North Fife January 23rd

January 23rd, a relatively mild winter in North Fife and yet snow threatens already lying on the hills of Perthshire as seen from over the River Tay North Fife. Forecast is for more tomorrow at low levels. Brrrr.

Tayview Feb 24th 2013 North Fife

Tayview Feb 24th, soft winter colour skies

4-30pm looking into Perthshire, in the distance snow on the mountains with Perth City out of site just beyond the middle escarpment.

I really love the soft pinks and greys in this light over Invergowrie on the outskirts of Dundee.

Half an hour later this magical transformation takes place as the setting sunlight  gets level and under the cloud cover. I always find it quite stunning. Quickly changing and very impermanent.

Pinetum Scone Palace

Pinetum scone Palace.

The 100 acres of Scone Palace Grounds was landscaped by the Third Earl of Mansfield in 1805. The magnificent pinetum was established in 1848 and includes many western hemlock and noble fir positioned in avenues.

Other notable heritage trees include the The Scone Douglas Fir, raised from the original seed sent from America in 1826 by David Douglas. David Douglas was born in the village of Scone in 1799 and worked as a gardener at Scone Palace for seven years. Douglas went on to become an explorer and a great plant hunter.

This gives an idea of the scale of these magnificent trees.

An unusual habit of throwing up vertical branches.

This particular tree displaying Bracket Fungi. Bracket fungi cause decay and rot in the heartwood of trees and produce bracket-shaped fruiting bodies on the trunk or main branches. These fungi usually lead to the weakening and eventual breakage or fall of affected trees.

Fallen tree, the rings counted at 108 years, so relatively young compared to the others.

Amazing twisting growth of the trunks.

If you are a tree lover, or even a tree hugger with a long reach then this place will delight you.