The Scottish Snippets Newsletter in its original format began in April 1997 and continued in an unbroken series for 591 issues. Although no longer produced in that style, there is now this regular update on the new and updated pages on the Rampant Scotland site including "Scottie's Photo Diary From Scotland".
To receive a text version of this newsletter as a reminder to look at these Web pages when they are published, just send an e-mail to Scottie@RampantScotland.com with "Subscribe Newsletter" in the subject line.
Scottie's Photo Diary - May 2013
After the lower than usual temperatures in Scotland in the recent winter and then again in the spring, many plants are several weeks behind the normal flowering season but this month has seen an explosion of blooms. And the first of this year's ducklings and other young birds are making an appearance. I was particularly delighted to see the pink magnolia in a sheltered spot at Culzean Castle Country Park and a Mallard with a dozen balls of fluff in tow. And the coot youngsters looked as bizarre as ever, with their bald heads and spiky feathers! See Scottie's Photo Diary - May 2013.
Screen Saver/Desktop Graphics - Perthshire
The next batch of large size photos suitable for use as screen savers or desk top graphics focuses on Perthshire - a selection of 33 graphics covering such subjects as Black Watch Memorial, Aberfeldy,Blair Castle's Hercules Garden, Castle Menzies, Drummond Castle Butterflies,, Elcho Castle, Falls of Dochart, Huntingtower Castle, Kenmore village, Loch Earn, Crannog in Loch Tay, Loch Tay, River Tay, Schiehallion Mountain, Comma Butterfly, Scone Palace Garden, Sma' Glen and Taymouth Castle.The other Zip files for Edinburgh, Glasgow and Castles can also be downloaded from Screen Saver/Desktop Graphics.
Big 5
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has launched a survey called the "Big 5" to find Scotland’s favourite shrub, tree or plant. The survey is available until the end of October and they are looking for as many people as possible to take part. You don't have to live in Scotland to vote, of course. The site has links to enlarged graphics of the main "candidates" though you can write in your own suggestions if you want. When I looked at the list the main problem was only being able to vote for one! See Big 5
Scottish Place Names in Hobart, Tasmania
As a result of feedback and further research, Ian Kendall has updated the notes on the Scottish place names that can be found in Hobart, Tasmania. Of the names of the 98 municipalities, suburbs and neighbourhoods in the Greater Hobart area, 26 (26.5%) can be found in Scotland, are based on Scottish family names or have some other connection with Scotland. Some of the names are used in other parts of the British Isles as well, but at least 12 them (12.2%) are unique to Scotland or are readily identifiable with places in Scotland that are based on the same names. For all the background, see Scottish Place Names in Hobart, Tasmania.
Caravan and Camping Sites in Scotland
Many tourists like the freedom of travelling around and then staying overnight at a campsite or caravan park. Others go to a static caravan site where they can hire a well fitted static caravan which can be used as a base. There are many sites providing these facilities, particularly in the Highlands. You can find a page of links for a selection of these caravan and camping sites in various locations in Scotland in a new page at Caravan and Camping Sites in Scotland
Next Newsletter
The next newsletter is scheduled for 22 June. There will be more large size Sottish graphics - probably focused this time on Fife - the graphic here is of Anstruther.
Yours aye
Scottie
Previous editions of this Newsletter are available in an Archive. The Index to the other pages of the Rampant Scotland site is available here.
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