Seán Keane
@nativehorti.bsky.social
Irish Horticulturist with a passion for native plants and pollinators.
Currently focused on helping with efforts to help save the Great Yellow Bumblebee from extinction on the Mullet Peninsula.
Mayo, Ireland.
Currently focused on helping with efforts to help save the Great Yellow Bumblebee from extinction on the Mullet Peninsula.
Mayo, Ireland.
Reposted by Seán Keane
Lychnis coronaria, Rose campion, first of this year's blooms.
This plant is favoured by Wool Carder bees in my garden - she gathers wool from the stems to make nest for her young.
This plant is favoured by Wool Carder bees in my garden - she gathers wool from the stems to make nest for her young.
June 7, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Lychnis coronaria, Rose campion, first of this year's blooms.
This plant is favoured by Wool Carder bees in my garden - she gathers wool from the stems to make nest for her young.
This plant is favoured by Wool Carder bees in my garden - she gathers wool from the stems to make nest for her young.
Reposted by Seán Keane
Syrphus sp. hoverfly larva amongst Aphis sambuci colony on Elder today in Kildavin, Carlow.
June 7, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Syrphus sp. hoverfly larva amongst Aphis sambuci colony on Elder today in Kildavin, Carlow.
Slow compost from a pile under the shade of mature trees (whitethorn, holly and goats willow).
An area where we dump our lawn clippings, meadow strip hay and meadow thatch. Pile started in 2022, and only brown material is from leaf fall that formed natural layers in the pile.
Glorious stuff.
An area where we dump our lawn clippings, meadow strip hay and meadow thatch. Pile started in 2022, and only brown material is from leaf fall that formed natural layers in the pile.
Glorious stuff.
June 6, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Slow compost from a pile under the shade of mature trees (whitethorn, holly and goats willow).
An area where we dump our lawn clippings, meadow strip hay and meadow thatch. Pile started in 2022, and only brown material is from leaf fall that formed natural layers in the pile.
Glorious stuff.
An area where we dump our lawn clippings, meadow strip hay and meadow thatch. Pile started in 2022, and only brown material is from leaf fall that formed natural layers in the pile.
Glorious stuff.
Reposted by Seán Keane
From my lunchtime walk in Dublin Docklands yesterday - really pleased to see Meredon equestris / Narcissus Bulb hoverfly and a Megachile Bee. Plus, Aceria cephalonea gall mites on Sycamore, a Froghopper and Oedemera lurida/virescens beetle. #urbannature
May 31, 2025 at 9:28 AM
From my lunchtime walk in Dublin Docklands yesterday - really pleased to see Meredon equestris / Narcissus Bulb hoverfly and a Megachile Bee. Plus, Aceria cephalonea gall mites on Sycamore, a Froghopper and Oedemera lurida/virescens beetle. #urbannature
Reposted by Seán Keane
Without fertiliser & weedkiller, & frequent mowing, exquisite is possible. This bee orchid is one of more than a dozen presently dotting my parents’ front lawn, steadily increasing from one plant that appeared 17 years ago. The only population in the postcode.
May 30, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Without fertiliser & weedkiller, & frequent mowing, exquisite is possible. This bee orchid is one of more than a dozen presently dotting my parents’ front lawn, steadily increasing from one plant that appeared 17 years ago. The only population in the postcode.
Reposted by Seán Keane
‘…over 66,000 badgers have been destroyed since 2014…’
Badgers are a protected species.
They take the brunt of a broken, cruel, dishonest, corrupt food production system.
@npwsireland.bsky.social are not fit for purpose.
#badgers
#nature
www.thejournal.ie/badger-culli...
Badgers are a protected species.
They take the brunt of a broken, cruel, dishonest, corrupt food production system.
@npwsireland.bsky.social are not fit for purpose.
#badgers
#nature
www.thejournal.ie/badger-culli...
May 25, 2025 at 11:55 AM
‘…over 66,000 badgers have been destroyed since 2014…’
Badgers are a protected species.
They take the brunt of a broken, cruel, dishonest, corrupt food production system.
@npwsireland.bsky.social are not fit for purpose.
#badgers
#nature
www.thejournal.ie/badger-culli...
Badgers are a protected species.
They take the brunt of a broken, cruel, dishonest, corrupt food production system.
@npwsireland.bsky.social are not fit for purpose.
#badgers
#nature
www.thejournal.ie/badger-culli...
Reposted by Seán Keane
Despite the drought conditions of the past few weeks, my #nomowmay garden is lush & full of native wildflowers. Common spotted orchids just starting to flower.
