A rare Irish orchid has been discovered in the Front Square of Trinity College Dublin after the university stopped cutting the grass on a number of its formal lawns to attract pollinating insects as part of an international initiative.
The broad-leaved helleborine was spotted in the lawns immediately inside the front arch of the college by Prof Jenny McElwain, Trinity’s chair of botany, and has since grown to about two feet tall following a decision not to resume mowing.
Rare Irish orchid discovered in Trinity College after lawn mowing is halted – The Irish Times
This is great! As we drive around in Portland I am struck by all the lawns and sad grass. I think it myself, “those should be full of local plants!”