Just returned from a trip to Ireland, where the countryside is lush and green from the spring rains–no wonder its moniker is the Emerald Isle.
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Just returned from a slip to Ireland , with me mum and sisters , where the countryside is plushy and green from the spring rains – no curiosity its moniker is theEmerald Isle . More than one Irishman laughingly said , “ Just wait a minute and you ’ll experience another kind of weather ” . And that we did – it rain about half of the time we were there and it was alternately sunny , mirky and blustery the balance of the time . One chatty bloke from up on the north coast differentiate us that it rain 320 of the 365 days a year .
With all of the precipitation , the whole country isgreen . Driving from one end of the island to the other , I often felt like I was in an Alice - in - Wonderland - type moving-picture show … and it was n’t just from ram on the wrongside of the road . The constant ongoing , yet ever - changing vistas were almost dizzying – a bona fide patchwork quilt in every hue of verdant green conceivable border by stone wall , hedgerows of wild herb , heaths and broom and schoolbus - yellow furze , dotted with whitened sheep and black - and - white speckled cows . And then along the coasts were towering rock and roll sculpted from volcanos , sandy strands , crashing waves and breathless purview .
These Irish folks grow vegetables , particularly settle down vegetable , along with crop of grain for livestock and beer ( national drinkable ) , white-livered fields of rapeseed for oil colour , and ball and fruit trees and berry Vannevar Bush . There are sheep and cow in abundance , some graze steep hillsides . Many of the farmers grow organically and there are lots of windmill and solar collectors . We followed legion tractor and other farm machinery down wreathe commonwealth lanes and even chief thouroughfares and saw more than a few pulled up alfresco of a taphouse .
There are many wonderful gardens to see . One of my favorite seat we visited this trip was the Ballymaloe ( rhymes withMr . Magoo ) Cooking School and organic farm . ( www.cookingisfun.ie ) We spend a day there since there are many garden to take the air through , an Akka of glasshouse , the school , a cafe , a cookery shop and a horticulture shop , and a lovely previous , Wisteria - covered dwelling , which is a hotel and first - class restaurant . The latter uses fresh seasonal garden truck from their gardens , and source locally made cheese , meats and seafood . Usually the eatery only cooks for stay guests , however we were fortunate that there were a few place for lunch and had a most delicious repast .
I had a memorable , white vegetable soup ( I detect Allium porrum , potatoes , Pastinaca sativa and Brassica oleracea botrytis ) mizzle with a raging garlic and creme fraiche garnish , followed by an organic baby green salad with local ewe ’s cheeseflower and a superb mustard vinagrette ; me mum and Sally had innocent - range roast chicken with fresh herb dressing , roast butternut squash and blood-red currant sauce ; and baby Doneth had escalope of local John Dory ( a whitefish ) with cauliflower puree and leek . All were accompany by brownish bread and butter , mashies , and roasted parsnip ( oh how I love those Irish Pastinaca sativa ! ) and carrots . The infant rhubarb tarts were a sublime dessert .
gratefully , we ate first and walked about the garden for the next few hr . Below are only a few photos which I took there !
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Irish country road, County Cork, en route to Ballymaloe Cookery School and Gardens; the yellow stripe is a field of rapeseed grown for oil. Click on other pix to enlarge and read captions.Photo/Illustration: Susan Belsinger
