Dog Violet

Dog Violets appear in the low woodland of the Burren in early spring, from February onwards. I think (and I'm not a botanist so I'm more than likely wrong...) that most of the woodland flowers flower in spring before the this year's leaves open and ground becomes shaded. Dog violets are beautifully coloured and merit getting down on one's knees for closer examination. Im not sure what their normal flowering season is, but I've seen one in flower as late as October, nestled into a shady grike on Turloughmore mountain.

Ralph Doyle