Lords and Ladies at Barnyards of Pitsligo

 Cuckoo Pint (Arum maculatum)
 This clump of Cuckoo Pint grows at the roadside at Barnyards and is the only example Grey Granite knows of in this area. It is very much at the mercy of grass cutting operations and some years does not manage to produce the pale green  spathes which trap pollinating insects by day to release them by night. The position of the plant is apposite for the alternative name of Lords and Ladies, being  directly opposite Pitsligo Castle. Grey Granite suspects that these Lords and Ladies may have arrived in one of the cattle floats which are washed out in the adjacent yard.

The Dry Briggs path, originally a much used cart track, runs south over the Cairnhill from Rosehearty to Holland Park and beyond to the  mill at Boyndlie. The bank on the sunny side of the track provides a sheltered habitat for violets ranging in colour from palest mauve to a strong purple. They will soon be succeeded by birds' foot trefoil. 

The Dry Briggs is so named for the stone bridges,  one of which can be seen in the middle distance, built to allow beasts to pass  under the track to obtain water, there being no natural supply to the fields on the Peathill side. 

Close to Holland Park the track is thick with daisies. The bushes on the right are bour trees (elder) and possibly mark the site of an old smiddy.