Upper storey plants

 There is not much of interest in the flowering plants yet apart from the spring bulbs, so I am still keeping myself occupied looking for lichens. On two occasions I have found plants setting up home in holes in the trees, several feet above the ground. Whether they will survive, I am not sure...

Today I found some Wood Sorrel half way up a birch tree on the side of Creag Dhubh.

Wood Sorrel

Wood Sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) normally grows on the ground under trees. Its leaves have a lemony taste and are three lobed, a bit like clover.  They are closed up in this photo. It has white flowers in the spring.

Another tree dweller I found was by Allt Laraidh.  This time it is a violet.

It is probably a common Dog Violet (Viola riviniana)

Although the weather has become a bit cooler today, I am hopeful that we will see some spring flowers soon.

Spring?

The weather has at last become more springlike - the lying snow has melted in the village though there is still snow on the hills. Snowdrops and crocuses have started to flower and the daffodils are putting up green shoots and some buds.

There are no "wild" snowdrops or daffodils in Newtonmore.  All the ones you see in waste ground are the result of people dumping their garden rubbish.  It is rather ironic that I had someone complaining today that they could not get snowdrops to grow in their garden, when they seem to grow against all odds in "throw out" material! Once snowdrops get going, they easily multiply by developing more bulbs or by seeding nearby.

All the snowdrops I have seen out and about are "common or garden" ones that go by the name of Galanthus nivalis but there are other fancier species.  If you think you have something a bit different in your garden, there is a simple online ID guide by Mick Crawley to help you decide what it is here. Snowdrop lovers (Galanthophiles) pay a lot of attention to the green markings on the inner petals which can take different patterns.  The common snowdrop has an upside down green V shape.  Here is one from my garden: 

When taking this photo, I was surprised by the strong scent of honey that came from the flower.  I had never noticed it before. If you have snowdrops in your garden, pick one and take a sniff!