BIRDS
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Bird of Paradise
Bird Day
Jan 5
"The lust for divine love in paradise, Could not bring from heavens to the earth, the birds of paradise sing the divine love song, but they tend to soar away in deep blue skies." ~ Jay P Narain
Birds of Paradise (which have a namesake flower) are several species of birds found on the island of New Guinea as well as the nearby islands groups of the Aru Islands, D'Entrecasteaux Islands and Raja Ampat Islands. Most are distinguished by striking colors and bright plumage of yellow, blue, scarlet, and green. These colors distinguish them as some of the world's most dramatic and attractive birds. Males often sport vibrant feathered ruffs or amazingly elongated feathers, which are known as wires or streamers. Some species have enormous head plumes or other distinctive ornaments, such as breast shields or head fans. In the past, naturalists believed that the bird of paradise lived perennially in the air and fed on dew and the odours of flowers, never having any settled abiding place.
Covey of Quail
Caryl J Bohn
Bird Day
Jan 5
"The parrot utters one cry, the quail another."
~ Latin Proverb
Attention Birdwatchers! Have you ever heard quail calls? Quails have an interesting version of "tweet tweet". Their song is not very loud but very distinctive, a thin ‘sip sip sip’ sound, also described as ‘wet-me-lips’, repeated several times. California quail, in contrast, with their fancy black plume and white vest, often make a particular chirp when searching for seeds and berries which sounds like “chi-ca-go, chi-ca-go"! Ironically, though the word "quail" means to "shrink in fear" and "cower", the small quail was a symbol of courage and victory in battle in many different cultures. The term 'quail' has also been one of endearment, and the bird was sometimes given as a gift from one lover to another. Quail have been bred domestically for over 4,000 years! The collective noun for a group of quail is a flock, bevy, or covey. The Covey of Quail design is intended to be reminiscent of long fall days in the field, a loyal dog by one’s side, the knowledgeable gamekeeper, and the flush of birds-earth tones! 🎶 🪶
Golden Pheasant
Aljean of Vancouver
Bird Day
Jan 5
"The world has different owners at sunrise... Even your own garden does not belong to you. Rabbits and blackbirds have the lawns; a tortoise-shell cat who never appears in daytime patrols the brick walls, and a golden-tailed pheasant glints his way through the iris spears."
~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1906-2001)
If you are a birder or bird fancier, you have many choices of tartan to don yourself in kinship with the tartan equivalent of beautiful plumage!
The Golden Pheasant, also known as the Chinese Pheasant, is native to the mountainous forests of Western and Central China. Living in dense woodland and steep terrain, it is most often glimpsed in brief flashes of colour before disappearing back into cover, lending it an air of rarity and quiet presence.
The male’s plumage is dominated by gold, red, and green, with a distinctive golden crest edged in red and a long, pale, barred tail. These tones are echoed in this design through warm golden yellows, deep reds, and grounding earth colours, balanced by softer neutrals.
During the breeding season, the male performs a striking courtship display, spreading his neck feathers forward over his head and beak like a cape.
In folklore, the golden pheasant has long been associated with light, prosperity, refinement, and moral harmony. In Chinese tradition, pheasants were admired for their dignity and beauty and were often linked with virtue, learning, and high rank.
The golden pheasant’s brilliance, balanced by its reserved nature, came to represent the idea that true beauty and good fortune are not constant displays, but moments that appear quietly and briefly to those who are attentive enough to notice them. 🤎 💛 💚 ❤️ 🤍 🪶 🪶 🪶
Gryfalcon
Carol A.L. Martin
Bird Day
Jan 5
"An Eagle for an Emperor, a Gyrfalcon for a King: a Peregrine for a Prince, & a Saker for a Knight, a Merlin for a lady, a Goshawk for a Yeoman, a Sparrowhawk for a Priest, & a Kestrel for a Knave." ~ The Book of St Albans, 1486
The gyrfalcon is the national bird of Iceland. It is the largest and most powerful falcon in the world. Its plumage varies from white to grey to almost black. Gyrfalcons were worshipped by the Vikings and highly sought after by European kings and members of the aristocracy. Unlike diving predators, the gyrfalcon hunts in level flight.
Oshidori (Mandarin Duck)
Bird Day
Jan 5
"As if Kandinksy wanted to draw a bird
made out of orange rind, fortune cookies,
the lines of Chinese calligraphy pens,
bars of snow, shyness of a new Geisha,
boldness of the Great Wall, freshly built."
~ The Mandarin Duck, Matthew James Friday
Mandarin ducks are known for their vivid coloring - rainbows of red, orange, purple, blue and green, and burgundy! Interestingly, Mandarin ducks don't quack like North American ducks. They make small, almost chirping noises while going about their daily activities, or they can voice shrill and alarm-like sounds to signal danger! Their native breeding areas are eastern Siberia, Japan, China, and parts of North Korea, though small colonies of rogue ducks have been spotted in California and Florida. Also known as "wedding ducks" for their loyalty to their mates, they're a popular symbol of love and fidelity in Asian countries. In the olden days, a man might buy or catch a pair of mandarin ducks to give to his bride's family. In more recent times, couples would use pictures and carvings of mandarin ducks as wedding decorations or might receive a carved pair as a gift. Multiple legends in Japan tell of a male and female mandarin duck becoming separated and using supernatural means (such as transforming into humans) to be reunited! 🦆
Black Raven
Carol A.L. Martin
Nevermore Night
Jan 29
“Though thy crest be shorn and shaven,
thou,” I said, “art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore —
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”
~ The Raven, Edgar Allan Poe, 1845
Jan 29 - the Black Raven tartan for Nevermore Night!
“Though thy crest be shorn and shaven,
thou,” I said, “art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore —
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”
~ The Raven, Edgar Allan Poe, 1845
If, "upon a midnight dreary," you're pondering "weak and weary" about what tartan you might want to wear, this design with its dark and glossy feathery iridescent highlights may provide "curious and quaint" inspiration.
Published this day in 1845, Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven" is deemed one of the most famous poems in American literature particularly for its Gothic themes of melancholy, mourning, and the supernatural!
The poem narrates the eerie encounter of a grieving man with a mysterious raven, a bird that speaks only one word, "Nevermore."
Ravens figure prominently in the myths and folklore of many cultures " and have been both revered and feared as harbingers of ill fortune or as symbols of prophecy. In Celtic Mythology, both Irish and Scots Bean Sidhes (Banshees) were said to take the form of ravens. Their calls from over the roof of a dwelling was considered to be an omen of death for the occupants!
Perhaps because of its dark reputation, a group of ravens is unkindly called an "unkindness." But for all of their dark associations, ravens are one of the most exceptionally intelligent animals, and have demonstrated foresight and planning abilities; been observed playing by sliding down roofs and playing"keep away" with other animals; and making toys and tools out of sticks, pinecones, and rocks! They also can imitate human speech, use a variety of "hand" signals with their beak, and often roam around in teenage gangs!
So, if somebody comes "a tapping at your chamber door" some dark night and they might be of the raven variety, dazzle and distract them with this striking tartan before they have the chance to utter that one fateful word .... . 🖤 💜 🧡 🖤 ✍️ 📙
The Common Blackbird
Frank Albert Merola
Cold Blackbird Days
Jan 31
"🎶 Sing a song of sixpence,
A pocket full of rye.
Four and twenty blackbirds
Baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened,
The birds began to sing.
Wasn't that a dainty dish
To set before the king?"
~ Traditional
The last days of January are considered some of the coldest in many countries, particularly in Italy, where they are known as I Giorni della Merla, the Days of the Blackbird. Inspired by the colours of these ubiquitous birds, the designer's surname is derived from a word for blackbird.
Several ther surnames are definitely and directly derived from the word for “blackbird” across languages. In French, Merle, Merlot, and Merlin all come from merle (blackbird), with Merlin originally meaning “little blackbird.” In Italian, Merlo, Merli, and Merlini derive from merlo (blackbird). In German, Amsel and Amsler come straight from Amsel, the modern German word for blackbird. In Irish, Ó Lonáin (anglicized as Lonan) is firmly linked to lon, meaning blackbird.
In Scotland, blackbird-derived surnames come from Gaelic lon (“blackbird”). Lonan (found in both Scotland and Ireland) is directly from lon, and Lonie / Lonnie are widely accepted Scots forms from the same root, originally nicknames meaning “the blackbird.” In Lowland Scotland, Merle also appears, brought in through Norman-French influence.
A legend tells of a white bird and her chicks while trying to avoid the bitter January cold, spent three days curled up in warm chimney surrounded by soot and smoke. When the sun finally emerged brightly on February 1st, the birds reemerged but with feathers turned black and have remained that way ever since!
Known for its distinctive and melodious song, blackbirds have a number of other calls, including an aggressive "seee", "chook chook" and a "pook-pook-pook" alarm call for predators.
And while it's unlikely that blackbirds were commonly baked into pies, the tuneful "Sing a song of sixpence" nursery rhyme imagery likely stems from a form of entremet (a type of medieval dish meant more for entertainment and display than for eating) where live birds would be placed in a pie crust and fly out when the pie was cut open, creating a dramatic and entertaining spectacle for king and court!
Often reckoned in many cultures as a messenger between the common world and the supernatural, in Scottish folklore, it is said that if you place blackbird feathers under someone's pillow and they will tell you their innermost secrets! Shhhhhh! Tweet tweet! 🖤 💛 🖤 🎶 🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛
Groundhog
Carol A.L. Martin
Groundhog Day
Feb 2
"If Candlemas Day is clear and bright,
Winter will have another bite.
