BULB LOG IN SHETLAND

[Ian Y]

Last weekend
I made a trip to Shetland and here is part 1 of a brief record of my trip.

I boarded the ferry in on a very sunny afternoon.

At 5pm we set sail for the 14 hours passage to Shetland.

Looking towards the sea all I could see was a great bank of haar.

[Ian Y]

Early the next morning we were sailing into Shetland.

Well not exactly into Shetland but into Lerwick Harbour.

The Ferry from Lerwick Terminal.

[Ian Y]

A few locals were there to meet me.

One of the magnificent landscape views that were all around.

[Ian Y]

Scalloway with the old castle.

I found a host of northern daffodils growing around a wee croft.

They looked good growing in this rough landscape.

Another yellow sight was a mass of celandines.

In one of the few areas of trees that I found.

Ranunculuc ficaria

Did I look for variation? No.

[Ian Y]

Magnificient Atlantic cliffs.

Spectacular sea stacks and sculptures.

Shingle beaches

My first Shetland primrose

Sandy beaches.

All to myself.

[Ian Y]

I can never resist the still lifes you can find on a beech.

And even creating a bit of landscape art.

The reason for my trip to Shetland was the opening of my exhition in the BonHoga Gallery.

[Ian Y]

Down to South Mainland.

A very misty Sumburgh Head.

And the lighthouse

The magnificient view was some what spoiled by the mist.

The fog horn was more useful.

[Ian Y]

Strange that the airport was built in the foggiest part of the islands.

The Crossing control stated wait here when red lights flash.

Ahead only!!

I am now driving across the main runway of Shetlands main airport.

Hope nothing is flying in.

[Ian Y]

An interesting road sign to go with the ones Lesley should us on another thread.

Colts foot was all along the road sides looking very nice.

Tussilago farfara

And a caltha.

[Ian Y]

I found more Primula vulgaris in a hillside I climbed.

Very small plants kept compact by the exposed site.

The harsh conditions has not prevented masses of seedlings appearing all around.

A very tight cushion of Saxifraga hypnoides which must be centuries old, clung to the edge of a rock face.

[Ian Y]

The reason I was climbing the hillside was to look for an ancient viking quarry and these stone 'seats' are what I am looking for.

The vikings carved stone bowls and troughs form the soft soap stone outbreak.

Steatite is a soft stone that is easily carved when it first exposed, it hardens with exposure to the air or to heat. Vikings varved the bowls out in situ and the shapes of the bowls can be clearly seen.

The vikings also used raised beds! Troughs and raised beds : were they the first rock gardeners?

You can just pick out the Narcissus leaves growing on the turf on top of this wall so they also liked bulbs

I even found an ancient viking artifact in the remains of these walls.

[Ian Y]

The final leg as I leave Shetland again out into the sea mist.

And home to an equally misty Aberdeen.

[Heather Smith]

I've never been to Shetland - the closest I've got is Aberdeen.  I didn't expect the fabulous blue of the sea. What wild flowers would one expect to find there? I have never heard of Saxifraga hypnoides.

[Maggi Young]

Heather, here is a handy site: http://www.bobbytulloch.com/categories.php?id=3

Saxifraga hypnoides is a little mossy saxifraga... grows in the Burren, too, I think..... and in Northern Ireland, see here for a map: http://www.habitas.org.uk/flora/species.asp?item=3505

[Ian Y]

To be honest Heather I am not sure what saxifraga it is as it was not in flower just a tight cushion.
It could be caespitosa but the leaves did not look the right shape so I am open to suggestions.
From what I saw there would be a wonderful display of flowers in about 4 to 6 weeks.