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David

Edinburgh Royal Botanical Garden: wild jasmine (not)

Edinburgh Royal Botanical Garden: wild jasmine (not)

Don’t go trusting to authority. The species ID label of these flowers in the Edinburgh Royal Botanical Garden clearly says Jasminum humile, a now depreciated Linnean designation of the common jasmine.

It’s quite difinitely not got yellow flowers.

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David

Edinburgh Royal Botanical Garden: skunk cabbage

Edinburgh Royal Botanical Garden: skunk cabbage

Another of the exotic plants in the Royal Botanical Gardens, skunk cabbages looking like oversized wild arums (lords and ladies)

Edinburgh Royal Botanical Garden: skunk cabbage
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David

Edinburgh Royal Botanical Garden: giant rhubarb

Edinburgh Royal Botanical Garden: giant rhubarb

One of the many exotic plants in the Royal Botanical Gardens, giant rhubarb can sometimes be found growing wild in the west midlands, for example in some canalside sites.

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David

Edinburgh Royal Botanical Garden: tapered drone fly on a flower

Edinburgh Royal Botanical Garden:  tapered drone fly on a flower

A tapered drone fly is quite a common species of hoverfly. Less sure about the flower this one has chosen to rest on: it’s actually one of the plants pictured on the sign outside one of the entrances of the Royal Botanical Garden in Edinburgh.

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David

Dunbars Close Gardens, Edinburgh: imperial fritillary

Dunbars Close Gardens, Edinburgh: imperial fritillary

Also flowering in the Dunbar’s Close Gardens, an imperial fritillary standing lone and proud.

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David

Dunbars Close Gardens, Edinburgh: snakes head fritillaries

Dunbars Close Gardens, Edinburgh: snakes head fritillaries

Dunbar’s Close Gardens is a small formal garden about half way up the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. It’s easy to miss even by someone who is looking for it. The entrance is one of the many low passageways leading off the main drag, with just a tiny plaque to indicate what lies beyond.

When we were there, the snakes head fritillaries were the first flowers to grab our intention.