If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain,
Winter is gone and will not come again."
~ Traditional
Groundhog? Hedgehog? Guinea Pig? If you are weary of winter and curious and unusual weather, ditch the experts and consult the weather forecasting hog of your choice! Groundhog Day, an offshoot of the Catholic Church's Candlemas Day, itself tied to the ancient celebration of Imbolc, began as a European and Pennsylvania German custom in the 18th and 19th centuries, substituting the native American groundhog for the European hedgehog for weather divination rituals. Tradition says that if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow, then spring will come early; if it is sunny and the groundhog sees its shadow and retreats back into its burrow, six more weeks of cold winter are augured! The most famous US forecasting groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil of Gobblers Knob, Pennsylvania, has been making predictions since 1887. Because Phil's predictions often come with a statement (interpreted from Groundhogese by the President of the Groundhog Club), Phil once memorably announced during Prohibition that unless he got a sip of liquor, there would be 60 more weeks of winter! As Phil's overall annual hit rate is at 40%, a sip of whisky surely won't hurt. But there are quite a few other weather-prognosticating woodchucks. 🤎 💛 🧡 💚 💙 Take your pick! 🦔 🦔 🦔 🗓️ 🌨️ ❄️ ⛅ 🌷 🥃
Chattanooga Chuck (Tennessee)
French Creek Freddie (West Virginia)
Buckeye Chuck (Ohio)
Essex Ed (New Jersey)
Jimmy the Groundhog (Wisconsin)
Staten Island Chuck (New York)
General Beuregard Lee (Georgia)
Dunkirk Dave (New York)
Thistle the Whistlepig (Ohio)
Wiarton Willie (Ontario)
Shubenacadie Sam (Nova Scotia)
Fred la Marmotte, Val d'Espoir (Québec)
Colours of Hope
Paterson & Campbell
World Cancer Day
Feb 4
"United by Unique"
~ 2026 World Cancer Day Theme
According to this year's organizers: This year's theme emphasizes that while every cancer journey is personal and different, people are united by the shared need for compassionate, inclusive, and holistic care. It places individuals at the center of care, highlighting their stories and experiences as essential to improving cancer services and support systems globally.
This tartan was designed tto offer encouragement, acknowledgement and hope to the warriors and warrior supporters in their battle against cancers of all types. The threads woven in the tartan represent roots of strength and a celebration of life. Colours: blue represents strength; yellow represents the daffodil symbol of cancer societies worldwide, optimism and energy; white represents hope and faith; red represents love; green, the colour of life represents healing; the thin black lines represent dignity and consideration for all individuals and families whose lives have been impacted by cancer. 💙 💛 🤍 ❤️ 💚 🖤 🎗️
Mountain Grosbeak
Feed the Birds Day
Feb 4
"🎶 Come, buy my bags full of crumbs.
Come feed the little birds, show them you care
And you'll be glad if you do.
Their young ones are hungry,
Their nests are so bare;
All it takes is tuppence from you."
~ Feed the Birds, Richard B. Sherman, Richard M. Sherman, Mary Poppins (1964)
Inspired by the Grosbeak bird family and their wild coniferous forest habitats, this wintry-hued tartan is a tribute to wild birds and visiting backyard birds everywhere! Bird experts tell us that during the deepest, coldest, and snowiest part of winter, when food is scarcest, backyard birds may rely heavily on food set out by bird lovers. Once you begin feeding the birds, it is important to do so consistently as the birds will rely on the seed for survival. All grosbeaks—rose-breasted, blue, black-headed, pine and evening—share a common characteristic: the thick, conical bill for cracking tough seeds. And although these species go by the same common name, they belong to different families. Pine and evening grosbeaks are finches, while others are in the cardinal family. The tameness and slow-moving behavior of the Pine Grosbeak in particular, gave rise to its local name in Newfoundland of "mope." Tweet, tweet! 🐦 💙 💚 🤍
Monarch
Carol A.L. Martin
Western Monarch Day
Feb 5
"Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."
~ Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864)
If you are lucky enough for a Monarch butterfly to land on you, later this spring and summer, you are lucky indeed!
These still chilly days are the Monarch butterfly's slumbering season. And as one of the most recognizable and flashiest of large butterflies, the aptly named Monarch, with its tartan-like bold orange, black, and white striping colours, is beautifully honored in this tribute tartan.
Each year, tens of millions of monarch butterflies migrate up to 3,000 miles southward from cold northeastern United States and Canada down to warmer climes in Mexico's Highlands.
They have several favourite rest stops on the way. In California, some Monarchs cut their journey short and overwinter in the Eucalyptus and pine trees in Butterfly Grove, Pismo Beach and Pacific Grove amongst others. The monarchs, return every year and can be viewed sleeping in the thousands, clustered together in their favourite trees.
After overwintering and as the weather warms, these same butterflies wake and begin their spring migration in February and March, heading inland and northward to breed. Their migration follows a multi-generational cycle, similar to the eastern monarchs. Flitter, flutter, butterflies! 🧡 🖤 💛 🤍 🧡 🦋 🦋 🦋
Indiana Cardinal
Jan Crook
Valentine Bird Day
Feb 13
"A day, and then a week away,
Yet still the redbird sings,
A flame of song that lights the day
With gleams of golden wings.
A voice that echoes in the heart,
A glow that floods the eye,
A joy of which the soul is part,
A passion-winged cry!
O fiery-throated cardinal,
Sing loud, sing long, sing true!
For though the winter holds us thrall,
Thy song is summer’s due!"
~ The Cardinal bird, William Davis Gallagher (1808-1894)
Throughout the Middle Ages in England and France, a charming belief took flight—that birds began searching for their mates on Valentine’s Day. Among them, the cardinal, often called the Valentine Bird or Redbird, stands out as a vivid splash of color in the wintry February landscape. Unlike many North American songbirds, both male and female cardinals can sing, and during courtship, the male often feeds the female beak-to-beak, a touching display of affection!
Birds have long been woven into Valentine’s Day folklore, particularly through ornithomancy—a form of romantic divination using signs from birds. In times past, it was said that the first bird a single woman spotted on Valentine’s morning might reveal the character of her future husband:
❤️ Cardinal (Redbird) – Seeing a bright red cardinal is believed to signify love on the horizon or a message from a future suitor.
❤️ Robin – A robin near your home is a sign that love is coming soon.
🦢 Swans – Swans symbolize true love and loyalty. Seeing a pair of swans is considered a sign of a lasting union.
🕊️ Doves – A white dove is a symbol of love and a peaceful marriage.
💛 Canary signified a doctor
🧡 Goldfinch foretold wealth
🖤 Magpies – In British folklore, counting magpies predicted romantic fortune:
"One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy,
Five for silver, six for gold, seven for a secret never to be told."
Happy Birdwatching! Chirp! Chirp! 💚 ❤️ 💙 💛 💜 🐦 ❤️ 🐦
Blue Whale
Carol A.L. Martin
World Whale Weekend
Feb 15
"All the whales in the wider deeps,
hot are they,
as they urge on and on,
and dive beneath the icebergs.
The right whales, the sperm-whales, the hammer-heads, the killers
there they blow, there they blow,
hot wild white breath out of the sea!"
~ Whales Weep Not! D.H. Lawrence (1885-1930)
Blow whales, blow! Should you sail into the open sea in the hopes of getting a glimpse of the largest animal known to have existed, the blue whale, a kilt in this cool blue and baleen-mouthed tartan pattern might even cause a whale to take a closer look at yourself! And perhaps, nowadays, you might be able to have a friendly conversation!
Avid whale-watchers can identify different whale species by the shape of their blowhole sprays! A long, skinny, smokestack-like puff is usually a blue whale or a fin whale. If it’s more heart-shaped, then it’s more likely to be a humpback whale, and if it’s more V-shaped, that’s more likely to be a right (baleen) whale.
For most of history, whales have been considered as "portentous and mysterious monsters," such as the most famous of all whales in literature, Herman Melville's, Moby Dick, but by the 1970s, baleen whales especially were fully realized as gentle, very intelligent and soulful beings, as well as highly communicative. The 1967 discovery of humpback whale songs by biologists Roger Payne and Scott McVay triggered a sea change in the public perception of whales.
Male humpbacks produce complex vocalizations featuring repeated "themes" that can last up to 30 minutes! In 1969 a tape of humpback songs was given to singer Judy Collins, who included them on her gold 1970 album "Whales and Nightingales." Capitol Records also released the songs that year in an LP, "Songs of the Humpback Whale," which is still the best-selling nature album of all time!
Two major nonprofit organizations are applying AI tools to animal communication. Project CETI is a nonprofit organization using artificial intelligence and robotics to decode sperm whale communication. Researchers have identified a "sperm whale phonetic alphabet"—156 distinct codas (rhythmic click sequences) that function like phonemes in human language—revealing a complex, structured system far more advanced than previously believed. Conversations are now ongoing! Let us hope to sing in harmony. 💙 🖤 🤍 💙 🐋 🐋 🐋 🐳 🐳 🐳
Polar Bear
Carol A.L. Martin
Polar Bear Day
Feb 27
"The Polar Bear never makes his bed;
He sleeps on a cake of ice instead.
He has no blanket, no quilt, no sheet
Except the rain and snow and sleet."
~ Polar Bear, William Jay Smith (1918-2015)
Even the polar bears are feeling the chill this wild winter!
Inspired by the natural hues of the polar bear and its icy domain, this tartan weaves together the warm white of the bear’s fur with the icy crisp, glacial tones of its Arctic habitat.
