Serpentine Walk All Clothed in White

The start of the walk at Lower Largo - Queen Anne's Lace covering the path

 Further along the path an avenue of white May blossom and Queen Anne's Lace

Eider Ducks with Ducklings

A pair of eider ducks with ducklings swimming just off the pier in Lower Largo.

To the Far Bridge in Keil's Den

The approach to Keil's Den, cows contentedly grazing in a field dotted with buttercups and daisies. Largo Law is in the background.

 Hawthorn and rowan trees were in full bloom.

 The path throgh the woods.

Apart from bluebells there was red campion ....

....and greater stitchwort....

....and speedwell to name but a few. 

The stone bridge at the road at the top of the den. There has been damage at one side of the bridge. Not sure if it has been hit by traffic or if it is simply a landslip.

Bluebells in Keil's Den

One of the most spectacular sights in mid to late May must be the bluebells in Keil's Den. At every turn there are more delights.

Where the path comes up through the trees to a grassy area there are bluebells as far as the eye can see. 

Here bluebells line the path through the trees.

Red Velvet Mite

Sitting in the garden this morning noticed a tiny red blob on the paving stones and then realised it was moving. Eventually identified it as a red velvet mite (Trombidium sp.) It was only about 2 mm in size. It eats aphids and so is a friendly garden creature.

Terns at Lower Largo

Could hear the terns before I saw them. They have a very characteristic, quarrelsome sound. They were gathered on the rocks opposite the pier in Lower Largo. Because of the shaggy crest, I think that these were sandwich terns.

From the pier usual round walk, along to the Temple then up the Serpentine Walk to Upper Largo and back along the road to Lundin Links. Heard a cuckoo just at the beginning of he Serpentine Walk - the first one that I've heard for years.

Fife Diamond Garden Festival - Day 3

Flower meadow at Barham, a garden at Bow of Fife, 4 miles West of Cupar. Couldn't resist buying a few plans at the plant sale.

 Ferns in the woodland garden at Barham

A corner of the garden which was open in South Street, St Andrews. It is an example of a Lang Rigg, a historic madieval strip of land.

Finished by going for tea in the grounds of St LeonardsSchool. There was a pipe band playing, and below a tree was planted to mark the Diamond Jubilee.

Fife Diamond Garden Festival - Day 2

Blue poppies (Meconopsis Sp.) at Strathmore Cottage, Drumeldrie.

Last weekend there were 12 gardens open for the Fife Diamond Garden Festival. They were all open to raise money for charity. Only managed to visit half of them. Saturday morning walked along the disused railway line and then up the track between the fields to Strathmore Cottage at Drumeldrie, which is just east of Upper Largo. A lovely cottage garden covering a wide area, with lots of interconnecting parts.

Mixed coloured Meconopsis.

A quirky wooden sculpture.

Tesses House and Garden.

In the afternoon drove to Teasses which is on the road to Ceres from Largo. The weather had improved and things were drying out, however, still managed to get stuck entering the carpark and had to be towed up the hill.

  

 

 

Bluebell wood at Teasses.

 The pond at Teasses.

The ravine garden.

A Rainy Day at Cambo

Would normally wait for a sunny day to visit Cambo but Friday was the first day of the Fife Diamond Garden Festival and had tickets to collect from Cambo for the other two days.

Whatever the weather, there is always something to see - the woodland provided shelter from the drizzle and was dominated by wild garlic on both sides of the path.

Missed the tulip festival this year and most of the tulips had gone over, but this border still looked good.

On previous visits the Cambo Burn had been flowing gently to the sea, however, on this occasion, after three days onf heavy rain, it was rushing downstream.

Black Guillemot at Oban

A very poor quality photo but it was taken through a window of a guest house in Oban. There was a pair of these birds swimming close to the esplanade. I couldn't identify them until I saw Countryfile this evening when they were featured on the wildlife of Galloway and I realised that I had seen black guillemots or tysties (Cephus grylle). The smallest of the auks they are striking birds with white wing patch and bright red legs and I've since read that they are a common sight along the shore and harbour at Oban.

West Coast Lichen and Moss

Dog tooth lichen (Peltigera sp.) growing amongst moss in the Millenium Wood at Duart Castle. The name relates to the resemblance of the white pointed spikes on the underside of the thallus to the fangs of a dog.
According to the doctrine of signatures, the lichen was once recommended as a cure for rabies.

The mild damp weather of the West Coast of Scotland added to the fact that it is relatively unpolluted provides ideal conditions for mosses and lichens to flourish.

 Moss  ground covering at Duart.

Lichen covering fallen branches at Arduaine Gardens

 Moss and at least three types of lichen on this tree trunk at Crarae gardens.

Lichens are difficult to identify but I think that the central foliose lichen here is tree lungwort (Lobaria pulmonaria)

A small tree covered in Lichen at Crarae.

Looking up through lichen-covered branches.

 Unusual patterned lichen on trees beside the Crinan Canal.