Pine Tree, Loch Vaa, Ice freeze, Cairngorms National Park

Pine Freeze

The light was stunning on this day, with an intense quality, glowing in light. Loch Vaa was a frozen expanse, glinting in the sunshine.

Birch tresses in winter light

Birch Tracery

Coppery tresses of birch streaming in the wind. The heavy frost which had built up over several days was thawing as a warmer breeze came in, making the birch glisten in the sun.

Douglas Fir, Feshiebridge

Feshie

Douglas Fir, Feshiebridge, Strathspey A visit to one of my favourite trees in the district – a beautiful Douglas Fir standing on the rocky banks where the River Feshie tumbles through a wee gorge. The tree is named after David Douglas, the Scottish botanist who first ‘discovered’ it in British Columbia and the Western USA.  […]

Fiery sunset mist, caledonian forest, Rothiemurchus

Fiery Mist

Fiery mist in the Caledonian Forest, Rothiemurchus Our three weeks of heatwave summer came crashing to an end on saturday with some close-up thunder, lightning and torrential rain.  However, shortly before sunset the sun reappeared, and the forest started steaming after all the rain.  I spent a breathless ten minutes jumping through the heathery bog […]

Cadzow Oak

‘Cadzow Oak’ in late afternoon sun, Chatelherault, Hamilton An afternoon walk through the stunning autumn colours of the woodlands at Chatelherault, near Hamilton, along the gorge of the Avon water.  The Cadzow Oaks are beautiful to see, rather,  ‘to meet’ since these trees are such characters with great presence. This internationally important group of about […]

On the edge

Birch, Craigellachie Lochan, on the edge of sunset There has been some ferocious wind this last few days, but plenty of sun with it.  I took this on friday at Craigellachie lochan, one of my favourite spots.  The sun was setting behind the crags, putting the loch into shade, but leaving the trees brightly illuminated […]

Willow Catkins

Willow catkins, by the River Spey, Aviemore After last weekend’s spring weather we paid for it during the week with a rather chilly few days and  fresh snow on the hills.  However, today has been another perfect day. Perfect for gardening, for just being outside… I took an evening walk along the river bank, and […]

Solstice tree

Sunset tree in a field of snow, near Drymen, Loch Lomond. Unlike the south, we have had hardly any more snow since the last load, but it is very frosty.  By my calculations it is the solstice on Tuesday 21st where we mark the turning of the year.  It seems to have absolutely raced by […]

Vibrant Rowan

After several days of rain, a day of sun and sparkle.  This pair of interleaving Rowan trees caught my attention with their vibrant light. The Rowan has been revered across Europe as a sacred tree since early times.   Its older name, Quicken-Tree, from the Anglo-Saxon cvic (life) indicates ‘Sharing out the blessings of life’. (Fred […]

Alder Wood

Playing with my new wide-angle lens 🙂 – this was the best I could do given the very dull conditions this week.  Yes, its August, but the cool, damp summer (?) continues… “Trees are our link between  earth and sky; symbolizing strength, protection and longevity, they are vital in maintaining the balance of climate and […]