Snowdrops at Cambo

Took advantage of the warm weather last week to visit the Snowdrop Festival at Cambo.

Snowdrops lined both sides of the path that leads to the beach.

A solitary clump of daffodils amongst the snowdrops.

The burn that flows down to the sea.

Cambo in February

 One of the delights of February in Fife is the display of snowdrops at Cambo.

 Snowdrops line the banks of the Cambo burn pushing their way through the fallen leaves.

A clump of primroses.

Pale blue scilla.

 Brightly coloured aconite.

Snowdrops against a background of the strap-like leaves of black mondo.

 The exposed roots of a tree in the woodland.

 Horseshoe fungus (Fomes fomentarius).

Early Spring Bulbs 2015

A bank of snowdrops and aconites near the Largo Parish War Memorial.

Some sunny days and suddenly snowdrops are springing up everywhere,

 Aconites and some snowdrops at the back of the Temple car park

A bank of snowdrops at the side of the path leading up to the Serpentine Walk.

Some tiny purple crocuses at the side of the old railway track path.

A Snow-Covered Footpath

There was a light fall of snow overnight but the sun came out and by midday most of the snow had melted. However, in the shade of the trees in the Serpentine Walk, snow still covered the footpath.

The snow has completely disappeared from Largo Law which can be glimpsed in the background.

With the promise of spring, snowdrops were beginning to appear at the side of the footpath.

Spring Bulbs in the Massney Braes

Most of the snowdrops on the banks of the Massney Braes are almost over, but there were a few patches still flowering yesterday.

There are now numerous clumps of daffodils brightening up the braes. It was a windy day and they were 'fluttering and dancing in the breeze.'

A few bright blue patches of chinodoxa caught my eye,

First Snowdrops

The first snowdrops are just coming out in the Serpentine Walk in Lower Largo. About 10 days earlier than last year I think. Although it's been a wet and windy winter it's been relatively mild.

White Butterbur

 White butterbur (Petasites albus) growing amongst the snowdrops at Cambo.

Yesterday was one of the sunniest days of the year so far and a good day to visit Cambo to see the snowdrops. However, snowdrops were not the only white flower in bloom and the Cambo Estate had put up an interesting information board about white butterbur, which is a native of the mountains of Europe and South West Asia. It was first introduced in1683 but did not get recorded in the wild until 1843. It has now spread throughout but is more common in the North particularly in Eastern Scotland.

Information board. (To read click on photo to enlarge)

Meanwhile in the Serpentine Walk in Largo, the more common pink-flowered butterbur (Petasites hybridus) which is native to Britain is also in flower. In past times its large leaves were used for wrapping butter, hence its common English name. The genus name Petasites comes from the Greek petusos - a broad brimmed hat. The leaves can grow to almost 36 inches across.

In the above picture taken last July the butterbur leaves are flourishing on one side of the path in the Serpentine Walk. Later on in the summer they grew so large that they virtually blocked the path in places.

First Bulbs of the Year in Flower

Aconite in flower at the back of the Temple car park in Lower Largo.
Although very windy the temperature has gone up and the snow on Largo Law has almost disappeared. Bulbs are beginning to flower.

Behind the aconite the green shoots of snowdrops.

In the Serpentine Walk there are several clumps of snowdrops along the path that are almost out.

Snowdrops tucked into the base of a tree.

A patch of snowdrops catches the afternoon sun.

In Bloom at Cambo

A beautiful day to go to Cambo to enjoy the snowdrops, one of the highlights of the early spring in Fife. Snowdrops line both sides of the path down to the sea.

A mixture of aconites and snowdrops

A colourul patch of crocus.

 Crocus bulbs naturalised in the grass.

A witch hazel in flower in the Winter garden.