May 23, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Despite the drought conditions of the past few weeks, my #nomowmay garden is lush & full of native wildflowers. Common spotted orchids just starting to flower.
Reposted by Seán Keane
Recorded another 253 Irish Marsh Orchids Dactylorhiza kerryensis var. Occidentalis yesterday in Belmullet Town in a small meadow strip at the entrance to Achadh estate.
Credit to @wildtee.bsky.social for this count Seány boy was absolutely zonked from the Sun and heat.
Credit to @wildtee.bsky.social for this count Seány boy was absolutely zonked from the Sun and heat.
May 21, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Recorded another 253 Irish Marsh Orchids Dactylorhiza kerryensis var. Occidentalis yesterday in Belmullet Town in a small meadow strip at the entrance to Achadh estate.
Credit to @wildtee.bsky.social for this count Seány boy was absolutely zonked from the Sun and heat.
Credit to @wildtee.bsky.social for this count Seány boy was absolutely zonked from the Sun and heat.
Reposted by Seán Keane
Western Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza Kerryensis in #Galway for #WildflowerHour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
May 18, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Western Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza Kerryensis in #Galway for #WildflowerHour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Reposted by Seán Keane
Meet one of the largest and most powerful owls on Earth — with eyes that pierce straight into your soul! - Eurasian Eagle-Owl. Photo📸 zahnete
May 18, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Meet one of the largest and most powerful owls on Earth — with eyes that pierce straight into your soul! - Eurasian Eagle-Owl. Photo📸 zahnete
Reposted by Seán Keane
Did u know? One of THE best pollinator-friendly plants(UK, based) you can have in your garden is Viper's-Bugloss. These nondescript leaf rosettes will turn into magnificent tall blue flower spires & they'll be humming with insects. Buy your own from @rosybeeplants.bsky.social 🌱🌿🇬🇧🌱🪲🌍🐝
May 14, 2025 at 4:38 AM
Did u know? One of THE best pollinator-friendly plants(UK, based) you can have in your garden is Viper's-Bugloss. These nondescript leaf rosettes will turn into magnificent tall blue flower spires & they'll be humming with insects. Buy your own from @rosybeeplants.bsky.social 🌱🌿🇬🇧🌱🪲🌍🐝
Reposted by Seán Keane
It's #nomowmay folks. Look at what can happen when you leave that mower in the shed.
Recorded 433 Dactylorhiza kerryensis ssp occidentalis in Belmullet Town's reduced mowing areas between Friday and this afternoon. There are still a few sites to visit. The Tidy Towns group there has done stellar work in pushing for reduced mowing in the town over the last decade.
May 14, 2025 at 6:48 AM
It's #nomowmay folks. Look at what can happen when you leave that mower in the shed.
Reposted by Seán Keane
A secret species rich natural #pond hidden and protected by the forest now. I spent much of my youth fishing here. Strictly known as a transitional mire it's home to the rare Soft hornwort & Bogbean just to name a few.
#rewilding #nature #biodiversity #Ireland
#rewilding #nature #biodiversity #Ireland
May 14, 2025 at 4:34 PM
A secret species rich natural #pond hidden and protected by the forest now. I spent much of my youth fishing here. Strictly known as a transitional mire it's home to the rare Soft hornwort & Bogbean just to name a few.
#rewilding #nature #biodiversity #Ireland
#rewilding #nature #biodiversity #Ireland
Recorded 433 Dactylorhiza kerryensis ssp occidentalis in Belmullet Town's reduced mowing areas between Friday and this afternoon. There are still a few sites to visit. The Tidy Towns group there has done stellar work in pushing for reduced mowing in the town over the last decade.
May 13, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Recorded 433 Dactylorhiza kerryensis ssp occidentalis in Belmullet Town's reduced mowing areas between Friday and this afternoon. There are still a few sites to visit. The Tidy Towns group there has done stellar work in pushing for reduced mowing in the town over the last decade.
Reposted by Seán Keane
As the sun sets on Saturday, I've made the microWild education center ready for tomorrow's Irish Beetles workshop with Louise Garcia.
I'm excited for this...
I'm excited for this...
May 10, 2025 at 7:29 PM
As the sun sets on Saturday, I've made the microWild education center ready for tomorrow's Irish Beetles workshop with Louise Garcia.
I'm excited for this...
I'm excited for this...
Reposted by Seán Keane
Happy to report that I've since made good use of the fine weekend weather we've been having to fit in some gallivanting to the Burren, Sopwell Woods and Scohaboy Bog in Tipperary, and Abbeyleix Bog in lovely Laois today. The flask and sandwiches come on tour every weekend!
