We said our goodbyes to the bright and sunny Derry, and made our way into a much colder Galway. On the way out of Derry I am passed out sleeping, and when I open my eyes I see beautiful lush greens and instantly, Im not tired. Against the rich green background popped yellow shrubs that lit up the countryside. They were everywhere, along the street, in the hills, on the fields.
Whether you know it as Gorse, Furze or Whin, it is a shrub found throughout Ireland. Throughout the year, the yellow peaflowers light up the Irish landscape. The flowers are 15-20mm in diameter, surrounded by a short hairy brown calyx, like your kidneys, and apparently smell like coconut, I’ve only ever seen it from the bus. It can grow to more than two meters tall. The leaves have thorns, which help it withstand the harsh conditions of winters at higher altitudes, making the whole bush one prickly ball. These shrubs form are used as hedgerows around fields, line country roads, and when their flowers are in full bloom, February to May, brighten up Ireland. This plant belongs to the family Fabaceae.
There is an old expression 'When gorse is in flower, kissing is in fashion'. The two species of gorse in Ireland flower at different times, one in spring, U. europaeus, and the other, U. gallii, in autumn, so there is rarely a week of the year when there is no flower.
Gorse was formerly used for fuel and was a good fodder source for stock once its spines had been crushed, usually with large stone rollers or wooden mallets. Gorse flower wine is apparently worth trying. The seeds develop in a small pea-pod like black capsule that when mature is similar in length to the flowers. During dry summer days one can often hear the cracking open of pods as they explode to disperse the seeds. It is widespread throughout Western Europe and North Africa and introduced to many other parts of the world.
Whether you know it as Gorse, Furze or Whin, it is a shrub found throughout Ireland. Throughout the year, the yellow peaflowers light up the Irish landscape. The flowers are 15-20mm in diameter, surrounded by a short hairy brown calyx, like your kidneys, and apparently smell like coconut, I’ve only ever seen it from the bus. It can grow to more than two meters tall. The leaves have thorns, which help it withstand the harsh conditions of winters at higher altitudes, making the whole bush one prickly ball. These shrubs form are used as hedgerows around fields, line country roads, and when their flowers are in full bloom, February to May, brighten up Ireland. This plant belongs to the family Fabaceae.
There is an old expression 'When gorse is in flower, kissing is in fashion'. The two species of gorse in Ireland flower at different times, one in spring, U. europaeus, and the other, U. gallii, in autumn, so there is rarely a week of the year when there is no flower.
Gorse was formerly used for fuel and was a good fodder source for stock once its spines had been crushed, usually with large stone rollers or wooden mallets. Gorse flower wine is apparently worth trying. The seeds develop in a small pea-pod like black capsule that when mature is similar in length to the flowers. During dry summer days one can often hear the cracking open of pods as they explode to disperse the seeds. It is widespread throughout Western Europe and North Africa and introduced to many other parts of the world.