Unlike other bears, polar bears are considered marine mammals, as they spend most of their lives on the ice rather than on land. They hunt, court, and mate out on the frozen expanse, often roaming for months without setting foot on solid ground. Their massive paws—measuring up to 12 inches across—act like built-in snowshoes, distributing their weight to navigate thin ice and deep snow with ease.
Though they don’t hibernate, polar bears are known to dig protective pits in the snow to shelter from storms. Expectant mothers take this a step further, crafting elaborate dens with tunnels and chambers where they give birth and care for their cubs—sometimes staying inside for up to eight months!
Mostly solitary by nature, when polar bears do gather, it’s fittingly called a celebration 💙 🤍 ❤️ 🖤 🐻❄️ 🐻❄️ 🐻❄ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️
Fawn
Carol A.L. Martin
World Wildlife Day
Mar 3
“Your growing antlers,' Bambi continued, 'are proof of your intimate place in the forest, for of all the things that live and grow only the trees and the deer shed their foliage each year and replace it more strongly, more magnificently, in the spring. Each year the trees grow larger and put on more leaves. And so you too increase in size and wear a larger, stronger crown.”
~ Felix Salten, Bambi's Children, 1939
On World Wildlife Day, we honor the beauty and significance of the natural world, from the tiniest creatures to the grandest beasts that roam the land. Among them, deer have danced through the pages of mythology and folklore, their presence woven into legends across cultures.
Throughout history, deer have been revered as sacred beings, embodied divine forces, served as the focus of heroic quests, and even provided magical disguises—especially in fairy tales, where princes and princesses often find themselves transformed by enchantment or curse.
In the folklore of Scotland and Ireland, deer are sometimes known as “fairy cattle”, watched over and milked by otherworldly women—be it the benevolent bean sìdhe or the shapeshifting goddess Flidais, who herself can take the form of a red or white deer. In the West Highlands, legend tells of this ethereal guardian selecting which stag will meet its fate in the next day’s hunt.
Speaking of stags, the males of the deer family—whether moose, elk, reindeer, or whitetails—sport impressive antlers, nature’s own battle gear, used to dazzle and duel for mates. But carrying these grand crowns is no small feat, so once the season of love fades, the antlers are shed, only to begin regrowing in early spring. In fact, whitetail deer antlers are among the fastest-growing tissues known to science!
Just as fawns blend into the dappled sunlight of the forest with their spotty camouflage, a namesake tartan captures their delicate hues—earthy browns, soft creams, and speckled whites woven together in a pattern to blend into the woodland itself. Oh Deer! 🤎 🤍 🖤 🤎 🦌 🦌 🦌
Snowy Owl
Carol A.L. Martin
Snowy Owl Return Season
Mar 6
"Owls are mysterious creatures. They're vigilant and they hold the power to see what others cannot. This makes them a symbol of wisdom and mystery."
~ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, J.K. Rowling, 1997
Whooo … whoooo …! This delicately shaded tartan is a stunning homage to the snowy owl, mirroring both its plumage and the bright and shadowy hues of its Arctic tundra home.
These majestic avian predators are marvels of evolutionary adaptation, their dense, feathered bodies built to endure the harshest winter temperatures. Unlike most owls, snowy owls are diurnal, hunting in the dazzling Arctic daylight with eyes sharp enough to spot prey from great distances. Their white plumage not only serves as perfect camouflage against the snow but also makes them one of the rare creatures that blend seamlessly into the icy landscape.
Migratory by nature, they sometimes travel thousands of miles south in winter, an unpredictable movement known by many names—incursion, irruption, invasion, great flight, nomadism, vagrant migration, and wandering. These journeys occasionally bring them into more temperate regions, delighting birdwatchers lucky enough to witness their visit. By March or April, they take to the skies once more, returning to their Arctic breeding grounds.
One remarkable journey occurred in the winter of 2014, when at least nine snowy owls, caught in a storm off the coast of Newfoundland, found refuge aboard a ship. They remained on board until reaching the shores of Spain, France, and eventually the Netherlands—a truly extraordinary voyage for these Arctic wanderers! 🖤 🤍 🖤 ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ 🦉🦉🦉
Edinburgh Zoo Panda
Kinloch Anderson
Panda Day
Mar 16
And now ... a bit of Panda Standup Comedy (for Oxford Comma Grammarians):
A Panda walks into a cafe. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots into the air.
"Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes his way toward the exit.
The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife annual and tosses it over his shoulder.
"I'm a Panda," he says, at the door. "Look it up."
The waiter turns to the relevant entry, and, sure enough, finds an explanation: "Panda. Large black and white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves."
Well ... pandas and grammarians find this bit of word and punctuation play, absolutely hilarious over a salad of bamboo leaves! Happy Panda Day!
Native to the mountainous regions of China, the panda bear is one of the most recognizable of bears in the world, with their striking black and white markings!
Adapting to a diet of bamboo which has relatively little nutritional value, a panda needs to spend most of its time slowly consuming about 40 lbs of bamboo each day to survive!
Because of this, pandas tend to live solo in order to ensure a territorially adequate food supply and generally only have one cub during their once a year breeding season.
This tartan was created to celebrate the arrival of a breeding pair of pandas at Edinburgh Zoo in 2011, gifted to the zoo from China.
Represented in the design are the blacks, whites, and greys representing the gradation of the panda's fur, red to represent China's gift, and green for their favourite food - bamboo shoots and leaves! 🖤 🤍 💚 ❤️ 🐼 🐼 🐼 🌱 🌱 🌱
Old Frog (Frog Day)
Carol A.L. Martin
World Frog Day
Mar 20
"It's not easy being green."
~Kermit the Frog, Sesame Street, 1970
Toads are actually a subset of frogs! You can usually tell the difference between a frog and a toad based on whether it’s smiling or frowning? Frogs tend to have mouths that turn upward making it look like they are smiling, whereas toads’ mouths tend to turn downward making them look like they are frowning.
JD the Siamese Cat
Allen Balfour Geiner
Siamese Cat Day
Apr 6
Koala
F J & M W :Lawson
Wild Koala Day
May 3
"Oh, I love you, I still care
All my affection's there
I will walk with you to the end of the passage
My little koala type bear
Little koala type bear"
~ Ode to a Koala Bear, Paul McCartney, 1983
The Australian koala, scientifically known as Phascolarctos cinereus—a name meaning "ash-gray pocket-bear"—is, despite common belief, not a bear at all. Rather, it is a marsupial, and its closest relative is the sturdy, ground-dwelling wombat. The koala’s common name comes from the Aboriginal Dharug language and translates to "no water," reflecting the once-held (and incorrect) assumption that these animals never need to descend from the treetops to drink.
In truth, koalas obtain most of their hydration from their eucalyptus leaf diet, which is rich in water content but notoriously low in nutrients and calories. This sparse nutritional profile helps explain the koala's famously sedentary lifestyle. These iconic tree-huggers can sleep for up to 20 hours a day and may devote as little as 15 minutes to social interaction.
Though small in size, the koala produces a surprisingly deep, rumbling vocalization—around 20 times lower-pitched than would be expected for an animal of its stature. The eerie intensity of their call is so memorable that sound designers used it in the mix for the T. rex’s roar in Jurassic Park!
This tartan’s design pays tribute to the koala’s distinctive appearance and habits. Shades of dark and light grey echo its soft fur, while touches of white represent the speckles found on its rump, chest, and ears. Black stands for the koala’s signature nose, pink for the bare skin around its nostrils and mouth, and dark brown for its eyes. Finally, green threads weave in to honor the koala’s beloved eucalyptus leaves! 🖤 🤎 💚 🤍 🌿 🌿 🌿 🐨 🐨 🐨
Leopard
Carol A.L. Martin
Leopard Day
May 3
"A leopard does not change his spots, or change his feeling that spots are rather a credit."
~ Ivy Compton-Burnett
The idea that a leopard cannot change its spots—a reminder that people don’t easily change their fundamental nature, especially deeply ingrained habits—goes back at least 2,500 years to a biblical verse.
But we can change things up with a kilt in a special tartan to suit our mood!
And if you're feeling a little piqued today, channel some leopard energy with this innovative tartan, where the spots are elegantly transformed into a magnified version of the leopard’s distinctive rosettes—patterns that help it blend seamlessly into the flora and shadows of its natural environment.
This spotted camouflage strategy is remarkably effective. Similar patterns appear across both predators and prey—seen in great cats, fish, frogs, insects, and even, as some paleontologists have suggested, dinosaurs!
Leopards in eastern Africa tend to have more circular rosettes, while those in southern Africa often show squarer forms! Jaguars, by contrast, are more heavily built and usually have small black spots within their rosettes—something leopard rosettes lack.
Like lions, jaguars, and tigers, leopards can roar but not purr. Their voice box is built with flexible tissues and specialized vocal folds that produce deep, powerful roars—but don’t support the steady vibration needed for purring.
Few people have heard the distinctive sounds of the usually silent leopard. So if you catch a deep, rasping, sawing cough of a roar behind you… watch out! 💛 🤎 🖤 🐆 🐆 🐆
Australian Donkey
F & M Lawson
Donkey Day
May 8
"This kindly, gentle eyed, velvety nosed, radar eared, non-aggressive creature has been man's uncomplaining companion and burden bearer throughout all history."
~ Donkeys of the West, William G. Long, 1974
Hee Haw! Hee Haw! Often misunderstood, frequently underappreciated, and yet among the hardest-working animals in the world, the donkey has served humanity faithfully for over 5,000 years. Today, over 40 million donkeys live worldwide—about 96% of them in developing countries, where they play a crucial role as pack animals and in agricultural and transport work.
