Over the long 4th of July weekend the Typical Shutterbug Podcast organised a "Virtual Photo Walk" where listeners from all over the world would go on their own separate photo walks over that weekend and then share their results. For my walk I decided to pick a theme as well as a location, so I'm calling my contribution "Royal Canal Nature Walk".
This is the first shot form the series, and I'll be posting more over the next few days. This first shot gives an overview of just how lush and natural the banks of the Royal Canal are along the stretch from Maynooth to the 13th lock at Deey Bridge in Leixlip.
Tags: Canal Royal Canal Clouds Flower Ireland Kildare Maynooth Pathway path towpath Topaz Topaz Adjust Wild Flower TSB
I shot this macro of one of my favourite while flowers, Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), on the TSB Virtual Photo Walk over the 4th of July weekend. As well as being very beautiful, these creamy white flowers also have an amazing sweet smell when they get wet. After a summer shower their sweet aroma can utterly dominate any path they\re growing along.
(Best viewed large on black - hit the 'L' key or click on the photo)
Tags: Flower Ireland Kildare Macro Maynooth Meadowsweet Filipendula Filipendula ulmaria Wild Flower TSB
The second wild flower that caught my attention on the TSB Virtual Photo Walk was Common Valerian (Valeriana officinalis), I don't think I'd ever seen this flower growing in the wild until I started to cycle along the Royal Canal, it seems to love the water's edge.
(Best viewed large on black - hit the 'L' key or click on the photo)
Tags: Common Valerian Valeriana Valeriana officinalis Flower Ireland Kildare Macro Maynooth Valerian Wild Flower
The first insect to catch my eye on my TSB Virtual Photo Walk was this somewhat damaged Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum). This little guy has one of his four wings bent in a horrible looking 90 degree angle, but it didn't seem to be bothering him much, he was hovering about like any other damselfly I've ever seen. I guess there is some value in having two pairs of wings!
Tags: Common Blue Damselfly Common Blue Enallagma Enallagma cyathigerum Damselfly Insect Ireland Kildare Macro Maynooth
The third flower that caught my eye on my TSB Virtual Photo Walk was the wonderful Purple-loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), the wonderful pillars of flower grow up to a meter high, and they grow in big groups along the banks of the canal adding a real blast of vibrant colour.
Tags: Flower Ireland Kildare Macro Maynooth Purple-loosestrife Loosestrife Lythrum Lythrum salicaria Wild Flower