near Blarney, County Cork
Continued…..The view from our room, a fairway down “Hydro” hill. We were surprised to fine “sub-tropical” plants, such as the bamboo next to the recliner, in southern Ireland. Thanks to the Gulf Stream roses flourish and we spied palm trees, believe it or not.
Copyright 2021 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved
near Blarney, County Cork
Continued…..More of our surroundings, “home” during our explorations of Cork City, Kinsale and Cobh. Marantha House is a luxury bed and breakfast on “Hydro Hill” also known as “Saint Ann’s Hill” close to Blarney, County Cork.
Copyright 2021 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved
Hepatica from April 2007
Back in 2007 I used a 100 mm Canon Macro lens on a Kodak slr along with a Sony DSC-F828 variable lens for this mix of macro and habitat captures presented as a gallery so you can flip back and forth among the larger images. Click any image to bring up a larger version.
near Blarney, County Cork
Continued…..yesterday, we saw the second floor bay window of our bedroom of our luxury B&B base for our Cork City, Cobh and Kinsale explorations. Here is a peak into our bedroom and the house furnishings. The last photo is another bedroom. Marantha House is a secluded site on “Hydro Hill” also known as “Saint Ann’s Hill” close to Blarney, County Cork.
Copyright 2021 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved
near Blarney, County Cork
Richard Barter, an Irish physician who used hydropathy for treatment, opened the first such hydrotreatment facility in Ireland at this location, near Blarney, in the 19th century. Today it is the luxury bed and breakfast we enjoyed during out days exploring Cork and Cobh. Here is a slide show of the entry and our first introduction to the home.
Copyright 2021 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day 2021 “No Snakes”
Number six of six from the Kerry County side on the descent Healy Pass, R574. Here we move away from, say goodbye (hopefully, for now) to these marvelous views, our first sight of County Kerry.
Two more strange, conical hills come into view, repeating those in the distance. These have a long story.
Beara Peninsula, Coolcreen townland, County Kerry, Republic of Ireland.
You can easily view a higher resolution versions by clicking on the photograph to open a browser tab.
Click photograph for a larger version.
Copyright 2021 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved
Charlemagne
Continued….yesterday included a view along a fairway of Saint Ann’s Hill on which Marantha House B&B is sited. Not far away was a pasture where Charlemagne, a rescued former show horse lives. Our first evening, the one just before this morning, I brought an apple out to Charlemagne. The next morning I returned with another apple to share. Charlemagne rewarded me with a brilliant approach I captured below with my Sony Alpha DSLR with variable lens.
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Coolcreen Townland
Number three of six from the Kerry County side on the descent Healy Pass, R574. I enhanced view three to level the horizon. A side by side comparison is provided, below.
It is possible to just make out several lake houses. Click me for more information about who live here during the early twentieth century.
Click me to learn more about the name of the lake.
Beara Peninsula, Coolcreen townland, County Kerry, Republic of Ireland.
You can easily view a higher resolution versions by clicking on the photograph to open a browser tab.
Click photograph for a larger version.
Copyright 2021 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved
horizontal
Number five of six from the Kerry County side on the descent Healy Pass, R574. Less sky and more land in this horizontal aspect.
Lavender hedgerows drawn the eye to that conical distant hill. In the lower left the new rhododendron leaves are flower-like.
Beara Peninsula, Coolcreen townland, County Kerry, Republic of Ireland.
You can easily view a higher resolution versions by clicking on the photograph to open a browser tab.
Click photograph for a larger version.
Copyright 2021 Michael Stephen Wills All Rights Reserved
With the thermometer in the 40’s on March 12 these crocus were open, under the same magnolia tree as the buttercups from the 10th. The blooms close during cold snaps much as you see in the first post.
A tripod held the composition steady and the timer was set to 2 seconds for extra stability. With the leaf body worn away by time, the remaining veining turns the form lacy.
Here is a slideshow today’s and previous wildflowers.
Michael Stephen Wills Photography 