While donkeys have long been saddled with a reputation for stubbornness, this trait is more accurately a sign of their strong sense of self-preservation. Unlike horses, they won’t be easily forced into situations they perceive as unsafe. And although formal research into their behavior is still growing, donkeys are known to be intelligent, cautious, curious, friendly, and even playful—quick to learn and loyal to those who treat them kindly.
Thankfully, growing awareness of their value and welfare has led to the rise of dedicated donkey rescue and sanctuary organizations around the world. These groups work to provide abandoned, mistreated, or overworked donkeys with medical care, safe shelter, and a chance to live out their days in peace. Through education and outreach, they also help communities learn how to care for donkeys properly—ensuring that these gentle, braying beasts of burden get the respect they deserve.
Requested by Australian donkey breeders to recognise all breeds of donkeys and to commemorate their assistance with man throughout history, this tartaned was originally released on the Feast of St Francis, patron Saint of animals, and also adopted as patron Saint of donkeys. 🧡 🤎 🤍 🖤 ❤️ 💗 🐴 🐴 🐴
Atlantic Puffin
Carol A.L. Martin
Puffin Watching Season
May 13
“You can't trust just any old person who comes along with a hundred puffins and a pretty face!”
~ Catherynne M. Valente, The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two
Words to the wise! Often hailed as the cutest birds on earth, puffins have earned a host of charming nicknames—including “clowns of the ocean” and “sea parrots”—thanks to their bright beaks, expressive eyes, and comically dignified waddles. Their gatherings have equally delightful names: a group of puffins may be called a circus, an improbability, or even a puffinry!
Looking like a whimsical blend of duck, penguin, and parrot, the Atlantic puffin leads a life of seasonal duality—silent and solitary at sea for most of the year, but quite the performer on land during breeding season. Males use a curious courtship display of head-flicking and piglike grunting to woo a mate, and in their nesting burrows, they emit a surprisingly guttural growl—described by researchers as sounding like a muffled toy chainsaw!
One of the most astonishing discoveries in recent years? Under ultraviolet light, their already-vivid beaks glow with a dazzling fluorescent blue, a trait believed to play a role in attracting mates. Nature’s own built-in blacklight rave!
In light of all this avian flair, it’s not hard to imagine that this bold tartan would be just the thing to turn heads in the puffin world—the ultimate fashion statement for catching the glad eye! 🖤 ❤️ 💛 🧡 🤍 🐧 🐧 🐧
Capercaillie
Lochcarron of Scotland
Capercaillie Lekking Season
May 16
"The Capercaillie cracks the lek and strums
The throttle of his precious range; he arcs
His back with neck full-stretched and utters threats
To the intruding stranger, without fear
Or prejudice to bird or beast or man"
~ Capercaillie, Ivor Bundell, 2015
Lek lek lek lek...! This rhythmic cry announces the presence of the majestic and famously fierce woodgrouse, or Capercaillie—a bird as striking in appearance as it is bold in behavior. During courtship season, male Capercaillies are notoriously aggressive, launching fearless attacks on anything that moves, including unsuspecting people and even passing cars.
Their Gaelic name, capull coille, meaning "horse of the woods," hints at both their power and their forest-dwelling nature. Wild relatives of the American turkey, these birds are admired for their dazzling plumage and their strange, resonant calls. Native to the coniferous forests of central Asia and temperate northern Europe, Capercaillies once roamed Scotland freely until their extinction there in 1785. Fortunately, they were reintroduced a century later, and reroam the Scottish highlands.
The Capercaillie’s courtship ritual is centered around a dramatic display known as a "lek." At traditional lekking sites, males gather to strut, fan their tails, and call out in a symphony of clicks, pops, and hisses—all to attract a mate. The females choose the male with the most impressive display and the best territory, making lekking a true winner-takes-all dance contest.
While the males perform, they feast on bilberries—one of their favorite foods—but don’t be fooled by their snacking. These sweet berries fuel their aggressive behavior! So, if you find yourself in Capercaillie country during mating season, stay alert! In one notable incident in the Scottish highlands, a capercaillie aggressively followed a hiker for over 200 meters until the bird eventually gave up.
It is not clear whether a kilt in this gorgeousl tartan would be attractive (or enraging) to a capercaillie, but it will certainly catch the admiring eye of a human passer-by! 💙 🖤 ❤️ 🤎 🦃 🐎🪶🫐
Bumblebee
Carol A.L. Martin
Bee Day
May 20
"He is not worthy of the honey-comb
That shuns the hives because the bees have stings."
~ Henry VI, Part 3, William Shakespeare, 1588-92
Beekeepers, gardeners, honey-lovers, and anyone who appreciates the industrious and busy nature of these keystone species and essential pollinators, this bee’s-eye view of a flower tartan is sure to catch the eye! With its bold black and yellow stripes and floral notes, this sett cannot be missed. Sweet floral colours are combined with the bold yellow and black, a subtle warning by the bees, perhaps to "best beware my sting!"!
The busy bee see the world through five eyes: two large compound eyes made up of thousands of tiny facets for detailed vision, along with three smaller light-sensitive eyes on the tops of their heads that help detect light intensity and aid navigation. Their color vision is also quite different from ours. Bees are trichromatic, but shifted toward shorter wavelengths, meaning they see ultraviolet, blue, and green light — but not red.
It is no surprise that creatures so important for the pollination of crops inspire such respect and affection. From humanity’s long relationship with honey-makers grew the old custom of “telling the bees,” in which hives were treated almost as members of the household. Important family news — births, marriages, and especially deaths — was quietly shared with them, sometimes with black ribbons tied to the hive. It was believed that bees should be kept informed and shown proper respect, or else they might leave, stop producing honey, or bring a turn of ill fortune. Though especially associated with rural Scotland, the tradition was found across Britain and Ireland as well.
Folklore offers one more piece of advice for aspiring beekeepers: never purchase bees with ordinary money—only with gold coins, or better yet, through barter or as a gift—so that no simple transaction offends those busy bees!
Welcome bees into your garden with their favourite flowers. Spring: Crocus, Hyacinth, Borage, Calendula, and Wild Lilac; Summer: Bee Balm, Cosmos, Echinacea, Snapdragons, Foxglove, and Hosta; and Autumn: Zinnias, Sedum, Asters, Witch Hazel, and Goldenrod. Remember the bees! Buzz buzz! 💛 🖤 💗 💚 🐝 🐝 🐝 🍯 🌸
5000 Pink Flamingos
Carol A.L. Martin
Pink Flamingo Day
Jun 23
"The flamingo's a lovely bird,
With feathers pink and legs absurd."
A kilt in this tartan will definitely make you stand out from the flock! One of the few birds in the world to sport a naturally pink appearance, the flamingo owes its distinctive colour to pigments called carotenoids found in the algae, crustaceans, and tiny shrimp that make up its diet. Without these pigments, a flamingo's feathers would gradually fade to a much paler peach or whitish shade. Even flamingo chicks begin life covered in soft grey down before developing their famous rosy plumage as they mature.
Flamingos are remarkable birds in other ways too. They are famous for balancing on one leg, a behaviour thought to help conserve body heat, and their uniquely shaped bills are specially adapted for filter-feeding upside down in shallow water. Despite their elegant appearance, flamingos are surprisingly noisy and sociable creatures, gathering in large colonies that can number in the thousands. A group of flamingos is delightfully known as a "flamboyance"—one of the most fitting collective nouns in the animal kingdom!
If you are not fortunate enough to live where a flamboyance of flamingos can be seen in the wild, you can still add a splash of pink to your landscape with a few plastic or metallic flamingos. These cheerful lawn ornaments became a symbol of mid-century kitsch in the 1950s, bringing a touch of tropical sunshine to suburban gardens. Their popularity even inspired the tradition of "flocking," in which friends or fundraisers secretly fill someone's yard with a dozen—or sometimes hundreds—of pink flamingos under cover of darkness. Far from being an insult, getting "flocked" is often regarded as a pink-hued badge of honour. Of course, there's no need to wait for pranksters—you can always flock your own garden for an instant burst of colour and whimsy.
Get flocked and think pink! 💗 🖤 🧡 ❤️ 💛 🦩🦩🦩
Australian Heavy Horse
Heavy Horse Day
Jul 11
"He serves without servility; he has fought without enmity. There is nothing so powerful, nothing less violent; there is nothing so quick, nothing more patient." ~ Ronald Duncan, "The Horse"
The Australian Draught Horse was developed over many years as a result of the crossbreeding of the four recognized pure draught horse breeds which were in Australia since the colonial days - the Clydesdale, Percheron, Shire, and Suffolk Punch, along with other smaller horse bloodlines. Clydesdales, named for their origin county in Scotland, were originally used for agricultural tasks and haulage. Exported in great numbers in the late 19th and 20th centuries, they became known as "the breed that built Australia." 🐴
Blackburn Appalachian Hunting
Jean-Louis Blackburn
Snake Day
Jul 16
“Appalachia is a land of contrasts—of beauty and hardship, of pride and poverty, of deep tradition and stubborn independence.”
~ James Still (1906-2001)
Among the many tartans woven with meaning, the Blackburn Tartan is one of the few to pay tribute to the scaly and slithery kind. Designed by Jean-Louis Blackburn for his extended family scattered throughout the Appalachian region, this bold pattern features black, yellow, and scarlet—echoing the vivid warning colors of the coral snake. These hues are more than ornamental: they symbolize the real and present dangers faced by generations of Blackburns as they journeyed through the wild, green expanses of the New World.
