Ireland day 0949. Saturday 04 May 2024- Anniversary 39 *

Ireland day 0949. Saturday 04 May 2024- Anniversary 39

Today’s summary	A quiet day in Malahide today. Val was working at the Museum over lunchtime and I did my Spanish homework. In the afternoon we took a short walk round the Talbot botanic garden and celebrated our wedding anniversary with a cup of tea in the Avoca café
Today’s weather	Heavily overcast but mild and dry. Very light westerly breeze. Appx 12c

Today’s overview location (The grey mark shows the location of our route)		Close-up location (The orange line shows where we walked) (Click button below to download GPX of today’s walk as recorded, or see interactive map at bottom with elevations corrected): Talbot botanic stroll

Commentary

(Summary blog only. Last full blog was Day 0368).

Well the years go racing by. Astonishingly, Val and I celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary today. It only feels like yesterday that I was walking down the aisle. Anyway it’s been pretty good so far and I’m looking forward to the next 39!

We didn’t have any major plans for the day, although Val was called into the museum to do a shift over lunchtime. I used the time she was away to finish off my Spanish homework and to do some shopping.

Once she was back, we decided to enjoy a bit of the fresh afternoon air. So we duly walked up to the castle and had a mosey round the Talbot botanic gardens.

It was lovely up there. Leaves and flowers were bursting into the Spring everywhere and an emerald green shimmer filled the view. I came across a few plants I’d never noticed before – or even heard of – which added interest to our stroll.

We rounded off the excursion with refreshments in the Avoca café and then came back to the flat to enjoy a roast lamb dinner that Val magically pulled together.

A really nice day and an excellent way to celebrate our anniversary.

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)


Cricket practice underway in the demesne (if you look carefully)	Azara serrata (Saw-toothed Azara). I’d never heard of this plant before today, let alone seen it. It smells quite nice

*False Solomons Seal (Maianthemum racemosum)*	*And the real thing (Polygonatum odoratum)*

The par-terre outside the greenhouse. It’s based on the design of a wood panel in the Castle	If you brush on the branches of pines at this time of year, you are likely to be enveloped in clouds of pollen – as we were up in the gardens today

Suitable anniversary refreshments!