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"Forty shades of green".
After a meadow was cut, it was fed manure and grazed when the grass re-grew in Autumn. On dry fields stocks were over wintered on the grass. During winter or in wet weather, traditional hardy breeds of
farm animals would scratch the soil surface creating bare patches. In these patches new seeds germinated. Seeds were spread by animals or blew into the fields. Seeds are time-travellers who can remain dormant for many
years until conditions are right for germination. When spring arrived, they hay meadow was "closed off" to animals and then the grasses, flowers and seedlings all grew for summer to provide the next crop. Most of
Ireland's old meadows are now extinct so too are cornfield meadows. An Irish cornfield was a sea of colour. Amongst the oats and rye were Scarlet Poppy, Cornflower or Blue Bonnet. While Yellow Marigold and Redshank grew
in fields of beet. Times have changed however, efficiency in agriculture has caused serious decline and in some cases total extinction of these plants.
Corn Cockle, Corn Buttercup and Corn Chamomile are extinct in Ireland. So too would be the Cornflower and Corn Marigold if Design By Nature had not the foresight to save them from extinction in the late
eighties.
For many years DBN has saved flowers from extinction and educated thousands to the needs of the wilderness and wildlife. We "work on the
wild side", growing and caring for wildflowers.
With thanks and by kind permission - Monica
Fleming, Design By Nature
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