🌞🚶♀️ 🦋 🐝 🌸
🌞🚶♀️ 🦋 🐝 🌸
I've recently gone back to working five days a week and am not impressed at the reduction in gallivanting time, especially when it rains at the weekends! The fold-up chair is in the boot and the cooler bag ready by the door.
May 10, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Happy to report that I've since made good use of the fine weekend weather we've been having to fit in some gallivanting to the Burren, Sopwell Woods and Scohaboy Bog in Tipperary, and Abbeyleix Bog in lovely Laois today. The flask and sandwiches come on tour every weekend!
🌞🚶♀️ 🦋 🐝 🌸
🌞🚶♀️ 🦋 🐝 🌸
Reposted by Seán Keane
Afra’s bee table will be out again tomorrow from 11-1 🐝 Pop along and get some bee-friendly plants for your garden 🪴
May 10, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Afra’s bee table will be out again tomorrow from 11-1 🐝 Pop along and get some bee-friendly plants for your garden 🪴
Reposted by Seán Keane
Easy to miss the Spindle which is in flower now in the tangle of a May #hedgerow down the #forest road.
#nature #rewilding #ireland
#nature #rewilding #ireland
May 9, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Easy to miss the Spindle which is in flower now in the tangle of a May #hedgerow down the #forest road.
#nature #rewilding #ireland
#nature #rewilding #ireland
Meadow thistle is worthy of a pot on front door step or in flower border. Stunning #cirsiumdissectum
May 9, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Meadow thistle is worthy of a pot on front door step or in flower border. Stunning #cirsiumdissectum
Reposted by Seán Keane
A few common #wildflowers from the wet #meadow today for #wildflowerhour
See alt tags for descriptions
#nature #Ireland #rewilding
See alt tags for descriptions
#nature #Ireland #rewilding
May 4, 2025 at 2:31 PM
A few common #wildflowers from the wet #meadow today for #wildflowerhour
See alt tags for descriptions
#nature #Ireland #rewilding
See alt tags for descriptions
#nature #Ireland #rewilding
Did my first ever bumblebee transect yesterday in my area. 2km walk.
80% of the bees recorded were common carders but seen five white tail queens and two garden bumblebee queens. #bumblebeemonitoring #Irishbumblebees
@microwild.bsky.social my lucky Bombus hortorum merch still going strong ;)
80% of the bees recorded were common carders but seen five white tail queens and two garden bumblebee queens. #bumblebeemonitoring #Irishbumblebees
@microwild.bsky.social my lucky Bombus hortorum merch still going strong ;)
May 9, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Did my first ever bumblebee transect yesterday in my area. 2km walk.
80% of the bees recorded were common carders but seen five white tail queens and two garden bumblebee queens. #bumblebeemonitoring #Irishbumblebees
@microwild.bsky.social my lucky Bombus hortorum merch still going strong ;)
80% of the bees recorded were common carders but seen five white tail queens and two garden bumblebee queens. #bumblebeemonitoring #Irishbumblebees
@microwild.bsky.social my lucky Bombus hortorum merch still going strong ;)
Reposted by Seán Keane
Did u know? Bee boxes aren't just for bees. My gorgeous solitary Potter Wasps also make their little mud sealed nests in them & fill them with larvae as a living larder for their growing babies.The adults are veggie & are fabulous garden pollinators - lk at how delicate & beautiful they are 🌿🌱🪲🇬🇧🌱🌍
May 5, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Did u know? Bee boxes aren't just for bees. My gorgeous solitary Potter Wasps also make their little mud sealed nests in them & fill them with larvae as a living larder for their growing babies.The adults are veggie & are fabulous garden pollinators - lk at how delicate & beautiful they are 🌿🌱🪲🇬🇧🌱🌍
The long flowering meadow strip coming into its forth summer. The grass has really taken a beating from the annual cut, detaching, buttercup removal, and yellow rattle.
Pics: Knapweed, yellow rattle seedlings, and spotted orchid.
Pics: Knapweed, yellow rattle seedlings, and spotted orchid.
April 28, 2025 at 8:18 PM
The long flowering meadow strip coming into its forth summer. The grass has really taken a beating from the annual cut, detaching, buttercup removal, and yellow rattle.
Pics: Knapweed, yellow rattle seedlings, and spotted orchid.
Pics: Knapweed, yellow rattle seedlings, and spotted orchid.
Short flowering meadow got its first cut and lift of the six week rotation today. Red clover and common birds' foot trefoil plugs doing well from spring planting.
April 28, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Short flowering meadow got its first cut and lift of the six week rotation today. Red clover and common birds' foot trefoil plugs doing well from spring planting.