But the snake is more than just a creature of caution—it also serves as a symbol of resilience and defiance. The tartan offers a subtle nod to the iconic "Don't tread on me" motto, connecting the perils of the natural world with the trials of survival.
Appalachia, a vast and rugged region stretching along the spine of the eastern United States, has long been a refuge and stronghold for immigrants seeking a life shaped by independence and self-reliance. Among the earliest and most influential settlers were Scots and Scots-Irish (Ulster Scots) immigrants, who arrived in waves during the 18th century. 🖤 💚 ❤️ 💛 🐍
Glenguineapigs
Guinea Pig Day
Jul 16
"There was a little Guinea-pig,
Who, being little, was not big;
He always walked upon his feet,
And never fasted when he eat."
~ Nursery Rhyme
One of only two tartans in the world ever designed for guinea pigs (gearra-mhuc in Scottish Gaelic), this tartan is a Glen Plaid tribute variant of the original "Guinea Pigs for Deborah" tartan designed by Carol A.L. Martin. This tartan takes the same classic warm colors of guinea pig breeds from the original tartan and transforms it into a Glen Plaid (short for Glen Urquhart plaid), a pattern with a woven twill design of small and large checks, often favoured for jackets and trousers, and an excellent choice for camouflaging any guinea pig fur shedding that might be occurring in the summer season. Finding a pig in a pub having a pint is no longer as alliteratively unrealistic as one might suppose. A microbrewery in Madrid Spain, Cervezas Guinea Pigs! now has a guinea-pig inspired specialty beer menu (with appropriate label bottle art) that should cause "popcorning" (the happy leaping about of young guinea pigs) in all but the most jaded. The menu includes a Scotch Ale Wee Heavy, appropriately and onomatopoeiaically named Mc Cui for the distinctive whistle of cavia porcellus, the guinea pig! Slainte, Cheers and a Wheek Wheek! 🐹 🥕 🍺 🍿
Guinea Pigs for Deborah
Carol A.L. Martin
Guinea Pig Day
Jul 16
"There once was a guinea pig, Harry,
Kilted up in bonnie Inveraray.
In tartan he'd prance,
With bagpipes by chance,
His four legs looking quite short and hairy!"
~ Angus MacWheekers
If there's any of the order Rodentia that deserves its own tartan, it's the humble and gentle guinea pig (cavia porcellus)! A special thank you to Carol A.L. Martin for creating a tartan for this most beloved of small pets! Guinea pigs were imported from South American to Europe in the 1500s and quickly became a popular exotic pocket pet and interestingly, a muse for many artists who tackled the drawing of this furry creature, most notably Dutch Masters Jan Brueghel the Elder and Younger, who inspired many of their followers to include guinea pigs in their works. If you are so inclined, please visit Guinea Pigs in Art - A Pictorial Gallery to see the often surprising and centrally positioned inclusion of guinea pigs in allegorical, religious, portraiture, and other still life genres, from the 1500s through mid-century modern art. #wheekwheek 🐹🖌️🎨
Common Loon
Carol A.L. Martin
Loon Days
Jul 21
"On wooded height the slanting light
In glinting, gleaming radiance falls,
And softly sifts throught opening rifts
That cleave the fog-bank's hazy walls.
The splendor thrills from purple hills,
And lights the grassy circling swell;
But, hist! awake! From off the lake
The loon's wild cries, with sprite-like spell,
"Ke-woi-o! Ke-we-oi-o!"
~ The Loon, George Charles Selden, 1893
The beauty of the Common Loon and its stunning namesake tartan contrasts sharply with the bird's often unflattering reputation. The name "loon" comes from Old English and Scandinavian words meaning "awkward" and "clumsy," likely inspired by the bird's wobbly gait and reluctance to spend time on land. Yet, it is the loon's distinctive cry—soothing, haunting, and unforgettable—that resonates across lake waters in the summer twilight, leaving a lasting impression.
The Common Loon has four unique calls, each serving a different purpose. The wail, a long, haunting sound reminiscent of a wolf's howl, signals the bird's location to distant mates or rivals. The yodel, an undulating and repetitive shriek, warns others to stay away and is unique to each male. The tremolo, a cackling laugh, is used when loons feel threatened or territorial. Lastly, the onomatopoeic "hoot" is exchanged between family members—mates, parents, and chicks—to keep in touch over short distances on the water. Truly loony indeed! 💙 🖤 🤍 ❤️ 🦆
Luna Moth
Carol A.L. Martin
Moth Days
Jul 24
"In the moon’s soft glow, so clear and bright,
A luna moth takes its flight,
With emerald wings, it flitters and dances
A ballet in the night."
Flitter, flutter! It’s Moth Week—a time for lepidopterists, nocturnal naturalists, and moonlight dreamers to don this delicately hued tartan and join the quiet dance of wings beneath the stars. Moths, among the most diverse creatures on Earth, number at least 150,000 known species—with some scientists estimating the total could soar beyond 500,000. From tiny micromoths to the majestic giants of the silk moth family, their forms are as varied as moonlight on leaves.
One of the most enchanting is the Luna Moth, named for Luna, the Roman goddess of the moon—daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, and sister to Helios and Eos. With its pale green wings, long trailing tails, and eerie, mesmerizing eyespots, the Luna Moth has become a symbol of transformation and the mystery of the night. It flutters across North America, from the deep South of Florida to the forests of Maine, and even into Canada as far as Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia.
Fittingly, while a group of butterflies is called a kaleidoscope, a gathering of moths is known as an eclipse—a poetic nod to their nocturnal allure. The Luna Moth tartan captures this ethereal beauty in threads of soft green, moonlight white, deep night black, and a flicker of golden yellow, echoing the delicate wings and magical markings of its namesake. 💚 🤍 🖤 💚 💛 🦋 🦋 🦋
Year of the Tiger
Carol A.L. Martin
Tiger Day
Jul 29
"Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?"
~ William Blake, The Tyger, 1794
As fearful as they can be, interestingly, tiger stripes are NOT symmetrical on both sides of the tiger! Ranging from light brown to black, tigers are the only cat species that are completely striped and even have stripes on their skin! Like human fingerprints, their stripe patterns are unique to each individual. Tigers are also the largest cat species in the world and the third-largest carnivore on land - only polar and brown bears are larger. Although tigers make many different types of vocalizations, including roaring, growling, hissing, and moaning, they don't purr. They chuff, a breathy snort typically accompanied by a head bobbing movement. Chuffing is often used between two cats as a greeting, during courting, or by a mother comforting her cubs! But be wary! Tigers are ambush hunters preferring to sneak up on their prey, and can leap up to 20 to 30 feet! Quite appropriately, a group of tigers is known as an "ambush" or "streak." 🐅
Iona the Ragdoll
Tartan Caledonia
Cat Day
Aug 8
"She sights a Bird—she chuckles—
She flattens—then she crawls—
She runs without the look of feet—
Her eyes increase to Balls—"
~ She Sights A Bird, Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
Here Kitty, Kitty! This is your day! The relatively modern Ragdoll cat breed comes in six different colour points: red, seal, chocolate with corresponding 'dilutes', including blue, lilac, and cream. Developed by American breeder Ann Baker in the 1960s, Ragdolls are best known for their docile and placid temperament. affectionate nature, and the tendency of the original breeding stock to go limp and relaxed when picked up! Particularly popular in both the UK and the USA, Ragdolls may exhibit 'dog-like" behavior and follow people around the house or garden "at heel." In addition to all the various breed colours represented in this beautiful tartan, there is the added sapphire blue center intended to represent their characteristic strikingly beautiful blue eyes! Meow! Purr! 🐈
Scottish Wildcat
Glen Allardyce
Scottish Wildcat Day
Aug 8
“Touch not the cat bot a glove”
~ Clan Chattan motto
If you catch a flash of these colors in the corner of your eye, you might have glimpsed the "Highland Tiger" or perhaps a lucky individual sporting a kilt in this tartan! Unique to Britain and now found only in Scotland, the Scottish Wildcat is an endangered species, believed to be related to the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) or possibly a distinct sub-species (Felis silvestris grampia). There are an estimated 100 wildcats concentrated in the northern and northeastern Highlands, in Morven, and on the Ardnamurchan peninsula in the western Highlands. Today, none of these cats may be pure wildcat, as most are believed to carry at least 25% domestic cat genes. Nevertheless, these cats were well known by shepherds and even mentioned in Sir Walter Scott's "The Lady of the Lake" as fierce and untameable creatures. This wildcat or its hybrid likely inspired the mythological Scottish creature, the Cat Sìth, the fairy cat of Scottish Gaelic tradition, or the Kellas Cat of folklore—large black cats reported in the Kellas area of Moray. These mythical sightings described creatures as large as dogs, with white spots on their chests, sometimes believed to be witches in disguise! "Touch not the cat bot a glove"—wise advice from Clan Chattan! Repopulation efforts are underway for these earthly cats, and sales of the tartan benefit habitat preservation and conservation efforts to help preserve them. Meow! Hiss! Purr! 🖤 🤎 🤍 🧡 🤎 🐯 🏴
Scottish Wildcat Conservation
Kinloch Anderson LTD
Scottish Wildcat Day
Aug 8
"Och, beware the Scottish Wildcat!
He fairly chills the soul!
Just give him room, don't pause to chat,
Such beasties lose control!"
