretty pink stars of the Centaur}^ At the side 

 of the house rose a forest of Nettles at least eight feet high, 

 along the edge of an old hedge and ditch. 



The Nettle-forest now forms my rock-garden ; the hedge is 

 cleared away ; while the ditch, widened and filled with water, 

 is the home of the Water- Violet and many other interesting 

 aquatics. The spot selected for the rock-garden was the 

 most unpromising piece of ground in the whole place, but 

 circumstances at the time combined to make it the only spot 

 available for the purpose. 



Successive years have led to the discovery of several 

 interesting native plants in our meadows, and it was this fact 

 that suggested the idea of collecting wild-flowers from other 

 places, and trying the experiment of cultivating them in mj^ 

 garden. I cannot say how much it has added to the pleasure 

 of our rambles, both at home and abroad, to have this object 

 in view. It may happen that a few notes upon the more 

 uncommon plants which are indigenous here, and .also on 

 rare native species which w(i brought into cultivation may be 

 of interest to some readers of the Irish Naturalist. 



To commence with plants which grow wild about Delbrook. 

 Among the orchids, the first to appear are the Karly Purple 

 {Orchis mascula) and the Green-winged (O. Morio), both of 

 which grow in the adjoining meadows. 



A little later comes the Spotted Orchis (6>. viaaclata), and 

 last year we found the Frog Orchis {Habe7ia7'ia viridis^ in our 

 own meadow. With it grows the Pyramidal Orchis (O. 

 pyra7nidalis) in abundance. The flowers of the last are 

 bright purple in the meadow, and pale pink under the trees, 

 lyast, but not least, is a very healthy specimen of the Bee 

 Orchis {Ophrys apifera), which produced one flower-stem in 

 1896, and two in 1897. So far, our efforts to find other plants 



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