Highland Cattle Glenlyon Perthshire

On the mountain road from Killin to Glenlyon my friends and I came across these Highland Cattle.
A Highland Cattle Bull ambles amongst his Harem, bracken, Bog Myrtle and grasses.

By chance a small group of walkers met us on the single track road. It transpired that we were in the company of the owner of the cattle. Beverley Jane Malim, a very attractive, amiable and informative lady of Meggernie Estate and occupant of Meggernie Castle. They each sported a sprig of Bog Myrtle which is an excellent and nicely perfumed antidote to the presence and effects of of midges.

Leaping Salmon Scotland

One of the most popular beauty spots in Perthshire, The Hermitage is an outstanding grove of giant trees beside the waterfalls, rapids and swirling pools of the River Braan. The Hermitage is in the care of the National Trust for Scotland.
What you see today is a picturesque landscaped `wild tree garden` created by successive Dukes of Atholl. Visitors today can marvel at a oak, rowan and Scot's Pine and also see one of the tallest trees in Britain – a majestic Douglas fir measured at 64.5metres (212ft) and still growing at the side of the `black pool`, near to the bend in the river. The `black pool` is so named because as the waters calm down after thundering through the falls, their peaty content makes them look black – a strong contrast with the foaming white water higher up river.Above the waterfall is the romantic folly known as Ossian’s Hall. This 18th century summerhouse once had mirrors covering the walls and ceiling to reflect the waterfall and create the illusion of water pouring in all directions! Today the mirrors are gone but it’s still a superb viewpoint. Also look out for Ossian’s Cave, a dark little vault, constructed as another folly. A small 18th century bridge crosses the River Braan just beyond the amphitheatre of great trees and a number of delightful footpaths stretch out in the woodland beyond. From late summer into autumn salmon can often be seen jumping up the waterfall.

Garden Pond Flisk North Fife

A history of gardens in Britain with special reference to the evolution of different styles and the changing importance of native and exotic plant species. In a much-anticipated addition to the New Naturalist library, Stefan Buczacki takes a broad look at the relatively unexplored world of the garden, and its relevance within the context of natural history overall. Though gardens are often viewed merely as artificial creations rather than easily accessible places to observe and encourage wildlife, 'Garden Natural History' rectifies this misconception. By viewing gardens within the wider context of the British ecological landscape, Buczacki follows the garden's development as a habitat within which vertebrates, invertebrates and native and alien plants alike have been introduced and to which they have adapted. 'Garden Natural History' offers a fascinating insight into the diversity of organisms and ecological processes that constitute the garden, whilst also highlighting the role of the gardener as conservator and showing how the garden can inspire all naturalists. I haven't read this book yet but I hope it may provide understanding of my plight.

Garden Pond Flisk North Fife

This year has been one of the wettest I can remember and yet my garden pond has lost over 2 feet of water and is now a kind of bog. It has provided a breeding place for frogs, toads, newts, dragonflies, damselflies, darters, snails and much else. The groundwater has found a new way to go and I would love to correct the loss.

Gooseberries North Fife

Gooseberries grow wild in many places in north fife, in the field edges by the River Tay and along the roadsides. Tonight I went along to a prolific site to find the council had last year cut the bushes right back with only new growth and berry less evident. Next year, loads. This is the view from the site towards Brunton with an already cut winter Barley and a field of oilseed rape waiting for harvest.

North Fife Sycamore Seeds

This year north fife began with it being unusually warm, every plant, tree, shrub abounded with blossom. This is one outcome of a Sycamore Tree which self seeded anyway that has taken up residence in the hedgerow.

Apples North Fife

"The Story of the Apple" reveals the solution to a long-standing puzzle. Where did the apple come from, and why is the familiar large, sweet, cultivated apple so different from all other wild apple species with their bitter, cherry-sized fruits? This book will fascinate gardeners who wish to know more about the origin and natural history of the plants that they grow in their yards or orchards, researchers and students in botany and horticulture who want the evidence from DNA, geology, anthropology, archaeology, zoology, and Classical history, and anyone with an interest in diet, well-being, and the benevolent effects of plants on the emergence of humankind.

It's July and this quite young Bramley Apple tree is abundant with fruit, given the size now, by October/November the fruit could be huge.

