An Adventure ... To the National Botanic Gardens

                                            

One of my favourite things to do when I need a little pick-me-up is to go outside, which is exactly what I did this weekend.

I peeled myself away from constant Orange Is The New Black on my laptop and made myself even the slightest bit presentable for the outside world.

My adventure began with a rushed top-up of my leap card and catching the bus (which is so heartbreakingly scarce on a Sunday afternoon), with a minute to go. Not gonna lie..I felt like a hero.

I've passed the sign for the Botanic Gardens multiple times and have always meant to visit. I once went as a child with my family and family friends and absolutely loved it. Other commitments mixed with a ridiculous amount of laziness prevented me from doing so all through my first year in university. With a little encouragement from my mother I decided that Sunday was going to be the day I paid the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin a visit.

My family have always been 'outdoorsy' ... not to say that the Botanic Gardens is very wild or remote ... but at least it was green. I could just imagine my mammy's ooohhing and aaahing over every beautiful flower, my daddy's fascination with the history of various plants, my sisters' search for the perfect 'botanic' selfie and my brother's search for the most off-track route or football/hurling pitch.

All these thoughts accompanied my day as I walked for hours around the various gardens. I brought my camera with me and spent my time messing around with settings and taking countless photographs. I was really quite pleased with some of the results. I love photography and I really want to improve my skills so I definitely took advantage of the variation of plants, foliage and flowers.

I absolutely love when by chance you capture an image like this one. You could never plan for a bee to be collecting pollen at that exact moment and yet there he was ... really appreciate it Mr. Bee xo

Photographing rain drops on the petals of a flower makes me feel oh-so-professional ... yes ... I am easily amused.

SO MUCH GREEN ... coming from Donegal, this is definitely something I miss in the city. 

My Gran would have been disappointed that I never thought to actually check the name of any flower or plant, although she would probably have known the name anyway. I don't think I would ever really appreciate the beauty of flowers, had it not been for my Gran. Her garden was one of her greatest joys and the happiness any flower brought her will forever inspire me.

The National Botanic Gardens have so many greenhouses, none of which I entered because I wasn't really in the mood to feel like I couldn't breathe (my exact feeling every time I enter a greenhouse).

The Rose Garden had some of the most amazing and unusual roses. I loved the almost dip-dye effect of this one and couldn't resist an artsy close-up.

I love how the frame of this picture captures the sculpture gazing up into the trees, mirroring what every visitor was doing!

I don't think a red rose's beauty can ever be disputed. 

One of my favourite things to photograph is the sky, especially when it's full of clouds. Despite the grey tone, Sunday was a warm summer's day ... with sporadic Irish rain showers of course!

And so that is my first 'An Adventure ..' blog post. I hope I'll have many more during the summer, taking my camera along with me. I couldn't recommend the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin enough. Even if you aren't a lover of photography or flowers like me, you really can't beat a walk to clear your head. Plus, it's FREE which is perfect if you're a broke student like me! (I hope you all noticed that rhymed ... yup there I am, easily amused once again)

Caoimhe 

xoxo

It's summer YO