Snowdrops, longer nights, and the return of the green 🌿

There is a definite shift happening in the Strath.

The sun is finally making an appearance, the nights are stretching out, and the town is shaking off the winter.

The White and the Green

The snowdrops are out in force in the woods and gardens across Crieff. In Scottish folklore, these "Fair Maids of February" were the bridge between the dark months and the light. They are much tougher than they look, too - containing a natural antifreeze to survive the Perthshire frosts. More impressively, they produce a compound called galantamine, which is used in modern medicine to treat memory loss and Alzheimer’s.

However, a word of warning: while the scientists know how to extract the good stuff, snowdrops are actually toxic if consumed. Stick to admiring them in the wild. And mind the old superstition: they’re best enjoyed in the ground where they grow, as bringing them indoors was once said to be a sure way to invite a run of bad luck.

The wild garlic is also coming up thick around town. While you'll see it in most shaded corners, the top tip for the best display is the river walk at Mungall Park. It’s already well-grown along the banks, just waiting for a bit of heat to really cast its scent across the path.

In years gone by, folk would forage this as a spring tonic to "thin the blood" and kickstart the system after a heavy winter.

That tradition is still very much alive in Crieff today. If you’re picking some to take home, look for the vibrant, younger leaves before the white flowers appear. A handful whizzed up with some oil, walnuts (a great local alternative to pine nuts), and a bit of hard cheese makes a cracking pesto that tastes like Spring on a plate.

The Lore of the Land

It’s not just the garlic that has a story. If you’re heading up The Knock, look out for the Gorse (or whins) beginning to glow yellow. We have an old saying in Scotland: "When the gorse is oot o' bloom, kissing's oot o' fashion." Since it’s rarely without a flower, romance is always a safe bet in Crieff. On a warm day, the scent of coconut from the yellow blooms is unmistakable.

Keep an eye out for the Rowan trees strategically planted in our gardens. These were the "guardians" of the Strath, planted for centuries to ward off the "evil eye" and keep the household safe. To this day, many locals wouldn’t dream of cutting one down. Even the Hazel trees along Lady Mary’s Walk have a tale to tell; ancient lore says they provided the "nuts of wisdom" to the salmon in the Earn. It's a reminder that every tree and bloom in our corner of Perthshire has likely been part of a local legend for hundreds of years.

Dates for the diary:

• The Library of Innerpeffray has officially reopened its doors. There is something incredibly grounding about the silence of Scotland’s oldest lending library when the spring light hits those 300-year-old shelves. If you haven't been, it's a local treasure that deserves a visit.

  
  

• Drummond Castle Gardens are prepping for the season, too. Mark the 1st of May in your calendar for when the big gates swing open. Seeing that formal layout begin to bloom is one of the highlights of the Strathearn calendar.

  
  

A Stoater of a Season

There’s a bit of a legend in Scotland about the "Gowk Storms" - those sudden, heavy bursts of snow or rain that happen in April, supposedly brought in by the first cuckoo. It’s a reminder that Spring here isn’t always a gentle transition; it’s a bit of a fight.

But many reckon it’s the bonniest time of year in Strathearn regardless. It’s that perfect window where the world turns neon green but you can still see the shape of the hills through the branches.

Spring is here. Make sure you soak it up in its full glory. Get the boots on and get out there - it's a stoater of a season.

Experience Crieff: It’s yours to discover.