~ Denis Martindale, 2014
If you catch a flash of these striking colors out of the corner of your eye, you might just have spotted the elusive "Highland Tiger"—or perhaps a fortunate soul wearing a kilt in this bold tartan! Unique to Britain and now surviving only in Scotland, the Scottish Wildcat is a critically endangered species. It may be a close cousin of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) or a distinct subspecies (Felis silvestris grampia). Fewer than 100 are estimated to remain, roaming remote corners of the northern and northeastern Highlands, in places like Morven and the Ardnamurchan peninsula.
Sadly, pure wildcats may no longer exist, as most individuals are believed to carry at least 25% domestic cat DNA. Still, these fierce felines once roamed more widely—well known to Highland shepherds and immortalized by Sir Walter Scott in The Lady of the Lake as wild, untamable creatures. Their legacy lives on in myth, too: the Cat Sìth, a spectral feline of Scottish Gaelic lore, and the Kellas Cat, a mysterious beast reported in Moray, said to be as large as a dog and often bearing a white chest spot. Some believed they were witches in disguise!
Kin to the earlier Scottish Wildcat tartan, this corporate tartan was also designed to raise awareness of the work that Saving Wildcats (UK) and Saving Scottish Wildcats (USA) are doing to prevent the extinction of one of Scotland’s most iconic species. The threadcount includes numbers that reference significant dates - 1988, the year that wildcats became legally protected and 2020, the start of the Saving Wildcats project. The shades used represent the fur colours of the Wildcat and the charity’s brand colours of orange and dark green
“Touch not the cat bot a glove” — is a warning from Clan Chattan, whose emblem bears the wildcat's fearsome spirit. Today, conservation and rewilding efforts are underway, and proceeds from this tartan help support the preservation of their dwindling habitat. Meow, hiss, purr—long live the Highland Tiger! 🖤 🤎 🤍 🧡 🤎 💚 🐯 🐈 🐈 🐈 🏴
Pink Elephant
Carol A.L. Martin
World Elephant Day
Aug 12
"🎶 Look out! Look out!
Pink elephants on parade.
Here they come! Hippety hoppety.
They're here, and there.
Pink elephants ev'rywhere!"
~ Pink Elephants, Dumbo (1941)
Imagine a world where pink pachyderms parade in perpetuity! This tartan takes its name and colour inspiration from the expression "seeing pink elephants"! This phrase has long been a euphemism for drunken hallucinations, but before it became popularized in the late 19th century, people used to say instead they "saw snakes" or "snakes in their boots." By 1889, writers had begun to embellish this imagery, describing inebriated visions of "pink and green elephants and feathered hippopotamuses"! In the wild, there really are a type of "pink" elephant! These natural albino variations, also called "white elephants," stand out amongst their grey herd members. World Elephant Day is a global event dedicated to the preservation and protection of elephants of all shades and colours, whether in the wild, in sanctuaries, or wherever they may be found. Think Pink! 🖤 💗 🐘🐘🐘 💗 🖤
Timber Wolf
Carol A.L. Martin
Wolf Day
Aug 13
"A man might befriend a wolf, even break a wolf, but no man could truly tame a wolf."
~ A Dance with Dragons, George R.R. Martin, 2011
If you think the Dire Wolf is merely a fantastical invention from the Game of Thrones novels, think again! Canis dirus roamed North America during the last Ice Age, sharing the land with the mighty saber-toothed cat (Smilodon fatalis). These big-boned predators were larger than modern wolves, tipping the scales at up to 175 pounds. Their formidable jaws were well-suited for a diet of hoofed mammals, and they occasionally preyed on giant camels, mastodons, bison, and even giant ground sloths.
Although smaller, today’s wolves are thought to be more intelligent—a trait that may have helped them survive when their dire cousins vanished around 10,000 years ago. Modern wolves thrive through cooperation, forming tightly knit packs that hunt together, rear their pups communally, and defend their territory from rival packs.
One of the most haunting and iconic traits of wolves is their howl. This long-distance call conveys a wealth of information, from rallying the pack to warning off intruders. Thanks to its high pitch and sustained notes, a wolf’s howl can carry for up to six miles in dense forest, and as far as ten miles across the open tundra.
Ahwooooooooo! 🤎🤍🖤🐺🐺🐺If you think the Dire Wolf is merely a fantastical invention from the Game of Thrones novels, think again! Canis dirus roamed North America during the last Ice Age, sharing the land with the mighty saber-toothed cat (Smilodon fatalis). These big-boned predators were larger than modern wolves, tipping the scales at up to 175 pounds. Their formidable jaws were well-suited for a diet of hoofed mammals, and they occasionally preyed on giant camels, mastodons, bison, and even giant ground sloths.
Although smaller, today’s wolves are thought to be more intelligent—a trait that may have helped them survive when their dire cousins vanished around 10,000 years ago. Modern wolves thrive through cooperation, forming tightly knit packs that hunt together, rear their pups communally, and defend their territory from rival packs.
One of the most haunting and iconic traits of wolves is their howl. This long-distance call conveys a wealth of information, from rallying the pack to warning off intruders. Thanks to its high pitch and sustained notes, a wolf’s howl can carry for up to six miles in dense forest, and as far as ten miles across the open tundra.
Join the pack and wrap yourself in this fur-coloured tartan—its soft, blended hues evoking the thick, warm coat of the timber wolf, and a howl of style for those wild at heart. Ahwooooooooo! 🤎 🤍 🖤 🐺 🐺 🐺
All Breeds Dairy Goats
F & M Lawson, Crofter's Weaving Mill
Goat Day
Aug 21
"There was a goat, who lived on a hill,
He’d eat your coat, if you stood still.
He’d eat your hat, and chew your shoe,
And if you stayed, he’d eat you too!"
If there’s one animal that refuses to be taken too seriously, it’s the goat. Equal parts escape artist, lawnmower, and comedian, goats have been leaping onto roofs, chewing on laundry, and butting their way into human history for thousands of years. And now, they have their own tartan! Designed as an award sash for the agricultural show and community event at Gunnedah, New South Wales, the design is centered around a central stripe of lush green grass and buttery and creamy white stripes of dairy, a nod to the Swiss breeds who arrived in Australia in the late 19th century.
Goats are among the earliest animals to be domesticated by humans, valued for their adaptability, intelligence, and usefulness across many cultures. Female goats are known as does or nannies, males as bucks or billies, and their young are affectionately called kids.
Less charming language is related to the distinctive smell of the goat: both hircine and caprine describe goat-like qualities, though hircine is often reserved for evoking the strong and unmistakable odor of domestic goats. This scent is so distinctive that the element bromine was named after the Greek word brómos, meaning “stench of he-goats.”
Today goats arenow employed in practical roles such as weed abatement to reduce wildfire risks, and in past trends like “goat yoga,” where playful kids clamber onto participants’ backs during poses. But perhaps their most enduring contribution is in the realm of food. Goat’s milk is enjoyed fresh or cultured, and it forms the basis of a wide array of traditional dairy products. Classic examples include creamy chèvre from France, tangy feta from Greece, crumbly ricotta and pungent pecorino from Italy, and smooth, spreadable labneh from the Middle East. Beyond cheese, goats also provide milk for yogurt, kefir, and even rich goat’s milk ice cream, each carrying the distinctive flavor and digestibility that have made these products prized for centuries. 💚 🤍 💛 ❤️ 🤎 🖤 💙 🐐 🐐 🐐 🥛 🧀 🧈
Little Brown Bat (Bat Night)
Carol A.L. Martin
Baby Bat Night
Aug 27
🎶 "'I', said the little leatherwing bat
I'll tell to you the reason that
The reason that I fly by night
Is because I've lost my heart's delight.
Howdy dowdy diddle-dum day
Hey le lee-lee lie-lee low"
~ Leather-winged Bat, Traditional folk song
Across cultures, bats have always stood at the threshold between worlds—symbols of darkness and death in some traditions, yet of joy, blessing, or even divine protection in others. From European folklore that linked them to witchcraft and vampires, to Chinese art where they embody happiness and fortune, to Native American and Pacific stories where they serve as tricksters, guides, or ancestral spirits, bats remain creatures of the in-between. Their mystery and adaptability make them endlessly fascinating to humans everywhere, especially as they are the only mammals capable of true, sustained flight!
That same spirit of mystery is woven into this handsome and batty tartan, with its threads of deep twilight blue marking their imminent appearance, the warm brown of a little bat’s woolly fur, and the stark black of night sky.
Although Halloween season is when bats most come to mind, in actuality, late summer is the end of bat maternity season and a time when summer skies fill with young bats taking their very first flights! Contrary to the old saying, bats are not blind. In fact, many rely heavily on their eyesight—sometimes even more than echolocation—when navigating and hunting. Fruit bats, which feast on nectar, don’t echolocate at all; instead, they have extraordinary vision and can even perceive ultraviolet light!
Among the more than 1,300 bat species worldwide, many are indispensable allies to humans, devouring thousands of insects in a single night. When closing in on their prey, bats blend keen eyesight with echolocation, sending out rapid, high-pitched calls that quicken into a distinctive “feeding buzz.” Flap on, little bats! 💙 🖤 🤎 🦇 🦇 🦇
Peacock Feathers
Carol A.L. Martin
Peacock Day
Sep 24
"When the peacock has presented his back, the spectator will usually begin to walk around him to get a front view; but the peacock will continue to turn so that no front view is possible. The thing to do then is to stand still and wait until it pleases him to turn. When it suits him, the peacock will face you. Then you will see in a green-bronze arch around him a galaxy of gazing, haloed suns."
