28/06/2024 Meenadreen

A little ramble today up at Meenadreen, Donegal - ( Mín na Draighean, the Blackthorn pasture). The Foxglove wildflowers are on nature’s catwalk at the moment, and these tall, colourful supermodels are killing it. Foxglove are native to Ireland, and its Irish name, ‘Mearacain na mBan Sí’ means ‘Fairy Thimbles’, which is wonderful. Their purple-pink spikes almost defy gravity this time of year, poking their bell flowers skyward, and their glamorous swagger distracts us from the fact that this is a highly toxic plant, fatal to humans and animals if ingested. Stories from the Irish Folklore Archive associate Foxgloves with the Banshee, and warn of the bad luck if they are brought into the house- (Ilove how Irish folklore is often practical health and safety advice dressed in fairy clothing). There are other wildflowers, weeds and fungi poking out along the way, but they are out of their league until these pretty but pernicious plants have had their sashay. Enjoy!
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