Ireland is known as the Emerald Island. Song lyrics describe it as the country with the forty shades of green. I don´t know if there are really so many different greens and I would not know how to count them all, but I know one thing for sure, Ireland has the brightest green I ever saw.
In spring there are daffodils everywhere along the roads and yellow blooming bushes make the landscape even more colourful. Those bushes are actually weed and they are hated by most Irish, because they spread all over the land. They are called "Furze bushes", but that is nothing to do with digestion and they don´t stink! ( Explanation for all non-Austrians: The word "Furze" is also used in the Austrian language, it is a slang word for the escaping wind which comes out from your backside, when you have digestion problems. ) However, also when the word is not very romantic, I love those yellow bushes!
In summer you will see wild growing fuchsias and bright orange flowers, which are also spreading like weed. People grow in their gardens hydrangeas, lots of different kinds of shrubs, azaleas and even palms. Those palms are not as huge as the ones in Florida or in another sunny country, but they are palms and they fit perfectly into the scenery.
In autumn you will see purple shrubs on the hills, which make the landscape appear differently again.
In winter the countrysides are less colourful, but Ireland does not hibernate like other European countries do. Maybe because there is no real winter with lots of snow and low temperatures here. It can get cold for some days, but usually not for a long time period. Ireland is not dead in winter and does not need spring to get alive again.
Wissenswertes über Irland und Österreich - Posts in English and German Author: Margit Anna Doyle
