BULB LOG IN SHETLAND

[annew]

Thanks for the trip, Ian! For some reason the toothbrush picture immediately brought meerkats to mind... Good luck with the exhibition!

[David Nicholson]

Lovely pictures Ian, I enjoyed them. I hadn't realised how far away from the mainland Shetland is.

[Maggi Young]

David, Shetland is two hours nearer to Aberdeen ( about twelve hours sailing) if the ferry does not call in to Orkney en route !

[Heather Smith]

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

Thanks Maggi I will be in the Burren later on and I will look out for it. If it grows in N Ireland it shows, however much I have hunted wildflowers here, there is so much more to see. 
I have very much enjoying looking at the pictures of Shetland.  I go abroad to visit the mountains and marvel at the scenery and all the while there is so much of the British Isles I have never seen.
Now I have retired I hope to see much, much more.
Meanwhile the pictures on this site are a good substitute.  If it has not been already done, a thread wherein people can post views and their local wildflowers would be nice (though not strictly rock gardening stuff).

[Maggi Young]

Good idea, Heather, a "Local views and Wildflowers" thread would be interesting.

Who's first up?

[Heather Smith]

Maggi, I love the site with local NI wildflowers you have posted. I can see now why I have never found the Saxifrage - it grows in areas I have not searched (too far from base, but not any more!).

[Maggi Young]

I'm delighted that the NI website is useful , Heather. I hope others will find it so, too.

[Anthony Darby]

Are you sure Johnny Depp didn't leave that dagger for you to find Ian? Looks more pirate than viking

[Maggi Young]

If I'd thought for a moment that Johnny Depp was in Shetland, I'd have been off on that ferry like the proverbial rat....

[Ian Y]

Well you could be right Anthony, I was wondering if I should report my find to the Scottish Museum
Here is a close up it looks remarkably well preserved.

[Anthony Darby]

Mmm. Definitely not early Viking - more late Woolworth Mind you, if a polythene bag takes 1000 years to decompose, a plastic knife could stick around?

[Lesley Cox]

A lovely collection of pictures Ian, and many thanks for them. Though my own forebears were from Aberdeen and the Borders area, I have a Shetland shawl which belonged to my grandmother, so fine it's like gossamer. My sister and I were both christened in it as were my own two. Stored as an heirloom now though. Nice to see where it was knitted in the first place.

[Maggi Young]

There is a tradition to knit a fine shetland shawl which is so gossamer fine it will pass through a wedding ring. I have a cosy shawl, not so fine but still feather light,in fine shetland wool and pattern, which was crocheted by Lyn Bezzant (famous SRGC grower, as in Crocus tommasinianus 'Lyn's Pink) and  given to me as a precious gift.

[Paddy Tobin]

A very interesting series of photographs, Ian.
I don't think I could face 14 hour on the sea.
Many thanks, Paddy

[Maggi Young]

I don't think I could face 14 hour on the sea

Well, Ian was a bit wobbly when he got back. Said when he was standing still the room was moving