Scottish Wildflower light up the South Side of Loch Ness in an array of
colour from spring until autumn. A surprising variety of wild flowering
plants and ferns find places to grow amongst patches of ravine woodland,
grassland, scree and cliff still found among roads and buildings are
havens for flowering plants not found elsewhere in urban areas. Some
flowers you have to work harder to find and others wave hello in a
gentle breeze on the verges from the roadside.
As the frosts
begin to fade away spring brings with it a delight for the eyes with
pockets of wild Daffodil and long swathes of Primrose adorning the banks
of the roadside along the B852. Getting off the road and taking to the
trails at Inverfairgaig Forest and the small wood in lower Foyers you
will see woodland flowers come early in spring before the canopy
overhead closes again until winter. Carpets of Bluebells appear with
bursts of
Wood Anemone here and there. As spring rolls on Ramsons
fill the woodland floor and fill the air with their pungently perfumed
aroma. Between April and June you can enjoy Yellow Flag Iris from the
roadside between Foyers and Whitebridge.
As the woodlands darken
verges, heathland and bogs come in to their full summer beauty drifting
numerous scents on the breeze. Bog Myrtle loses its leaves in the
winter and at the end of spring / beginning of summer sees its young
reddish leaves turn green again. As its name suggests it likes wet areas
to grow. Bog cotton can usually be found near by along with Bog Moss
with its rainbow of colours from red wine, orange, brown, pink and
green. Bright splashes of yellow and orange from Bog Asphodel and dusky
pink from the Heath
Milkwort. Contrary to popular belief, boglands are not dreary places at all!
Small
patches of grassland and meadow can be found along South Loch Ness with
Wild Orchids in mid summer, Yellow Rattle, Cow Parsley, Dog Daisy and
Red Clover. Hugging the edges of woodland and hedgerows are Wild Roses,
Forget-me-nots and Foxglove. Foxglove also love to grow on bracken
slopes and are irresistible to bees. Higher above the Loch you will find
the carnivorous beauty Sundew glistening red in the sun waiting to
catch its next meal and Moss Campion close by with its pink starry
flowers and moss like
foliage.
As autumn comes the hills are a
blaze of purple with Heather in full bloom. The Brambles start to loose
their delicate white flowers as their fruits begin to appear. Yellow
Gorse gradually loose there bright yellow blooms as the frost start to
come bringing winter with them, it leaves us waiting for the first signs
of Snowdrops at the end of the winter.