Past Heritage.

At one time Lime Kilns would have been a common sight around Ireland, now it is rare to find them, however we have found one fairly close to us, just across the boarder in Co. Mayo.

Like so many things that we find that were part of everyday life in years gone by we can find no details or date of this kiln, although some effort has been made into clearing and maintaining this one. Lime kilns in Ireland seem to date back to the 18th century when many farms would have had them both to provide fertilizer for their lands and also to whitewash the cottages. Lime was, and still is used as a mortar, it would have replaced daub, a mixture of clay and straw or animal dung, it was also a useful sterilizing agent. We are both old enough to remember outside privies being lime washed as a means of keeping them clean.

This is the second lime kiln that we have found, it is larger than the one that we had found previously,  possible it was a community one, used by people who lived in the village. It would be so nice if a few details were available at the site.

The garden is now full of colour,

Gertrude Jekyll in all her glory, perfectly formed with an amazing perfume.

the roses are, at last in bloom, although one of them is a bit of a mystery.

This particular rose came from Galicia where it grew in all the hedge rows, I took a cutting from it and it has bloomed for the last three years, running true to type and colour, this year however, it had changed colour, from a beautiful cerise to a lovely peach colour. I have never come across this before, I didn't know that a rose could change colour. It's still highly perfumed, just not the right colour, most strange!

 

Aquilegia nestles under the Rosa Rugosa, the Geums seem to wind their way through the taller plants bring a splash of bright colour,

Valerian makes a startling contrast to the Nepeta and Berberis.  

The Campion highlights the more subtle colours of Aquilegia,

Foxgloves tower above the bed.

Lupines contrast against the Bronze Fennel and more Nepeta, with the ferny leaves of Sweet Cecily,

And the Papaver poppies say 'Look at Me' not that you can miss them,

The sky blue hardy geraniums stand out against the Sweet Woodruff,

The Sweet Rocket adds a lovely perfume and the bees love it.

All these flowers give me plenty for a vase full to brighten up the cottage.