Wild Flowers North Fife

Along the way from Upper Flisk today there are on the verge of the road small clusters every 40 meters or so of Scabious flowers. For a month or so the flowers provide a rich supply of nectar to many insects. A small tortoiseshell butterfly illustrates.
A complete photoguide to all the wild flowers of Britain, in the same format as the bestselling "Complete British Wildlife". There are 1039 main entries, which include wildflowers, shrubs, aquatic plants, grasses, sedges and rushes. A botanical hotspots section includes 100 rarer species and focuses on which places to visit in Britain which are particularly rich in flower species. The introduction gives information about habitats and general background information to making identifications. Comparison pages show different leaf shapes, flower clusters etc, so that you can quickly and easily navigate to the right section of the book to make your identification. Maps are included for all species to show where they can be found.

Moths Flisk North Fife

A Reviewer Reported, "This book was a complete treasure to find. Having only started my interest in Moths just over a year ago I had only been able to find books with insufficient information or one's that were too technical. The Moths of the British Isles by Bernard Skinner is an excellent book but too technical for a beginner and how often do you see moths with their wings spread out as in the images he gives for identification. With the Field Guide to Moths of Great Britain and Ireland the authors have been able to demonstrate what the moths would look like in different natural positions and described what I should be looking for in straight forward terms. It is an excellent reference book for beginners and the more experienced and is well worth reading. Well done I hope they go on to write other wildlife books in this format as I shall be in the queue to buy them".

The Hebe shrub in the garden here in Flisk has provided a rich supply of nectar to many kinds of insects. These moths are but two of them.

A wee break from North Fife

Samye Ling Tibetan Centre Temple. It was good to return, visit and join in with the many good friends I have in Eskdalemuir. A large proportion of my life has been involved in the development and growth of Samye Ling. In a sense I have moved on but freely acknowledge the benefits of Buddhist teachings, practice, wisdom and guidance from Akong Rinpoche towards an understanding of the nature of mind. I live 108 miles to the north in Fife and always enjoy to return.

Guru Rinpoche Tibetan Chanting

Anyone is welcome to enter, below is what one could see. Taking Refuge is the first formal step on the Buddhist path. This concise text explains that what is meant by refuge is protection and eventual freedom from the confusion and suffering of cyclic sources of spiritual refuge, which are called the Three Jewels: the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche here explains the importance of receiving refuge from an authentic and unbroken lineage of transmission, the role of faith and trust, and how to relate to the refuge ceremony itself. Rinpoche emphasises the importance of taking refuge with the motivation to practice the path until we reach full spiritual awakening – and to do so not just for ourselves, but for the benefit and enlightment to all beings.

Guru Rinpoche Tibetan Chanting According to tradition, Padmasambhava was incarnated as an eight-year-old child appearing in a lotus blossom floating in Lake Dhanakosha, in the kingdom of Uddiyana, traditionally identified with the Swat Valley in present-day Pakistan.[1] His special nature was recognized by the local king who married him to one of his daughters, Mandarava. She and Padmasambhava's other main consort, Yeshe Tsogyal, developed into realised practitioners. Many thangkas and paintings show Padmasambhava in between them.

Padmasambhava's ability to memorize and comprehend esoteric texts in a single hearing established his reputation as a master above all others. Knowing that the life force of the wife and son of evil minister was about to end, he constructed an accident which resulted in their death. As a result, Padmasambhava was banished from the court and exiled in a charnel ground. Transiting various heavens and hells, he developed the power to transcend the cycle of birth and death, accomplishing the so-called great transference.

His fame became known to Trisong Detsen, the 38th king of Tibet (742–797), whose kingdom was beset by evil mountain deities. The king invited Padmasambhava to Tibet where he used his tantric powers to subdue the evil deities he encountered along the way, eventually receiving the Emperor's wife, identified with the dakini Yeshe Tsogyal, as a consort. This was in accordance with the tantric principle of not eliminating negative forces but redirecting them to fuel the journey toward spiritual awakening. In Tibet he founded the first monastery in the country, Samye Gompa, initiated the first monks, and introduced the people to the practice of Tantric Buddhism.

In Bhutan he is associated with the famous Taktshang or "Tiger's Nest" monastery built on a sheer cliff wall about 500m above the floor of Paro valley. He flew there from Tibet on the back of Yeshe Tsogyal, whom he transformed into a flying tigress for the purpose of the trip. Later he travelled to Bumthang district to subdue a powerful deity offended by a local king. Padmasambhava's body imprint can be found in the wall of a cave at nearby Kurje Lhakhang temple.

Padmasambhava also hid a number of religious treasures (termas) in lakes, caves, fields and forests of the Himalayan region to be found and interpreted by future tertöns or spiritual treasure-finders. According to Tibetan tradition, the Bardo Thodol (commonly referred to as the Tibetan Book of the Dead) was among these hidden treasures, subsequently discovered by a Tibetan terton, Karma Lingpa.