A path divides a mass of wild garlic blossoms leads to the Cathedral of the Isles, at Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae, Scotland
This spectacular carpet of beautiful white blooms truly catches the eye. But it may well catch the nostrils too - as this is a sea of wild garlic blossom. As the passing cyclists drew closer, it is likely they would never have believed exactly what flower was surrounding them, until they caught a whiff of the distinctive fragrance. The path that divides the greenery leads to the Cathedral of the Isles, at Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae, Ayrshire. The tiny church, built in 1851 and set in idyllic surroundings, is listed as the smallest cathedral in Europe and is a major tourist draw. In use every Sunday, it is in May that the cathedral's lower grounds are transformed when the garlic blooms. Wild garlic - allium ursinum - grows in woodland and is identifiable by its smell but also by its long lush leaves, which are similar in appearance to those of lily of the valley. It grows from late winter and throughout spring and, as the big picture shows, towards the end of the season it bursts into bloom. Wildflowers and ferns abound on Cumbrae, which is a paradise for cyclists with the miles of quiet roads offering breathtaking views. At the cathedral, a new horticultural approach ensured this year's bloom would be better than ever, after the warden went round each tree and cut back all the lower branches, enabling more light to reach the forest floor. It was in the 1840s that George Boyle - later the 6th Lord Glasgow - returned from studying at Oxford, determined to invigorate the Episcopalian movement in Scotland and commissioned an architect to design a theological college on the island. The church still standing today was part of the complex that emerged, which also included a cloister. It is believed that the garlic was originally planted to supplement the diet of the students.
Size: 3400px × 5119px
Location: Milport, Isle of Cumbrae, Scotland, Great Britian
Photo credit: © Chris McNulty / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: beautiful, blossoming, blossoms, flowers, food, forest, green, herbal, island, landscapes, leaves, lush, mud, nature, outdoors, peace, plants, remedies, scotland, spring, time, trail, trails, tranquil, trees, trunks, walking, wet, wild, wood, woodland, woods
