In the early evening a purple thistle flower by the river catches light from a nearby walkway. It is the national flower of Scotland, the country's symbol of resilience and strength since it was adopted by King Alexander III in the mid-thirteenth century. Legend has it, during this time a Norse army came to conquer Scotland, planning a nighttime ambush to catch Scots Clansmen while sleeping. Creeping quietly without shoes, the Norse stepped upon thorny thistles and their cries awakened the Scots warriors and the invaders were defeated. In 1687 King James VII and II founded the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, the highest honor in Scotland. The motto of the Order, Nemo me impune lacessit means “No one provokes me with impunity.”

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