Photo of the Week 2022-06-27

 

At long last, with mine own eyes I experienced the beauty that is Rosslyn Chapel ...

 

... and my long anticipated visit to this iconic structure did not disappoint. In fact it overwhelmed. Less than a handful of times in my life have I been so awestruck by that which man has created. For much of our brief visit, I was left speechless.

 

I had not expected the rainbow of colour presented by the carved sandstone, particularly the exterior that has been spared a misguided conservation attempt half a century ago. That process saw cement slurry brushed over the interior surfaces to protect against moisture, not only masking the colours but the exquisite carving details as well.

What beauty, what detail and what colours. Photography was not permitted in the interior, though I may have made a shot or two discretely from the hip as we explored inside. For now let's focus on the first of my images from the exterior. To see the complete set as I undoubtedly add more from this experience of a lifetime, click here for the flickr collection, a number of which I plan to print and display at home.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2022-06-20

 

A wee speil aboot oor trek ... 

... and some photies

 

 

Those who follow this bog, and certainly those who know me, will be familiar with my "start at the beginning and work through chronologically to the end " approach ... but, now for something completely different.

Beginning neither at the start nor the end, but somewhere in the middle ...

Yup!

The dreaded COVID-19 positive result.

Day 6 of our tour

Day 7 of our trip

Full Stop!

Reset!

WTF now?

We arrived in Inverness after outings at a Highlands sheep farm and a stop at Culloden. Both were in windy, rainy conditions and we thought we may have just gotten a good chill. But Lynn tested positive for COVID the next next day and we removed ourselves from the tour as per protocol.

We are now home, safe and well. Focusing on the good things from our trip will be the main goal. We have both agreed we will (help each other) try not to dwell on the bad as difficult as it may be. The first good? We handled it together, some trying times, but for the most part we handled it well, supported each other and made the best that we could from unfortunate circumstances. We missed the middle part of the tour, Loch Ness, Orkney, Skye, Mull, Iona, Oban and joined back up for the last full day out of Glasgow which was definitely a highlight (more about that in a future post).

So as not to end on a down ... here's on of my first views of Edinburgh Castle on the day we arrived, before the tour got going. We hoofed it into the Old City and took in some of the sights.

' Edinburgh Castle from Princes Garden Walk '

On our first day in Edinburgh, we took advantage of the weather and went for a sightseeing walk to keep ourselves going as we tried to adjust to the time change.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2022-06-13

 

Continuing with my wildflower photography season on 'the Bruce' ...

There is a patch of Fringed polygala (Gaywings) nearby our cottage that has become a favourite stop of mine while on my spring walks with camera. The tiny bright pink blossoms wink at me from the forest floor in dappled morning sunlight. When I went to investigate a little earlier than usual, I found this pair of flowers off to the side growing out of some fallen deadwood.

 

' Gaywings on fallen deadwood '

 

' Gaywing flowers up close '

These have to be some of my favourite spring wildflowers and I've only encountered them on my treks in the bush in Northern Bruce Peninsula.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2022-06-06

 

My wildflower photography season on 'the Bruce' opens in May with some wild orchids beginning to show up mid to late month. A hectic schedule over the next several weeks had me wondering how much opportunity I would have for my annual donning of the knee pads ... 

 

... and then to my surprise, a blooming Striped Coralroot Orchid right outside my door !

 

' Blooming Striped Coralroot '

 

... about 25cm tall, I had not seen one in this location before. This plant caught my eye, highlighted by the dappled morning sunlight, as I prepared for some yard-work around the cottage. I was well aware of 3 other plants in an area at another corner of the building and consciously steer clear of the area to ensure their safety, but this was a very welcome addition to property.

Perhaps it was the light, or perhaps the timing, perhaps just luck that this plant was actively blooming. I can't say that I'd seen Striped Coralroot in vibrant bloom before with it's yellow and dark coral coloured flowers..

 

' Striped Coralroot Blooms '

 

Definitely a very exciting find for me.

 

DJE