The landscapes of Ireland are renowned for their verdure. In a typical year the summer temperatures rarely exceed 30C and in winter mild temperatures mean little hard ice and snow.

This is not a typical year however, a harsh winter with several major snow and ice events and now a long heatwave with little rain since the end of May mean that typically lush scenes look yellow and brown like in this image above.

Many trees are now also turning autumnal with green leaves changing to brown, hedgerows with fuchsia and montbretia usually ablaze with reds and oranges too are lacklustre.

Most people are saying that it was in 1976 when they last had a summer like this and certainly the summers of late haven't had anything more than a day or two at a time of good weather.

It's quite amazing really, not a need to bring a rain jacket and often 16C overnight meaning that the countryside is warm enough to enjoy in the evening without long sleeves.

Photographically it is a challenge as many of the days so far have had only bright blue skies without clouds for interest and contrast in the landscape.

And of course that famous green has disappeared, for now. I'm sure it will be back when the rain and cooler temperatures return.

Panoramic Ireland's photo tours are available in Galway, Dublin, Cork and everywhere else in Ireland, join me and learn how to photograph the beauty of Ireland's landscapes.

The spring is colourful in Ireland, summer is also colourful as seen here with the pinks of rhododendron lining a path through the mountains.

A recent visit into the Irish mountains took me through large rhododendron groves, often over 12 feet in height and covering acres of upland.

The pinks of spring cherry blossom are gone, see here for more of those.

The pink flowers are very attractive and of course a source of food for bees but these invasive, non-native shrubs are taking over much of the Irish countryside unchecked.

In places it is difficult to find a way through these large thickets or groves, the impossibility of viewing anything in the distance means wayfinding is impossible.

Despite this the pink colour is nonetheless impressive alongside the green leaves and blue sky.

Join me on a photography tour of Ireland's mountains in summer or Dublin's parks in spring.

A stormy day on Ireland's west coast, known now as the Wild Atlantic Way.

Here small fields enclosed by stone walls running straight to the Atlantic separate rough ground with little green in this landscape - is there any green indeed?

This image is a reminder of how difficult life was on the west coast of Ireland, here on the Atlantic - what little soil there is inundated with salty ocean water.

It has been a long time coming, after weeks of calm, warm and sunny weather the west coast of Ireland is now receiving storm winds and rain straight off the Atlantic.

Hopefully of course it won't last too long and the real Irish summer weather takes hold again soon.

Here waves crash all over the west coast, topping over rocks of ancient origins and filling the air with salty sea spray, but what a day to be alive and enjoying the sights, sounds and smells - don't you think?

Join Panoramic Ireland on a photography tour of the west coast of Ireland all year round and in any weather - here in conditions that a typical tourist would insist on staying indoors. Let's capture the energy of a day on the Wild Atlantic Way.

One of my favourite Irish locations is no longer a secret place, my own County Antrim's Dark Hedges.

Known to us locally as Bregagh Road the Dark Hedges have seen a lot of visitors in recent years due to the influx of Game of Thrones fans from around the world.

This avenue of beech trees has become arguably Ireland's most photographed road, I've written about it before here on Panoramic Ireland of course but this is one of my favourites from 2006, long before this scenic road became famous and had hardly any visitors.

Join me on a photography tour of the Antrim Coast, a place I know well, to learn how to make better travel photographs here at the Dark Hedges and along the amazing Causeway Coast.

This week's photographic adventures took us through much of the Irish countryside, including here green fields full of cows relaxing.

Behind sits woodland and forest stretching out of the valley towards the higher slopes on the mountains.

The landscapes are looking particularly lush at the moment and the cows agree.

The landscapes of Ireland are by now lush and green, June is officially a summer month.

Here the beginnings of that green from this time last month in May shoes just how lush the landscapes of Ireland can be.

Two walkers just at the bend of the river show the scale of these mighty majestic deciduous trees lining the watercourse.

The sunny days of summer are here in Ireland.

Long days of bright, warm weather have helped to create a landscape filled with fresh greens.

Panoramic Ireland's photo tours have covered every Irish province this year with country lanes providing access to scenic views and photographic opportunities away from the busy tourist spots.

Join me for a photography adventure in Ireland this summer, the countryside is looking great with all this fine weather.

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A busy few weeks has seen me covering various parts of Ireland as a travel photographer leading photography tours and workshops.

This image shows the Irish countryside, on this occasion County Cork, as I have seen it in recent weeks - the road leading on into the distance, representing the onward journey.

The rugged mountains of Ireland stand over the flat boglands of waterlogged earth.

Here the peaks, not particularly high, rounded by erosion during the Ice Age stand guard over the Irish landscape as they have for aeons.