Irish Interlude 2005

IRISH INTERLUDE.
Part 1.

We’re here in Ireland for a reason;
really, for the summer season.
We all love this lush green land.
Touring gardens, with camera in hand.
Many gardens big and small,
we’ve been delighted with them all.
Michael, coach captain extraordinaire,
his knowledge of Ireland without compare,
welcomed us to this land of words and wit,
listening to Irish history as we sit.
Land of Patrick, Mary, Celtic crosses,
quiet rivers and woodland mosses.
Fuchsia hedge, narrow lane,
Meadows boggy from the rain
Grey cottages, dry stone walls.
Contented cattle and waterfalls.
Many gardeners of renown
have welcomed us to their town.
We wandered their gardens without fuss.
Foxgloves, poppies,and dianthus,
orange honeysuckle and clematis.
Dreamy pink Delphiniums,
delicate silver, streaked with cadmium.
A viola named Irish Molly,
beautiful grasses. english holly.
Morning tea served in conservatories,
on lawns, with rose covered trellis’s
Dark mountains in the background,
when Irish mist appeared, umbrellas found.
Descendants of Celts, Normans and Vikings.
Irish folks mingled, melded to our liking.
Heroes; they have a few,
Grattan, Burke and Goldsmith too,
Connolly the greatest of them all.
Responded to his peoples call.
Worship of the word expressed,
by so many has impressed
readers, poets, receiving world acclaim.
I’m grateful and happy that I came.
Part 2.

My thoughts go now to our warm land,
where Indian Ocean meets the sand.
Perth’s summer heat, hot dry air of noon,
where the Darling Range hosts the moon.
Here we garden as we must,
making paradise from earth’s ancient crust.
Out we go with spade and hoe,
exotic plants ? we’ll have a go.
Ireland is the home of Clancy,
when I’m here; I fancy,
I hear a touch of Lawson,
Edith Cowan and that man Mawson,
Paterson of Matilda fame,
there’s something magic in the name.
We have a hero in Australia,
a rogue, Ned Kelly a spectacular failure.
Gardeners had a TV guru Don Burke,
he helped us make our gardens work.
At ”Gardening Friends” we will meet
and reminisce when we greet.
Nic’s film of us gardeners, our antics will be seen.
Caught on camera, gorgeous places we ‘ve been.
Rub any one of us and you will find,
we’re all a little Irish in our mind.


Penned and recited at Gayle and Nic Monzu’s ‘Gardening Friends” farewell dinner. Bray, Ireland 25th June 2005………………..Judy Paice