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I’ve drafted this post several times over the last few weeks then hesitated while each crop of blooms appears - I’m off my head. I’ve gone through too many versions: snowdrops…no, better wait for the crocuses; Crocus Pocus…but…erm…hold on, the daffs are starting to pop; Here they are our yellowheaded chums…and…I can just see the cherry blossom starting? Blossom ahoy…but whoah there…stopping NOW at Bluebell Junction.
Nothing marks the progress of the year better in Edinburgh than which flowers are decorating the parks, verges and gardens. If you woke from a coma in the Meadows (I have a mate who did that most weekends) you couldn’t rely on the weather or temperature to work out what month it was. Checking out the leaves, flowers, buds and barbecue litter gives a much higher degree of accuracy.
The snowdrops are first to appear of course and they pop in such great abundance in Dalmeny that they have a Snowdrop Festival. I caught them on a clear February day when the lack of leaves on the trees allows these delicate wee flowers to bathe in the low angled rays of sun.
The crocuses are next to brave the still frosty weather. Many brilliant displays suddenly appear through the grass across the city. I always do at least one session on the Meadows, where some businesses have gone to the bother of matching their branding with the crocuscous verges.
Their colours are so well matched that there are designer colour palletes created around them. You can’t go far wrong copying nature’s designs.
I really begin to feel Spring in the air when the dafffodils arrive, and we’re blessed with so many colonies of them here that it’s hard to pick a favourite. The trees are still without leaves which allows for interesting combinations of city icons and nodding yellow heads.
In some parks, like Harrison Park below you are encouraged to pick the daffs instead of letting them wilt away.
This year saw a great display of red tulips down at Holyrood with Queen Mary’s Bath House providing the perfect backdrop to the backlit petals. I caught them just before they were blown apart by the wind.
It all starts to accelerate now and blossom join leaves and flowers popping out all over the city. It amazes me every year, the electric vibrancy in the unfurling leaves, the crazy abundance of flowers on bushes like constellations in the sky. I loved this Clematis in Marchmont surrounded by sun-warmed sandstone.
The Meadows is rightly famous for the cherry blossom displays but Edinburgh has plenty of other fantastic islands of pink pompom bearing trees. These ones below are at Dovecot Park in the west of the city which has a big place in my heart.
Sunshine and showers is blossom season weather, so too often the crazy pink poodle flowers end up in the gutter in mushy piles.
Bluebells are here just now, a bit more elusive than the others but all the more rewarding when you find a pocket of them hiding in plain sight somewhere.
I’d love to see your own captured bloomin’ Edinburgh shots too.
this lifts my heart. thank you
Tom, another great post with beautiful images! Certainly your hesitation is our reward as you have documented the various flora in the calendar time they appear! Thank you.😀