- Author: Karen Metz
Some things I expected on our recent trip to Scotland in early October. I knew that the thistle was the national flower. I had heard about the rowan tree from my mother in law. It was nice to see it in person and find it with a full flush of red berries. Since we were going in October I wasn't quite sure what else to expect.
The first thing I noticed was begonias of all colors in municipal and business plantings. They tended to be planted in large masses as well as hanging planters. The next observations were made on a hike through the Pass of Killiecrankie which links the highlands and the lowlands of Scotland. This wooded area was bursting with fungi and mushrooms. I even found the mushroom from all the fairy tales the one with the white stem and red cap with white polka-dots. I was also impressed with the amount of ruby red rose hips from wild Rosa canina that we saw here and throughout Scotland. I could only imagine how beautiful these must be in flower in the springtime.
We visited Dunrobin Castle which has some beautiful gardens supposedly inspired by Versailles. I was shocked to find Gunnera mannicata, Giant Rhubarb flourishing there. I generally think of these in South America or trendy garden show displays not Scottish gardens. Later I was astounded to see a six foot tall Viking topiary made of succulents on the greens of a town named Largs. Largs was the site of a famous Viking-Scottish battle. The grounds also had a flat" picture" of a Viking battleship, also done in succulents.
I think that is one of the things I like best about traveling, the surprises you encounter that go against your expectations. They shake you up a bit and make you look at everything with fresher eyes. And if you are lucky, that feeling can continue on when you get home.
![Rowan tree. (photos by Karen Metz) Rowan tree. (photos by Karen Metz)](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/USS/blogfiles/18992.jpg)
!['Fairy tale' mushroom. (Amanita muscaria) 'Fairy tale' mushroom. (Amanita muscaria)](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/USS/blogfiles/18993.jpg)
![Rose hips on Rosa canina. Rose hips on Rosa canina.](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/USS/blogfiles/18994.jpg)
![Gunnera mannicata. Gunnera mannicata.](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/USS/blogfiles/18995.jpg)
![Begonias in a multitude of colors. Begonias in a multitude of colors.](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/USS/blogfiles/18996.jpg)
![Largs. Largs.](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/USS/blogfiles/18997.jpg)