~ Flannery O'Connor (1925-1964)
If you want to stand out in a kilted crowd? Take a cue from the peacock! Today, the word “peacocking” refers to dressing or behaving in a bold, attention-grabbing way—much like the male peacock, who fans out his dazzling tail feathers to attract a mate. In modern life, it often means extravagant clothing, striking accessories, and noticeable gestures that are impossible to ignore.
This tartan, with its vivid greens, blues, and indigo hues woven into a feathery pattern, naturally draws the eye to the widest blue stripe—an echo of the peacock’s signature “eyespot.” These shimmering colors, seen only in males, aren’t due to pigments but to microscopic structures that refract and reflect light, creating their luminous brilliance!
During mating season, peacocks rely on more than just their looks. Their loud piercing calls—carrying for miles—combine with the grandeur of their tails to attract and entice peahens, who tend to select mates based on the size and brilliance of those tail displays and larger numbers of eyespots.
And for the kilted equivalent? Along with this tartan’s bold display, a few extra tassels on the sporran might be all it takes to stand out and attract a glad eye. 💙 💚 💜 💙 🦚 🦚 🦚
Blue Lobster, Orange Lobster
Carol A.L. Martin
Lobster Day
Sep 25
"There once was a lobster named Fred,
With a tartan of orange and blue thread.
He danced in the bay,
A crustacean ballet,
And waltzed with the fish, it is said!"
~Lobster Limerick (without clarified butter)
If you're tempted to don a kilt for a lobster feast—or dress up your favorite Celtic crustacean—this one-of-a-kind tartan vibrates with the bold colors of the common red lobster and the rare blue one! Spotting a blue lobster is a one-in-30-million chance, making them a special, but occasionally seen, sight compared to their grayish-green cousins. Even rarer still was the 2018 discovery by a Canadian fisherman near Grand Manan Island of a pastel pink and blue "cotton candy" lobster—a one-in-100-million wonder! While plants can create blue pigments through anthocyanins, most animals cannot. The blue hue of lobsters comes from a genetic mutation that causes them to produce excess protein. This protein binds with a red/orange molecule called astaxanthin to form a blue complex known as crustacyanin, giving the lobster its stunning color! 🧡 ❤️ 💙 🦞 🦞 🦞
Goose Watch
Kathryn Cooper
Goose Day (Michaelmas)
Sep 29
“‘My goose, my goose, my grey goose,’ she said,
‘Oh, what will you do for your daily bread?’
‘I’ll waddle, I’ll waddle, to buy it with speed,
And pick up the crumbs that the people leave.’”
~ The Goose, Christina Rosetti, 1872
Today is the feast of St. Michael—Michaelmas—a day long marked with the tradition of dining on a well-fattened goose. But if you’d rather watch than eat, this tartan may allow you to blend in with the flock, its colors drawn from the striking plumage of Anser albifrons flavirostris, the white-fronted goose. Each winter these birds migrate from their breeding grounds in Greenland to the bonny banks of Loch Lomond, where keen-eyed visitors can spot them along the shore or even join special “goose walk” tours.
In the British Isles, September 29th was often celebrated with a Michaelmas goose, fattened on the stubble of the harvest fields. The custom was thought to bring protection against want in the year ahead. One tale even links the tradition to Queen Elizabeth I. When told that part of the Spanish Armada had been wrecked on Michaelmas Day in 1588—while she happened to be dining on goose—she vowed to make it her meal every year thereafter. Such habits took root, and goose fairs, including the famous Nottingham Goose Fair, still preserve echoes of the old feast.
In Scotland, where the bird may not always have graced the table, a different custom grew up: the baking of Struan Micheil—St. Michael’s Bannock. This harvest bannock, made with a mixture of grains from the fields, honored the archangel and the bounty of the season in equal measure.
So whether your Michaelmas is marked by feasting, goose-spotting, or bannock-baking, the day carries centuries of tradition. Honk, honk! 🧡 🖤 🤍 🖤 🧡 🦆 🦆 🦆
Red Rum
Edinburgh Woollen Mill
Red Rum Day
Oct 13
"Respect this place, this hallowed ground,
A legend here his rest has found.
His feet would fly, our spirits soar.
He earned our love for evermore."
~ Red Rum's epitaph (1965-1995)
Neigh-sayers may be quick to assume that the name of this famous racehorse has something to do with Hallowe’en spookiness or Stephen King’s The Shining, where “Redrum” made its eerie mark. But in truth, Red Rum’s name came about quite innocently—formed by joining the last three letters of his dam’s (mother’s) name, Mared, with the last three letters of his sire’s (father’s) name, Quorum.
Though born into the racing world with low expectations—dismissed as “bred wrong,” sold cheaply, and put to the track too soon—this bay Thoroughbred steeplechaser went on to defy every doubt. Affectionately called “Rummy,” he became the only horse ever to win the prestigious Grand National Steeplechase three times, in 1973, 1974, and 1977. His near misses in 1975 and 1976, when he finished runner-up, only cemented his legend as one of the greatest racehorses of all time!
The 1973 Grand National, in particular, has passed into sporting folklore: from 30 lengths behind, Red Rum delivered a breathtaking comeback that remains one of the most celebrated moments in the race’s history. His spirit, stamina, and sheer determination won him not only victories but also the hearts of racing fans across the globe.
This special tribute tartan captures his legacy via its special colour collection. The brownish-red tones recall his glossy coat, the green evokes the turf and peaceful fields of his retirement, and the maroon and gold honor the racing silks he carried to glory - a fitting tribute to a horse whose achievements gave him celebrity status during his lifetime and and this lasting woven legacy. Go Rummy, Go! Neigh and whinny! 🤎 ❤️ 💚 💛 🤍 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏇 🐴
Asturcon
Jessica & Martin Flores
World Horse Appreciation Day
Nov 16
"There’s one rides very sagely on the road,
Showing that he affects the gravest mode.
Another rides tantivy, or full trot,
To show much gravity he matters not.
Lo, here comes one amain, he rides full speed,
Hedge, ditch, nor miry bog, he doth not heed.
One claws it up-hill without stop or check,
Another down as if he’d break his neck.
Now every horse has his especial guider;
Then by his going you may know the rider …"
~ Paul Bunyan (1628-1688)
Neigh! Neigh! Be a "Neigh-sayer" today and celebrate our equine companions! Although wild horses appear in Paleolithic cave art as early as 30,000 BC, an increasing amount of evidence suggests that horses were domesticated in the Eurasian Steppes in approximately 3500 BC, eventually evolving into the more than 400 breeds of horses known today! This tartan design celebrates the Asturcon horse or Asturian pony, an ancient breed originating 3000 years ago, in the area of the principality of Asturias, a Celtic Iberian Nation on the Northwest of Spain. This horse was popularly used in past times as mounts for the women folk in France and England due to their smaller size, calm temperament and smooth and ambling gait. Known as palfreys in England, they were called haubini in France, a word that later became hobbye and eventually hobby horse! The breed was further developed in Ireland, becoming a favourite known as the "Irish Hobby." This tribute tartan colours include: light blue and yellow to represent the victory cross and the flag of Asturias; red and yellow to represent the Spanish national flag; dark blue lines to signify the lakes, streams and the Cantabrian sea; black to signify the dark winter coat and mane on the pony; green represents the forest, prairies, meadows and white is for the fog and snow on the highlands of the Picos de Europa mountains where the wild herds roam free. 🐴 🇪🇸
Clydesdale
F J & M W Lawson, Crofters Weaving Mill
World Horse Appreciation Day
Nov 16
"The Clydesdale is a testament to strength draped in elegance, a giant with a gentle heart, and a legacy of hard work woven into every graceful stride."
This tartan was crafted with the horse-loving community in mind, blending heritage with homage to one of Scotland's most iconic breeds—the Clydesdale. This updated design draws inspiration from the Australian Heavy Horse tartan, with adjustments to reflect the unique history and characteristics of the Clydesdale horse. Known for their strength, grace, and loyalty, Clydesdales have won hearts worldwide as powerful workhorses with a striking appearance, typically dark bay or chestnut with distinctive white markings on their faces, bodies, and legs, reflected in the tartan. The colors in this tartan are symbolic: rich browns and greens represent the Clydesdales' deep ties to agriculture and the lands they’ve worked tirelessly on for generations. Black pays tribute to their wartime service, where Clydesdales were essential, hauling heavy artillery and supplies. Dark grey is a nod to the Clyde region, the breed's Scottish birthplace, while light grey represents the roadways and paths these horses trod in their role as essential haulers. Designed for admirers and supporters of the Clydesdale breed, this tartan continues Scotland’s proud tradition of wearing tartan attire and kilts, when exhibiting these magnificent horses. 🤎 🖤 🤍 🤎 🐴 🐴 🐴
Icelandic Horse
Carol A.L. Martin
World Horse Appreciation Day
Nov 16
“There is no more sagacious animal than the Icelandic horse. He is stopped by neither snow, nor storm, nor impassable roads, nor rocks, glaciers, or anything. He is courageous, sober, and surefooted. He never makes a false step, never shies. If there is a river or fjord to cross (and we shall meet with many) you will see him plunge in at once, just as if he were amphibious, and gain the opposite bank.”
~ Jules Verne, Journey to the Center of the Earth, 1871
The ancestors of the Icelandic Horse arrived with Viking settlers from the British Isles between 860 and 935 AD. Small, hardy, and remarkably sure-footed, these horses share the same ancient roots as Shetland, Highland, and Connemara ponies. Their strength, endurance, and adaptability made them indispensable companions in Iceland’s challenging terrain.
