September colours

Leaves, berries, and flowers drop

The soil is calling.

Autumn always inspires me to write haiku and make art with natural materials.

Whatever the season, colours mesmerise me. In Summer, carotenoids help to protect leaves from sun damage. Now the leaves are now turning rusty and amber.

The life cycle is miraculous. Leaves contain chlorophyll in their cells, which enables all green plants to absorb light energy before transforming it into chemical energy.

I often take it for granted that all around us, billions of little and large plants are constantly taking in polluted air. They give us oxygen in exchange.

Photosynthesis converts carbon dioxide, minerals, and water into something pure for our lungs. Without it, we’d be doomed. The only survivors on the planet would be some hardcore bacteria! Earth as we know it would be devoid of food, air, and life.

A glance back at Summer

What a Summer of colour we had in Ireland this year.

A highlight for me was a day spent with Tim O’Brien at Knockpatrick Gardens near Foynes in county Limerick. Tim and his wife Helen have spent many decades cultivating something spectacular.

Knockpatrick is chlorophyl central! The gardens are almost 100 years old now, and well worth a visit. The O’Briens are not far from Limerick city, Glin, or North Kerry.