It's situated on the coast close by the town of Dunbar in East Lothian, where naturalist John Muir (one of Gail's heroes) was born in 1838 and lived until the family emigrated to the USA when he was aged eleven.
So as a child, Muir's first encounters with nature came from wandering around the dunes, woods and fields in this part of lowland Scotland.
Gail took me on a walk in the Country Park after we had lunch with YAM-Aunty just over a week ago. I was all for racing off at top speed along the sandy path between the dunes and the pine trees, but, being an obliging sort of a chap, I stopped now and again to pose beside these pretty blue bell shaped flowers.
A later consultation with the flower book told us that the plant is 'Viper's Bugloss' and it is the county flower of East Lothian. You are unlikely to see viper's bugloss as far north as Aberdeen though.
I'm afraid Gail failed to take any other photos of the John Muir Country Park. It is a pleasant enough place, but, to be frank, hardly up there with Yosemite and other favourite stamping grounds of Mr Muir.
Well then, perhaps you would instead like to see a picture of Gail, flanked by her two American friends Joni and Marse, taken in September 1989 when these three (then) young-ish ladies enjoyed two weeks of hiking and backpacking in Yosemite National Park.
Were Gail's legs ever truly that brown?!!!
Oh and here she is on top of Half Dome.
Maybe I could visit Yosemite one day....
oh bertie, if, then we come with you to see that famous place... imagine that...hahahaha
ReplyDeleteHari Om
ReplyDeletea dog can dream, right? Lovely bugloss - neat find! hugs and wags YAM-aunty xxx
OM word Bertie I just love the name 'Viper's Bugloss' dang I mean who won't love to have Bugloss for a last name. Very lovely flower too.
ReplyDeleteWe are 87 kinds of impressed with Gail's ventures while in the US of A. Hiking Yosemite and sitting on Half Dome wow did she ever take advantage of every second of her free time.
She did have very toasty legs...living in Oklahoma will do that to you. Thank you for posing with the flowers and Gail for sharing the photos.
Hugs Cecilia
Bertie - Consternation here to discover that there's a John Muir nature park in Dunbar. California is the only State where that surname doesn't have to be spelt out letter by letter. Wonder why ?
ReplyDeleteJohn Muir, Father of the National Parks. Well I love small parks for my short legs. The flower looks all prickly, I think I would not want to hike my leg on it.
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Sweet William The Scot
That is interesting about John Muir. Mom has been to Yosemite but many many years ago
ReplyDeleteHugs
Hazel & Mabel
Oh, we have John Muir all overs the Bay Area! He sure was a hero for the land and parks. I thinks your Gail was a hot tamale! Ma says her leggies were that color once too, butts I don't believes her....she's half Irish, that'll tell you all you needs to know! BOL!!
ReplyDeleteBertie, I thinks you showed off that Viper's Bugloss very well indeed...it really shows off your furs!
Kisses,
Ruby ♥
We love John Muir and Yosemite! I had no idea that he grew up in Scotland - and near you, no less! What fun!!!!
ReplyDeleteJohn Muir is our hero too! Thank goodness "like minded" people back in the day, realized how important it was to conserve these areas of natural wonder. If not for people like John Muir this country would be all condos, casinos and shopping malls!
ReplyDeleteWe bet it was fun racing all around that John Muir park. The little blue flowers are very pretty - Mom is very partial to blue flowers and they are not easy to find.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend.
Woos - Lightning, Misty, and Timber
We love your John Muir Park flowers today Bertie! We definitely think you should come see Yosemite. Mama is hoping we can all get down there sometime next year!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Rosy, Jakey & Arty
That last picture made me gasp! I have this fear of my heights that would have prevented me from getting anywhere near there. I think you are quite brave!
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I was terrified up there! Cheers, Gail.
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