Gardens
Gardening Column, Hamish Martin: ‘Mullein isn’t just amazing for us but it serves as a valuable resource for wildlife’
The sheer structure and standing of the truly beautiful Mullein flower means it stands head and shoulders above all the other plants – not unlike how The Eiffel tower must look surrounded by all the other buildings in Paris. It has a wide base, with large soft, velvety leaves, with a long spire growing up…
Read MoreDown’s Syndrome Scotland Garden wins at Chelsea Flower Show
This incredible garden inspired by a young boy from Dumfries and Galloway has won the RHS People’s Choice Award medal at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. Scottish-based designers Duncan Hall and Nick Burton said they were ‘delighted’ to be presented with the award for the Down’s Syndrome Scotland Garden, which was inspired by Duncan’s eight-year-old…
Read MoreTop 5 Things to Do At Scone Palace Garden Fair
A celebration of all things horticultural, Scone Palace Garden Fair is the must-see gardening event this summer. Set amongst the stunning grounds of Scone Palace, Scotland’s national garden show returns on 30 – 31 May, and is set to be a blooming marvellous day out for the whole family. ‘As Scotland’s national garden show, we…
Read MoreGardening Column, Hamish Martin: ‘St John’s Wort is magical in every sense’
There is no other plant that signifies the Summer Solstice like St John’s Wort. It is magical in every sense of the word, ancient, filled with tradition and healing. I always harvest the flowers on 21 June as its energies represent the sun in Celtic traditions. I harvest the flowers and fill a jar with…
Read MoreGardening Column, Hamish Martin: ‘It is easy to see why gorse has always been so closely linked to the sun’s energy and light’
Gorse tends to start to flower early and can be seen even in March but it isn’t till May that it comes into full bloom when the hills look like a bright yellow explosion and the air is scented with its sweet subtle coconut aroma. There is a lovely saying that ‘when gorse is in…
Read MoreThe 5 best gardens in Scotland to visit this Spring
Us Scots are a nation of gardeners. But whether you’re green-fingered or just enjoy smelling the roses, there is no doubt we have some of the best gardens in the country. From peaceful Perthshire’s Branklyn Gardens, to the grand splendour of Culzean Castle, you’ll find gardens of every kind. Here’s our pick of the best…
Read MoreHamish Martin: ‘Ground Elder is a staple food source in our family – and it has fabulous benefits for wildlife’
This month gardening columnist Hamish Martin explains why seeing the shoots of Ground Elder unfurl is a spring delight, as he explores the many uses of this versatile plant. The first signs of ground elder appearing in early March, may put a chill in some gardeners hearts but for this gardener, it’s a quiet internal rejoicing that…
Read MoreHamish Martin: ‘I have always been grateful for cleavers, it’s the best at getting rid of the nasties and supporting the immune system’
This month gardening columnist Hamish Martin explains the healing properties of cleavers, or sticky willie as most of us know them, and why we should recognise them as a friend. February seems like an odd month to look for cleavers, or sticky willie as commonly called due to the plant’s sticky tendencies, as it ‘cleaves’…
Read MoreMeet the couple leaving a lasting legacy for a rare tree species on Arran
A couple with a passion for the rare Arran Whitebeam has left a legacy for the island through their work to help save the native tree species from extinction. Henry Murdo who has lived on Arran since 1968 and Margo McLellan, a native Arranach, have been working with the National Trust for Scotland to share…
Read MoreLife With St Andrew Botanic Gardens: ‘The answers to society’s biggest challenges all involve a different relationship with plants’
Harry Watkins, director of St Andrew Botanic Gardens, on growing up with gardeners as a child, experimenting with new ideas and how what we thought we knew about nature is being challenged. I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors, my mum is a great gardener, and her passion has been a massive influence on how I…
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