... But the residences that constitute the Republic of Ireland's Bed and Breakfast hostelries offer a form of "failte"... or "welcome" that is the work often of only one person, yet serves as the handiwork of a fantastic climate and the love of the beauty of flowers that permeates the Irish mentality.

A fine example of this is "Roselawn" in Annaghdown, County Galway, where Kitty and Pat Lynch have transformed their huge backyard into what could be called a formal garden. Lined with roses and other flowering plants, the residence features a greenhouse for the tender plants that have to be brought in during the winter months and a vegetable garden behind its hedge. The plantings design in the front yard almost yells, "welcome" as you drive in.

Driving throughout the countryside in Ireland, you see flowers... clipped green lawns... lakes... and all kinds of wildflowers. Some say it's the climate, as the Gulf Stream hits the west coast of the island, others say that it's the 'little people" who love the show of colors and make sure that it thrives... Believe what you want to, but the brilliance certainly reigns supreme!

North of Galway near Sligo, Mrs. Norah Mugan has a lovely B & B which she named "Moin NaTaoibh" in Gaelic, or "Hillside Meadow" in English-- most everything in the Republic is written in both languages-- where flowers are a lovely addition to the vast front yard and grow all the way to the Lisnalurg road on which the house is situated. County Sligo, famed by the poetry of W.B. Yeats, boasts not only his grave, but also the "Isle of Innishfree," one of his favorite poetic subjects.

We would not perhaps think that Pampas Grass would flourish in the cooler climates of Ireland, but Mrs. Bernie Cahill has planted a number of the graceful plants in the front yard of her "Lismolin Country Home" near Killybeggs, County Donegal, and they look great!

These are just three of the many B & B's in which I stayed on my trip to the Republic of Ireland last fall, but they are typical of the fantastic use of flowers and plants that welcomes guests... and they are all fabulous places to stay! In fact, I've decided that I will always stay at B & B's when I'm in Ireland... it's a marvelous way to get to know those beautiful Irish people.

Beautiful, too, are fabulous combinations of wildflowers such as the purple of the heather contrasted against the bright yellow of the bourse along the roadsides. "The Emerald Isle" is just that... very green... with lots of color added by the flowers that grace each residence, whether it be a little house, a huge castle, or the entire countryside! LASN

All photos by Kay Tiller

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