In nature the only constant is change

THE advances in nature in Ireland during our 30-day absence are striking but it is that time of year when, almost overnight, buds open and the bush which, yesterday, was bare branches, suddenly wears a shawl of green.

As we drove home from the airport the car headlights picked out a host of lovely daffodils beneath some birch trees as we rounded the corner opposite Timoleague Abbey to drive down Courtmacsherry Bay. And, as we swept into our yard, the lights picked out a small bouquet of dwarf daffodils, this time underneath the beech trees across our stream.

Next day, I found a sprinkling of primroses in the ruins of Abbeymahon, on the bay shores. I have never seen them so late to bloom. In other years, I’ve recorded these ‘spring’ primroses flowering as early as mid-December.