A trip to the coast.

Although we are retired and in theory our time is our own, the reality is rather different, we always seem to have some on going project, normally connected to another project that needs the second project to be done before the first one can be completed. The current job is trellis making, the reason, more shelter belt and various climbing plants waiting to be planted out. OK, so we could go out and buy trellising, but most of it is made from rather weak wood and by making it ourselves we get the exact length we need, and it's more fun to make your own.

Knocknarea with Maeve's Howe on top.

However, this week we got our day off and a trip to the coast. We never really need an excuse to visit Co. Sligo, we lived there for many years and to us it is the most beautiful County in Ireland, it has an energy about it as well as a fantastic coast line,

Interesting, but we don't know what it was.

wonderful countryside and many interesting ruins, added to that we can collect  washed up seaweed and fresh mussels for a free lunch the next day, the mussels are for me, Simon no longer eats them after having pigged out on them when we lived close to the coast.

3 Dozen of the finest Sligo mussels.

It put him off for life, but I will eat as many as we collect, on this occasion three dozen. Cooked with white wine, cream and bouquet garni they are simple and quick to cook, I could have eaten another dozen with ease. We collected eight sacks of seaweed which will be added to the compost heap or possible used around the potatoes.

There was a big sea running which made the coastline even more spectacular.

I was very surprised to find Garlic Ransoms growing in the hedgerows, I have never associated them with the coast,

Pink and Bluebells.

there were lots of Spanish bluebells as well, no doubt dumped when they became too invasive in peoples gardens.

Remains of a castle possibly.

We also spotted at couple of ruins which we had not seen before, one was probably a castle or stately home, the other one remains a mystery.

The first Early Purple Orchids were just appearing,

and closer to home we saw a wonderful verge full of  Cowslips.

Strawberries are now ripening daily, the mange tout peas are in full bloom, the first pods have formed, there should be a picking by Sunday, and the asparagus has recovered from the cold spell that we had.
In the past week a further six trees have been planted,

Lough Key Crab.

two beautiful Crab apples which we bought from Knockvicar  Organic gardens, these trees are believed to have originated in the area and were propagated by Seed Savers in Co. Clare. We have  also planted an eight food high Horse chestnut, a red Hawthorne, another crab apple and one weeping silver birch, with all the other trees that we have planted in the past four years we should have created our mini woodland, mainly with indigenous Irish trees.

Next stop, Iceland.

A headland, Sligo