Blarney Castle

 



Blarney Castle is one of the most visited places in Ireland.  It’s situated on roughly 60 acres of land.  The grounds around the garden are less manicured than the locations I visited near Dublin.  In addition, there is more of a feeling that you should spend an entire day here.  There are 2 cafes and multiple walks that could take anywhere from twenty minutes to sixty minutes.  While the most famous aspect is the Blarney Stone and the mystical properties it supposedly has, I was more interested in the Poison Garden and the Carnivorous Plant section.    These two areas are relatively near by the castle and situated right next to one another.  This was the first location where the carnivorous plants are outside.  Every other location has had them in glass or greenhouses.                                         The herbaceous border at Blarney was also a little unusual, since it was the first such space that was designated a pollinator space by any certification.  Although, there were specifically bug hotels in that section, it didn’t seem like the main goal as it had in some other locations.  The grounds are large enough that, despite being quite busy while visiting, there were times when I couldn’t even hear other visitors.
  

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