Yesterday we had decided to go to Dalkeith Country Park to enjoy the Easter bluebells. Unfortunately though the buses weren't going to Dalkeith and rather than get off early and somehow work out how to get to Dalkeith, we got off even earlier and wandered through Craigmillar Castle grounds. It's a lovely area for a wander (though very litter strewn unfortunately). The weather stayed nice and lots of birds were singing (including the first blackcaps I've heard this year) so it was a very pleasant way to spend the Easter Bank Holiday.
Nice to see this patch of pink bluebells! These are a hybrid (Hyacinthoides x massartiana) - the product of cross-breeding between the native British bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) and the Spanish variety (Hyacinthoides hispanica). Read an interesting article about British bluebells on the BBC website.
Today I finally got round to posting a description of Colinton Dell, Water of Leith to the Walk Highlands website. Click on the link to read it!
For Nature Notes.
As ever, text in red contains hyperlinks that take you to other webpages where you can find out more.
For Nature Notes.
As ever, text in red contains hyperlinks that take you to other webpages where you can find out more.
You have such lovely countryside! It's nice you can get out to enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteGlad you found a patch of pink bluebells to celebrate the bank holiday.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, but boy, is the weather changeable at the moment. I go out in sunshine and come back drenched!
ReplyDeleteTexas is a long way in distance and climate from Scotland, but if you'd like a glimpse at what nature looks like here, you're welcome to stop by for an online visit. Do you happen to know the scientific name for the type of bluebells you have there? Various species go by that same name.
ReplyDeleteIt must be so inspiring living near such a beautiful landscape! Lovely images!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the "walk"!
ReplyDeleteSteve - it's Hyacinthoides x massartiana a hybrid between the British bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta and the aggressively invasive Spanish bluebell Hyacinthoides hispanica. There's an interesting article about these plants, which I'll now link to in the blogpost.
ReplyDeleteOur daughter has these hybrids in her garden, Juliet. Very pretty they are, too.
ReplyDeleteHi Juliet,
ReplyDeletethe Castles around Scotland and England are so beautiful and must have been a great walk. Sad about the litter.
How pretty the pink bluebells are.
Happy Wednesday
Hugs
Carolyn
What a beautiful place to go for a walk over the holiday.
ReplyDeleteYou have the greatest places to walk over there!! I did not know there were pink bluebells...I just found a forest full of the blue ones in Ohio last week :)
ReplyDeletePink bluebells, how enchanting. Looks like it was a wonderful walk experience, except for the garbage. Your photos are great.
ReplyDeletewhat a lovely landscape. would love to live in your part of the world.
ReplyDeleteterrific shots, too.
looks like a lovely walk was had by you.
pretty pink flowers
ReplyDeleteand the grass is so green
I wish people wouldn't litter, I don't understand that level of disrespect
Looks like a beautiful walk - your pictures make it easy to imagine the sounds and fresh spring scents.
ReplyDeleteHi Juliet, I love the castle scene and the bluebells are pretty. Seeing the wildflowers this time of year is wonderful. They are one of the reasons I love to go out walking and birding. Great post and photos, have a lovely day!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a perfect Easter Juliet...this reminds me so much of my childhood trip to your country...I could almost see the kings and knights....Michelle
ReplyDelete