December 16th Botanic Gardens

The December outing of the Dublin Branch was a trip to the Botanic Gardens to see what they are like in winter. Our guide for the day, Glynn Anderson showed us that there was still plenty to see, from mistletoe in the branches of a poplar tree, to the beauty of the evergreen yew trees with their attractive reddish bark. After a tour of the grounds, it was welcome to get out of the cold by stepping into the warmth of the tropical glasshouses. Glynn told us all about the tropical trees there from many kinds of palm trees to bananas. The trip showed that the Botanic Gardens are well worth a visit at any time of year!

Balls of Mistletoe growing on a poplar tree

An avenue of yew trees 

12th March - Trip to St. Enda's

On Saturday 12th March, the Dublin Branch went to visit St Enda's: Carmel, our guide, was excellent. She took us through all the important rooms in the Pearse Museum, engaging with everybody and keeping information at just the right level. After a brief visit to the so-called Nature Room we went round St Enda's Park where Carmel showed us the various follies. Certainly the most interesting of these were the 'Summerhouse', the 'Hermit's Cave' and 'Emmet's Fort', which she unlocked for us so that we could have a good look around this astonishing little building. A very interesting day out.

St. Enda's Museum

Carmel in front of the hermit's cave

January 23rd - Trip to National Botanic Gardens

On Saturday January 23rd the Dublin Branch took a trip to the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin. Our guide Niamh was a mine of information about the many interesting things to be seen in the gardens, even in January. For example, there was already a beautiful display of snowdrops, rises and other bulbs, and Niamh showed us the shrub wintersweet, which flowers in January with a delicious, delicate fragrance. Mistletoe could also be seen growing on some of the trees, one of the few places in Ireland it can be seen. Niamh informed us however, that it is a bit of a pest and needs to be cut back regularly to avoid damaging its host tree. A tree looking beautiful at this time of year was the myrtle with its striking cinnamon coloured bark, looking a bit like a eucalyptus.

Mistletoe growing on a poplar tree

Myrtle tree

After a while Niamh took us into the warmth of the glasshouses, which was very welcome on a cold January day. There we learnt that all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. According to Niamh, cacti are only seen in the Americas, which means you will never see them appearing in a spaghetti western! We also learnt many other interesting facts, such as teabags are made out banana leaves, and that vanilla comes from the seedpod of an orchid. Even in winter there were many orchids in flower in the orchid house, giving a gorgeous display. Finally Niamh showed us the carnivorous plants, like the pitcher plant, and our own native butterwort, which trap insects with their sticky juices, and slowly digest them. Alas there were no venus flytraps on display, as apparently people can't resist poking them to make them snap shut, and the plants become exhausted and die. Overall, the group were very happy at all that they saw, and agreed that a trip to the Botanic Gardens is highly recommended!

Learning about exotic plants in the warmth of the greenhouse

Learning about orchids

Some of the many ferns to be seen in the glasshouse

23rd February - Visit to National Museum

We were treated to a wonderful tour of the Treasury in the National Museum. Our tremendously knowledgeable tour guide, Dr Edel Bhreathnach, showed us the unique treasures of early medieval Ireland, discussing the development of Irish art from the Iron Age to the impact of the Vikings. She focussed on figures of animals that appear in the works on display and drew our attention to the remarkable skill with which they were executed. Of all the beautiful objects we examined, of course, the most outstanding were from the period of peak achievement: the Ardagh Chalice, the Derrynaflan Chalice and the Tara brooch. The feedback from all the participants was very positive.

Barbara 

21st January 2012 National Gallery Tour

Twenty members of the Dublin Branch went on a guided tour of the National Gallery, with the theme "Nature in Art - European Masterpieces" on Saturday 21 Jan. Marie Pike, our excellent guide, selected and discussed the most interesting paintings. Not a lot of nature, but a super introduction to “European Masterpieces”. Great morning had by all.

26th November - Natural History Museum

On Saturday 26th November IWT’s Dublin branch went for a tour of the National Museum of Ireland’s Natural History division with its resident education assistant, Catherine McGuinness. Catherine took us through our collection of both the frequently spotted and the rarely glimpsed animals while discussing some of the challenges and threats faced by these familiar creatures in Ireland today. The spectacular Giant Irish Deer or Irish Elk skeletons and the Pilot Whale skulls attracted particular interest! (photos courtesy of Joy)