Author Archives: Ciaran Burke

Getting to know a tree -OneTree365

Onetree365.com On December 4th, I decided to start a project, a photography project, but also an exercise in tree appreciation and observance of nature. Taking time each day to spend a few minutes observing a tree and its surroundings. Already I have been surprised by how different a willow tree can look in a photographContinue reading “Getting to know a tree -OneTree365”

Winter beauty smells so good – Winter Flowering Shrubs

Sweetness and spice… inhale! Ah yes… sniffing the delicious scent of witch hazel flowers is good for the soul. The fuzzy yellow flowers, or orange or red, depending on the cultivar, are borne with delicacy along barren stems as the darkest days start to stretch towards a brighter spring.The sweet spicy scent of Hamamelis xContinue reading “Winter beauty smells so good – Winter Flowering Shrubs”

Gotcha Oca! Oxalis tuberosa – A new root crop with a future?

I first grew Oxalis tuberosa about fifteen years ago. I received the seed from a seed list, it was listed as an alpine plant from South America. I grew it in a well drained compost, lean, without much fertilizer and it eventually produced an attractive yellow flower. It was quite nice. Last year I wasContinue reading “Gotcha Oca! Oxalis tuberosa – A new root crop with a future?”

The First Weeds Are The First Harvest- Chickweed Soup Recipe

Happy New Year! the weather here in the west of Ireland has been unusually mild, which is great in some respects; I can look forward to inhaling the sweet fragrance of Daphne bholua flowers in the next few days, the gorse bushes are about to flower and I can soon enjoy some sweet gorse flowerContinue reading “The First Weeds Are The First Harvest- Chickweed Soup Recipe”

Hanna’s Stars – A guest blog by my wife

Hanna has been very busy being crafty this Christmas, she ran a workshop earlier this month on creating Christmas Wreaths, paper lanterns adorn our mantle piece and over the last few days the view from our windows is of stars, both at night and during the day. Stars of red shine bright by day light,Continue reading “Hanna’s Stars – A guest blog by my wife”