"Scottish Snippets"

"Colour Supplement"

12 August 2006

Each week the Rampant Scotland Newsletter includes a number of photographs which illustrate the weather, flora and fauna of the current week around Scotland. There are so many such graphics worth including that a separate "colour supplement" is created so as not to totally overload the Newsletter. Here is this week's crop!


Balvaird Castle in Perthshire stands on a hill looking over into Fife and the Lomond Hills, near Loch Leven. The Historic Scotland information board suggests that living there in the 16th century would have been "comfortable" - at least for the Murray family who lived in the fortified tower house.


Peacock butterflies have been conspicuous by their absence this summer as far as I am concerned. But that was put right in the gardens of Kinross House where there were lots of them, along with Red Admirals and Small Tortoiseshells. This Peacock was enjoying the tiny flowers on this sedum while its relatives tucked into the nearby buddleja flowers.


Kinross House is an imposing mansion built by Sir William Bruce (1630 - 1710). Bruce had been a major player in the restoration of King Charles II to the throne in 1660 and that no doubt helped his career as an architect. He was appointed a baronet in 1668 and became "surveyor of the king's works" in Scotland. He was responsible for rebuilding the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh (in anticipation of a visit by King Charles II which never materialised) as well as for major works at Hopetoun House, Thirlestane Castle and Balcaskie Castle and Wemyss Hall. His own house has a magnificent view over Loch Leven and its castle - see below and Places to Visit - Kinross House elsewhere on Rampant Scotland.


The ground on which Kinross House is built was carefully landscaped so that Sir William Bruce could look out over his garden, Loch Leven and its castle - from which Mary Queen of Scots had escaped in 1568.


Grain crops planted last winter have been harvested but this field of wheat, seen near Balvaird Castle (above) is still ripening in the sun. The ruin on the horizon is not Balvaird Castle, but a ruined farmhouse.


This variety of Cosmos is named "Sea Shells" - for obvious reasons.

If you want to look back at earlier editions of this Colour Supplement, there is an Index Page





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