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St Patrick Day Plant - The Shamrock

17th March, 2009

A happy St Patrcks Day to all readers over on that beautiful green green island, as well as the many people from Ireland, whether they are from Portrush in Northern ireland or down in Cork on the south coast of Eire living here on 'Great Britain', (named Great by the way because it is the biggest of the Islands that make up the British Isles, not because we thought we are so splendiferous that we'd call ourselves 'Great').

What better plant to kick of a series of 'plant pages' than to take a look at the symbol of Ireland, the Shamrock or as my Great Grandfather Durkin form Mayo might have called it in Gaelic, seamróg.

As well as becoming a symbol of Ireland, the three leaves representing the Holy Trinity were beleived to have been used by St Patrick in the 5th Century to explain Christianity, before that ,the Druids had considered it a sacred plant, as its leaves formed a triad, three being a lucky number to them.

In 1904, Nathaniel Colgan, the botanist and author of The Flora Of County Dublin wrote that people ate shamrock in times of famine. It also became a symbol of rebellion against British rule.

Trifolium Dubium is found throughout the British Isles, and is the most popular variety of Shamrock. It is an annual plant which grows to 25cm in height, and can be bought in seed packets. It makes a good addition to any wildflower garden, or can be planted for greenery, amongst rockeries and in borders. Oxalis is another type, and enjoy damp, shady conditions. When leaves are brown pull them off.

Lá Fhéile Pádraig
Happy St Patricks Day

Nick

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