All part of a morning spent at the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland.
National botanic gardens of Ireland (1)
In the distance you can see a recreation of a round tower to honour Daniel O’Connell, “the Liberator”, in Glasnevin Cemetry. It was built to the colossal height of 171 feet, and before you ask… I’ll not be climbing up for an aerial view of the dead centre of Dublin! 😛
Next door neighbours – Glasnevin Cemetery
The gardens are next door neighbours and a new entrance is being erected between the two.
The Taxodiaceae Sequeiadendron giganteum, native of California
The Taxodiaceae Sequeiadendron giganteum, native of California rather dwarfed the Curvilinear Glasshouse.
The Curvilinear Glasshouses
The curvilinear glasshouse was designed by Dublin ironmaster, Richard Turner in 1843.
Curved panes of glass
The work was completed and opened in 1849. It was extended in 1869.
Great Palm House
A major restoration began in 1992 and was completed with all 8,427 panes of glass in place, in time for the bicentenary of the founding of the gardens.
curved lines from the inside
After a dander along several pathways I came across this:
‘What is Life’ sculpture
‘What is Life’
Sculptor ~ Charles Jencks
‘What is Life’ was commissioned by Professors John Atkins of University College Cork and David McConnell of Trinity College Dublin as a public celebration of Science in Ireland and to specifically celebrate the 60th anniversary of the discovery of The Double Helix by Watson and his colleague Francis Crick in April 1953.
Side view
The Sculptor, Charles Jencks, designs landscapes and sculpture and writes on cosmogenic art.
The meaning in words
It represents for the first time in sculpture anywhere the many extraordinary new revelations made in the last 30 years about the novel roles of RNA in living organisms.
Finally a plaque I found on the steps in one of the glasshouses:
Inspiration
Ludwig Wittgenstein
(1889 – 1951)
Viennese Philosopher
Stayed in Dublin in the winter of 1948-1949
and liked to sit and write at these steps