Re: The Sinclair Badge: Whin

["Spirit One Email" <laurel@spiritone.com>]

Thank you, Iain,
    When we moved to our home, there were two intertwined Mountain Ash trees
in the front yard.   So I had Rowan trees and didn't know it.   Nice song
also and website and beautiful fjord.
    Liked your Whin story also and added the tree link to our history pages
and link to the whin picture.
I notice that you have an old address for clan Sinclair USA.  It should be
www.clansinclairusa.org
You have an extra period in yours.

Laurel


----- Original Message -----
From: <INSLaird@cs.com>
To: <Sinclair@mids.org>
Cc: <laurel@spiritone.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2000 7:00 AM
Subject: The Sinclair Badge: Whin


> To answer Laurel's question, Whin is Scots for Gorse or Furze (Ulex
> Europaeus).  It is a spiky shrub which has a yellow flower.  There is a
> similar plant called the Broom which does not have spikes and may be an
> alternative.  My first serious encounter with Scots whins came early in my
> infantry training on Castle Law Ranges in the Pentland Hills not far from
> Rosslyn.  During skirmishing I had to take cover.  I had the choice of a
low
> Whin bushes or bare ground covered in sheep manure.  I chose the Whin, but
> thereafter favoured the Sheep manure.  I can therefore confirm its
hardiness,
> a suitable symbol for the Clan!  Those visiting Scotland for Sinclair 2000
> will see a great deal of Whin both in Caithness and on the way.
>
> I have put a picture of a whi sprig, such as one would place in one's
> headress on my "Connections with Clan Sinclair" page in my website.
>
> The Rowan (Sorbus Aucuparia) is otherwise known as Mountain Ash. There is
a
> sing called "Rowan Tree" playing in the backround of my Mother's family
page
> on my website, as a Rowan Tree stood in he Grandmother's garden.  The URL
is
> http://ourworld.cs.com/inslaird/Alice_Laing.htm
>
> For a full description of the Rowan see http://www.botany.com/sorbus.html
and
> for a picture see
> http://project.bio.iastate.edu/trees/campustrees/Sorbus_text.html.
>
> Yours aye
>
> Iain
>
> http://ourworld.cs.com/INSLaird/

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