Posts Tagged ‘gardens’
Gardening Column, Hamish Martin: ‘Mugwort was held sacred by many cultures and thought to be the oldest of plants’
Gardening columnist, Hamish Martin, on the ancient history of mugwort and how this plant can be used today. I feel a very strong association with this magnificent plant. I have never planted mugwort, but it has amazingly, always found me. Every house I have lived in this plant miraculously appears, from where I have no…
Read MoreGardening Column, Hamish Martin: ‘Whenever I see Red Clover growing wild I can’t help but internally rejoice’
Let me introduce you to one of my favourite wild friends, Red Clover. Whenever I see it growing wild I can’t help but internally rejoice, it’s bright red flower acting like a beacon, pulling me in. I will always pick some and bring them home to make herbal health tea. It is so interwoven with…
Read MoreGardening 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 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 MoreWin a Pair of Tickets to the Scone Palace Garden Fair
Gardening 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 MoreKnife from 1800s discovered under ground at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
A large turf knife thought to date back to the 1800s has been discovered under the ground at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. The 49cm blade, which would have been used by the garden’s horticulture team, was discovered during work to install a new heating system at the garden’s Inverleith hot houses. An intact…
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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