The sight of roses in full bloom is usually a sign of high summer or a marking that Valentine’s day is in the air.
But this St Andrew’s Day, according to a new survey, an unusually high number of the flowers blossomed in National Trust for Scotland gardens all over the country.
The conservation charity surveyed 11 of its gardens from Threave Garden in the South to Inverewe Garden in the North to see what species were flowering on November 30.
The trust’s head gardeners have been carrying out an annual St Andrew’s Day survey since 2011.
And this year, picturesque gardens in the Highlands and Aberdeenshire gardens were found to be especially rose-filled.
The flowers were still in bloom at Crathes Castle near Banchory, Fyvie Castle near Turriff, Haddo House near Ellon and Arduaine Garden near Oban on the day honouring Scotland’s patron saint.
Although the flowering season was extended in 2014 too, the conservation charity explained why things had been different this time round.
Gardens assistant Kate Barnard, who is analysing the survey said: “Last year it was the hot summer that extended flowering times, but this year the summer was pretty mediocre, so it is probably the exceptionally mild November that has allowed plants to continue flowering or to repeat flower.”
Fuchsias and Hydrangeas were also in full bloom across the country, alongside annuals such as Calendula and Gazania and native wildflower species Foxglove and Red Campion.
More exotic species were also still flowering in late November, including Arduaine Garden in Argyll’s Yucca filamentosa with its striking spike of creamy flowers. This plant is native to the South-Eastern USA and usually flowers in the UK in July/ August.
But the charity has warned the increase in severe weather events with high winds and flooding that cause fallen trees, path washout and waterlogging of beds are a problem for gardeners in the longer-term.
Robert Grant, head of gardens and designed landscapes, said: “There are fewer frosts to control the insect pests that increase in number year on year, if not naturally controlled.”