Michty me! It’s oor Harry … in Scots!

Last week marked the 20th anniversary of the first publication of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. It also marked Leith-based Itchy Coo / Black & White Publishing’s 15 years in the book trade, and they plan to celebrate by publishing a Scots version of Rowling’s classic  – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stane – in October. Continue reading Michty me! It’s oor Harry … in Scots!

CCTV appeal following assault in Cowgate

Police are investigating a serious assault in the city centre and have released images of a man that they believe may be able to assist them with their enquiries.

The incident happened at around 3.10 a.m. on Sunday 4th June near to the Espionage nightclub at the Cowgate. A 27-year-old man was attacked and sustained serious injuries.Officers would like to speak to the man shown in the image and would appeal to him or any members of the public who recognise him to contact them as soon as possible.

The male is described as white, mid-twenties, 5ft 11ins tall with a medium build, clean shaven face and short fair hair. He was wearing a pink checked shirt, blue jeans and white trainers. He was last seen leaving the Grassmarket in the company of other men and headed towards the West Port area.

Detective Constable Sheila Silvagni from the Violence Reduction Unit at Gayfield Police Station said, “This appears to have been a totally random and unprovoked attack, which left the victim with a painful injury to the back of his head.”

Anyone with information can contact the Violence Reduction Unit via 101 and quote incident number 934 of the 4th June. Alternatively, an anonymous report can be made through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

What’s On at The Playhouse?

The digital version of the new Edinburgh Playhouse What’s On July-December 2017 brochure is online now.

Highlights include Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award winning Sunset Boulevard with Ria Jones and Danny Mac (pictured) this October and Cabaret featuring Will Young and Louise Redknapp in November, while December will see the Broadway and West End smash hit Beautiful – The Carole King Musical come to the Scottish capital as part of its first ever UK tour.

And helping mark seven decades of Edinburgh as a festival city, August will see  The Playhouse on the Fringe showcase the works of five international performers across a programme of 56 shows.

You can also keep up to date with the Playhouse on social media.

Facebook | @edinplayhouse | Instagram

July’s plant of the month: Potted summer bulbs

 
Colourful, impressive, summery bulbs 
Most people are familiar with spring-flowering bulbs but there are also a various range of bulbs sold in pots in the summer months that can bring colour and atmosphere to the patio. We have selected three summer-flowering potted bulbs as the Garden Plant of the Month for July: the Calla, the Lily and the Star of Bethlehem. Varied, colourful and impressive, both on their own and combined together or with other garden plants.
Potted summer bulbs: Calla, Lily and Star of Bethlehem 
Zantedeschia is often known as the Calla or Arum Lily. In the past, we were only really familiar with the flowers of the white Zantedeschia aethiopica – it has large white calyxes and can grow quite big in the garden. There are now more compact varieties, in many different colours from white to orange and dark purple to yellow. The flowers are smaller, the plants also have attractive markings on the leaves in the form of silver spots.
Potted Lilies are all hybrids – many original species originate from Japan, China and Korea. The name LA (Longiflorum x Asiatic hybrids) is an old Latin plant name for the Lily. The plant is characterized by the many buds on the stem and the leaf that extends the full length of the stem. The larger the bulb that is used, the more buds there will be on the stem. The most common potted Lilies have large flowers with a strong scent, and the LA Group usually comes in pastel shades. The range of colours varies from yellow, orange and red through to pink and white. Many bicoloured lilies also have flowers with an extra spot in the Calix.
Ornithogalum, as the Star of Bethlehem is officially known, grows from beautiful leaf rosettes from which a leafless stem emerges with the flower on the end. The name Ornithogalum derives from an old Greek plant name which means ‘bird milk’ (‘ornithos’ = bird, ‘gala’ = milk). There are three most common species. O. Saundersiae has long stems over a metre in length bearing a composite white flower. Every separate flower has an eye-catching black dot at its heart. O. dubium is much shorter, often just 10 to 30 centimetres and is available in orange and yellow. O. thyrsoides has white composite flowers in the shape of plumes.
Caring for Calla, Lily and Star of Bethlehem
The summer-flowering bulbs are very easy to care for, and will give weeks of pleasure.
  • The plants are undemanding and can be placed in both the shade and the sun. The temperature does need to remain above at least 5-8 °C, but that won’t pose a problem in the summer.
  • Make sure that the soil never dries out, so water regularly, particularly when the plants are placed in pots or containers. The bulbs and tubers mean that the plants can survive through a slightly drier period, which is handy when you go on holiday for a week.
  • Give plant food once a fortnight to ensure lavish flowering. Remember, the plants are only for decoration and not for consumption.
Tips for keeping potted summer bulbs
Summer-flowering potted bulb plants can be kept by bringing them indoors after flowering in October or November. That gives them a hibernation period whereby the plant remains dry and the foliage dies back. The bulbs and tubers will then produce plenty of new flowers during the next growing season. You can plant them outside again from April onwards. The plants will then produce the fabulous flowers again in the summer.
More information about potted summer bulbs and other garden plants can be found at Thejoyofplants.co.uk.

Rankin joins the greats at Edinburgh’s Writers’ Museum

Ian Rankin has joined the ranks of Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns and Robert Louis Stevenson today as his work is is celebrated in a new exhibition at Edinburgh’s Writers’ Museum. A rare selection of personal items, manuscripts and images belonging to the best-selling writer are displayed in a new exhibition celebrating the 30th anniversary of his much-loved Edinburgh sleuth, Detective Inspector Rebus. Continue reading Rankin joins the greats at Edinburgh’s Writers’ Museum

Circle receives cash boost from Morrisons Foundation

Local charity Circle has received a £950 donation to develop the outdoor area at their West Pilton base, where high school volunteers team up with primary school children to provide mentoring and support. The donation, awarded by the Morrisons Foundation, will be used to renovate the garden area and purchase equipment, picnic benches and raised beds. Continue reading Circle receives cash boost from Morrisons Foundation