Garden Visits - the very thing!

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Garden Visits - the very thing!

SUMMER'S ARRIVED and many of Perthshire’s gardens are in full bloom.

At Bolfracks, near Aberfeldy, the walled garden is largely made out to herbaceous borders with specimen trees, shrubs, and a large collection of old fashioned roses.

Hercules Garden at Blair Castle is an enchanting mix of herbaceous borders, fruit trees, statuary and ponds. Hercules pond is home to many wildlife species.

July is a month of great growth at Cluny Gardens near Aberfeldy. The scarlet creeper Tropaeolum speciosum is in full flower, and many of the lilies are at their peak of flowering. Herbaceous plants including Ligularia and Anemone Japonica are also growing well. August is another lush month. Look out for the scented Clematis Redheriana from China, and Codonopsis, a trailing creeper from the Himalayas. Trees and shrubs also come into their own at Cluny during the height of summer. The beautiful red bark of Prunus Serrula Tibetica is unmistakeable. Look out too for the very beautiful Acer Shirasawanum ‘Aureum’, or Golden Acer.

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Stunning Gardens - Open Days

For garden lovers there can be a pleasant afternoon walking and admiring these wonderful gardens on these open days:

There's an opportunity to visit some local gardens and hidden corners on Sunday 31 July from 2.00 to 5.30pm.

Pitlochry’s Secret Gardens Scheme is run by Pitlochry in Bloom and is funded by Rural Tayside Leader+. It includes over ten gardens dotted throughout the locality. Admission is by programme only, adults are £3, kids go free; refreshments served in the Atholl Palace Marquee.

Programmes are available from Pitlochry Tourist Information Centre.

Pitlochry in Bloom gratefully acknowledge the kind sponsorship of Bells Distiller, Atholl Palace Hotel, Explorers' Garden and the community.

All money raised goes to Pitlochry in Bloom

Above: Meconopsis Paniculata

Cluniemore

(On the A9 Pitlochry Bypass), this will be open to the public on Sunday 7 August between 2pm-5pm. This mature garden is in a beautiful setting surround by hills, rock and water gardens, lawns, herbaceous and annual borders, roses, shrubs and a short (signed) woodland walk above the garden.

Admission for adults £3, children under 16 free. For further details 01796 472215

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A Festival at the Herbalist’s Garden, Pitnacree

The Big Day had arrived. Our first attempt at an ‘Open Day’. Would people come to the Herbalist's Garden at Pitnacree? Would the weather be kind to us?

We needn’t have worried, they certainly did come and many of them stayed all day!

It turned out to be a very enjoyable day out for all ages. The children had a marvellous time being entertained by Mrs Funky Junk (Kirkcaldy herbalist, Keren Brynes). Guided tours of the garden with Jacqui Hazzard were very popular. Making lotions and potions with or Natural Beauty from the Garden demonstrations were other options.

Ben Geyer came from Dunfermline to make Besom Brooms that even Harry Potter would just have to have (as Wes McGregor's picture shows).

Beekeepers were well represented by Archie Warren and Torquil Mackenzie of Fortingall and District Beekeepers with their demonstration beehive and exceedingly good honey. Georgia Crook who renovated the willow roundhouse demonstrated her willow crafting skills. The Taybank Spinners Circle entertained children and adults alike with their spinning techniques and excellent chat.

Plants galore and lovely cards to choose from were supplied by Sheena Stanbridge, Margaret Lear and Judith Campbell. Heart of Scotland Herb Society was there with support at the entrance gate and Liz Coulter and her team were kept very busy all day providing much appreciated good food from her Café.

All in all the day was a great success. chad opened its doors and those who came were welcomed and enchanted by it.

The garden is open from 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday from 1 May until 31 October or call 01887 840773 to make an arrangement.

by Cath McGregor