Killodiernan churchyard - 3rd May 2019

Some of the last unimproved grasslands in North Tipperary are in churchyards. Killodiernan Church of Ireland churchyard, Puckane, is a beautiful example of unimproved, species-rich meadow on glacial till over limestone. The church wardens tend it lovingly, mowing edges but making sure the rest is left to flower, displaying native wild flowers through the seasons, until a final mowing late in the year. I plan to document it month by month during 2019

Here are some photos taken on 3rd May 2019:

Early Purple orchid (Orchis mascula)

Cowslips (Primula veris) and its hybrid with Primrose (Primula x polyantha) top left

Bugle (Ajuga reptans - growing in a short sward 

and more lushly in a damper spot), 

Pignut (Conopodium majus)

Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) 

- though possibly there are some Spanish genes in them, as some are pink

Fairy Foxglove (Erinus alpinus) growing on a lime-mortar wall with Bugle.