I have always loved flowers. When I was training to be a herbalist, I was delighted to be told to compile a herbarium for a Botany module; although it was tricky to find flowering plants in Scotland in October and November!
When walking in Scotland, I always take my camera along in case I spot any interesting flowering plants. One of my favourite places for wildflower spotting is the isle of Ulva off the west coast of Mull. These photos were taken in the summer of 2009, and show devil's-bit scabious (Succisa pratensis) and ragged robin (Lychnis flow-cuculi).
Another wonderful place for wildflower walks is Glen Affric, an ancient pine forest to the west of Loch Ness. These are photos of eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) and bog asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum).
So, when I came to think about a new bag design, there could be only one thing: Scottish wildflowers! I've chosen ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata) and spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), both distinctive plants that can be easily identified. The former is one of my favourites especially as the crushed leaves make an excellent salve for nettle stings!
