Swanning it up on Shannon

EVERYONE has been complaining about the weather this summer but there are some small compensations. 

By mid-August in a good summer the greenness has faded from the countryside to be replaced by various shades of brown as grass seeds ripen and falling soil moisture begins to wither other plants. This summer, the fresh greens of May and June have lasted until now.

I was struck by this as I steered my boat along the Shannon. When the rain eased enough for me to see out of the wheelhouse windows the banks were practically glowing with green.