Rhododendron path, Ireland
Source: Reddit
You can easily imagine fairytale creatures flitting down this walkway through the blooming rhododendron, frolicking amongst the floating petals. It’s a beautiful image but with hidden sinister meaning. The rhododendron is actually an invasive species in Ireland, threatening to swallow the country’s ancient woodlands and decimate the animal species that live there.
Native to Portugal and Spain, the flowering bush was used by the upper class in Ireland and other parts of the UK to bring some color to their very green gardens. Strangely enough, the rhododendron is actually a protected species in Spain due to its dwindling growth as a result of climate change.