What makes the Icelandic Horse truly unique is that it is the only breed in the world naturally capable of performing five distinct gaits across all members of the breed. Along with the familiar walk, trot, and canter, Icelandic horses can also pace and tölt. Tölt—an Icelandic word—describes a sped-up, ultra-smooth form of walking in which the horse lifts its front legs high and keeps only one foot on the ground at a time. This specialized gait is especially helpful on uneven ground, offering riders an incredibly steady and comfortable journey.
Icelandic horses are famous not only for their strength and smooth gaits, but also for their beautiful range of natural colours. Their coats span warm browns, rich chestnuts, soft creams, smoky grays, and deep blacks—shades shaped by Iceland’s rugged landscape and harsh seasons. Many develop lighter or darker tones as their thick winter coat grows in or sheds away, giving them a subtly shifting palette throughout the year. These earthy hues, echoed in this tartan’s browns, creams, and grays, reflect the timeless resilience and quiet beauty of the Icelandic horse. 🤎 🖤 🤍 🐴 🐴 🐴
Springbok
Ina Murison-McGowan
Safari Day
Nov 25
"Pronk! Pronk!"
Enjoy a virtual safari today by spotting this striking tartan, inspired by flash of white markings of South Africa's national animal, the Springbok, on its native fertile veld! Found mainly in south and southwest Africa, the Springbok is a gazelle-like antelope with a white face with dark stripes leading from the mouth to the eyes; a reddish-brown coat that turns to a darker shade then to white on the lower third of its body; and a flashing white backside! Both sexes also have black, curved, lyre-shaped horns. When frightened or excited, a springbok makes a series of stiff-legged vertical leaps, known as a a "pronk", up to 3.5 m high! "Pronking" (which in Afrikaans, means to 'boast' or 'show off') is performed with the head down, hooves bunched, and an arched back! Springbok in their natural habitat travel and live in mega-herds, known as "treks," but because they are now mostly confined to private farms and game reserves, treks are few and are limited to remote areas of Angola and Botswana. The South Africa national rugby union team, commonly known as the Springboks (colloquially the Boks, Bokke or Amabokoboko), is the country's national team governed by the South African Rugby Union. The Springboks play in green and gold jerseys with white shorts. And of course, their emblem is the Springbok! Pronk! Pronk! 🇿🇦 🦌 🏉
Cheetah
Carol A.L. Martin
Cheetah
Dec 4
A "Coalition" of Cheetahs ...
Cheetahs have been honored with a day of their own and a tartan too! International Cheetah Day is held on the birthday of Khayam, a cheetah involved in early rewilding research that inspired the founding of modern cheetah-conservation efforts. Her birthday was selected to remind the world of the species’ fragility and the importance of protecting it. This tribute tartan brings to mind both the cheetah's mottled spotty fur and a streak of blurred motion, appropriate for its reputation as the fastest land animal on earth!
The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), can sprint up to 120 km/h (75 mph) and accelerate to 97 km/h (60 mph) in just three seconds—faster than most sports cars! Today, cheetahs survive primarily in eastern and southern Africa, with a very small and critically endangered population in Iran, living in open grasslands, savannas, and dry woodland habitats where their speed becomes their greatest asset.
Male cheetahs often form small “coalitions” of two or three, usually brothers, which helps them expand and defend shared territory. Females, by contrast, are mostly solitary except when raising their cubs.
And unlike the deep-voiced “roaring cats” such as lions, tigers, jaguars, and leopards, cheetahs belong to the “purring cats.” Their vocal range is surprisingly broad and includes chirrs, pr-prs, gargles, churtlings, gurgles, and growls, as well as tonal calls like chirping, howling, and yelping, plus sharp hisses when alarmed.
Their most distinctive sound is a bright, birdlike “chirrup,” often used by mothers calling to their cubs—or simply when a cheetah is excited. Chirrup! Chirrup! 💛 🖤 🤎 🐆
Palomino
Carol A.L. Martin
The Day of the Horse
Dec 13
"No heaven can heaven be, if my horse isn’t there to welcome me."
~ Unknown
Of the many tartans recognizing horses of distinction, the Palomino horse is well deserving of this this beautifully rendered golden tribute tartan which celebrates its striking appearance—a warm, golden coat paired with a creamy white mane and tail that gleam in the sunlight!
Its distinctive coloring isn’t a breed in itself but a genetic color type, produced by a single cream dilution gene acting on a chestnut base. As a result, Palominos can be found in many breeds, from Quarter Horses and American Saddlebreds to Arabians and Morgans. Their radiance made them popular in ancient cultures as well; golden horses appear in Greek and Roman art, often symbolizing the divine or the heroic.
One of the most iconic Palominos in modern times was Trigger, Roy Rogers’ faithful partner and “the smartest horse in movies.” Trigger’s intelligence, gentle temperament, and unmistakable gold coat made him a legend both on and off screen. Another well-loved Palomino was Bamboo Harvester, better known as Mr. Ed, the wisecracking equine star of the 1960s TV show. His sandy-gold coloring and expressive face helped cement his place in television history—talking or not!
Beyond celebrity, Palominos have long been prized for their beauty, versatility, and calm manner. Their shimmering coats can actually change shades slightly with the seasons, becoming richer in summer and softer or lighter in winter. Neigh! Neigh! 🤎 🧡 💛 🤍 🐴 🐴 🐴
Arctic Fox
Carol A.L. Martin
Foxing Day (Fox Appreciation Day)
Dec 26
“Nothing's perfect," sighed the fox. "My life is monotonous. I hunt chickens; people hunt me. All chickens are just alike, and all men are just alike. So I'm rather bored. But if you tame me, my life will be filled with sunshine. I'll know the sound of footsteps that will be different from all the rest. Other footsteps send me back underground. Yours will call me out of my burrow like music."
~ The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, 1943
It’s not Boxing Day — it’s Foxing Day!
The Arctic fox is the only land mammal native to Iceland, arriving on this remote North Atlantic island at the close of the last ice age, when frozen seas formed a natural bridge across the water.
Also known as the white fox, polar fox, or snow fox, this remarkable animal thrives in some of the coldest conditions on Earth. So well adapted is it to the Arctic that it doesn’t begin to shiver until temperatures plunge to an astonishing −70 °C (−94 °F). A key to its survival lies in its dense, multi-layered coat, which provides exceptional insulation against the bitter cold.
Those subtle shifts in the fox’s coat — from creamy whites and silvery greys to smoky blues and soft earth tones — determine where it is most often found. White-morph foxes typically roam inland, where their pale fur disappears into the snowy tundra, while blue-morph foxes favor the coast, blending seamlessly with dark rocks and wind-carved cliffs. These gentle, natural variations are echoed in the tartan’s softly layered colours, which mimic the fox’s changing hues across its various territories.
Though the Arctic fox is often unseen, it is far from silent. Its sharp bark and piercing scream can carry across great distances, while quieter calls are used for close-range communication. Most distinctive of all is “gekkering” — a curious, guttural chattering punctuated by yelps and howls — a sound as unexpected and characterful as the fox itself. 🤎 💛 🤍 🖤 🤎 🦊 🦊 🦊
Red Fox
Carol A.L. Martin
Foxing Day (Fox Appreciation Day)
Dec 26
"The flatterer lives at the expense of those who will listen to him." ~ The Fox & the Crow, Aesop's Fables (620-564 BCE)
Happy Foxing Day! This tartan was inpired by the striking colours of the Red Fox. Foxes have long captivated human imagination, appearing prominently in folklore across cultures. From the cunning nine-tailed fox of Asian mythology to Reynard the Fox in medieval European tales, and from the sly trickster in Native American lore to Aesop's "The Fox and the Crow," their stories are rich and varied. In Finnish legend, foxes were believed to create the Northern Lights, or revontulet—"fox fires"—as they ran through the snow, sweeping sparks into the sky with their tails. The term "foxfire," also known as "fairy fire," refers to the bluish-green bioluminescence emitted by certain fungi in decaying wood. This glow, attributed to the enzyme luciferase reacting with luciferin, has been observed since ancient times. While the etymological origins of "foxfire" are debated, its enduring association with foxes continues to inspire wonder. 🤎 🧡 🖤 🤍 🦊 🔥
Miss Jenny
Mark Corfield-Moore
Zoological Gardens Day
Dec 27
"A Cheetah and stag with two Indian attendants"
~ George Stubbs, 1764, Tate Modern Museum
Art historians and Cheetah lovers! This unusual tartan references "Miss Jenny" an 18th century captive cheetah immortalized in this painting based on an event in her life. This female cheetah was originally brought to Britain as a gift for King George III by George Pigot, Governor of Madras, an enthusiastic collector of animals as it was fashionable for the wealthy to obtain and keep animals of all kinds in a menagerie, the predecessor to today's zoological gardens! Easily tamed and trained, cheetahs had been used as hunting animals by the Mogul Emperors for hundreds of years. In 1764 at am event hosted by the Duke of Cumberland released a cheetah in an enclosure at Windsor Great Park to observe how cheetahs pursue their prey. In the painting, Miss Jenny's Indian handlers raise the cheetah's hood, ready to release it in the direction of the stag. According to reports, the stag repulsed two attempts by the cheetah and then took to the offensive, chasing the cheetah. Cumberland gave instructions that particular care should be taken of the stag that so bravely defended himself against the cheetah, and he ordered a large silver collar to be put around the stag's head for his distinction and perpetual protection from both man and beast. The Duke eventually sent his collection of exotic animals to the Royal Menagerie at the Tower of London, including this cheetah, where "Miss Jenny" acquired her name. This tartan uses the colours the Indian flag, the home country of Miss Jenny and her handlers. 💚 🧡 💛 🤍 🇮🇳 🐆