In the past few years I have noticed that at least five or six ash trees in the fields around my house have died for no apparent reason.
These trees were about 30 or 40 years old, started to lose their leaves and fell over a year or two later. They had not been damaged by either animals or machinery. Val Keogh, Athlone, Co Roscommon
There had been a report from Cork of ash trees dying last year, and reports for several years from the US where an alien insect from China, the emerald ash borer, as well as viruses, bacteria and fungal diseases have been blamed.
While staying near Westport recently the moon was almost full and in the southwest. Looking towards the northeast I saw a rainbow, starting at the horizon, and extending for about 120 degrees. It seemed narrower than a usual rainbow, and was silver or white. Maurice Prendergast, Donadea, Co Kildare
A moon rainbow is indeed a rare sight. It is much paler than the daytime one, because the intensity of light produced by the moon is so much less than that of the sun.
[ viney@anu.ie ]