TUTSAN SHRUB

Popular Name:  Tutsan.

Scientific Name:  Hypericum androsaemum.

Gaeilge:  Meas torc allta.

Family:  Hypericaceae.

 Overall view of one plant.

This bushy, semi-evergreen shrub can be seen in a number of places on the right hand side of the road to Clonagam/Clonegam church, about 100 metres on the Portlaw side of the top of hill. The foliage, flowers and berries are extremely colourful and attractive, but be careful if you have children in the area, as the berries are POISONOUS!

I have been watching this plant closely for many years and have noticed that it is spreading from what was originally a single plant. The berries are now between the unripe and ripe stage, and some already have turned from green to black.

Very colourful foliage, flowers and berries. 

Some berries already turning black. 

The popular St. John's Worth is a member of this family - Hypericaceae.

WARNING once more:  The berries are POISONOUS!

WHEAT GALORE!

Wheat in plenty, on both sides of avenue north-west, Curraghmore,

is now approaching the ripening stage.

As in most cornfields, an 'intruder' can be seen occasionally;

barley in this case.

Picture from the Past

A postcard showing the Bridge, Presbyterian Manse, etc from circa 1905.

The postcard by Lawrence of Dublin, kindly loaned by a local person, showed considerable 'wear and tear' which had to be attended to. The scene is of much interest, as it shows a house on the right side which has been replaced some years ago by a building to do with waterworks on the adjacent Clódagh river.
A lady, wearing white clothes, and a gentleman in dark attire with a walking stick, could be seen on the left side of the house's gable-end when the original was greatly enlarged on computer.
The title on bottom left of the card was somewhat blurred in the original.

RECENT VISITORS

Having been away for about ten days, I may have missed visitors from other 'new' countries.

Statistics must be checked daily, if one wishes to record same. Visitors from at least 107 countries to date, but others may have been missed due to records for the first 6 months having 'disappeared' in 2011!!!

Quite a number of pieces of historical ephemera to upload,

but am awaiting scanner repairs.

(Difficult to read?  A single left-click on the illustration will show a larger copy!)

Addendum - 12th June 2016:
We are pleased to note from statistics of yesterday, our very first visitor from
 I R A Q !