Spring Emerges at a Beautiful Walled Garden in Scotland

Rhododendrons and rapeseed are the offer of the day when it comes to Scotland in the springtime, with huge blooming bushes and fields of yellow adorning even the most secluded views. At a private garden near East Lothian (near the Scottish Borders, on the Northern Border of Edinburgh) a colorful row of rhododendrons in pale pink, hot pink, and lilac hues welcome visitors up the private drive.

Scotland often experiences bracing weather in the winter and spring, with unexpected cold snaps, wind, and rain to contend with. As a result, gardeners in this region historically defaulted to using protective walls, whose enclosure allowed them to plant a wide variety of plants in various layouts that were otherwise not possible. Here, a young blooming apple tree overlooks dense grasses mowed out to create rows within a maze of hedgerows. In the distance, the owner places a bench for ample garden viewing.

“Mushroom” statues alternate between topiary and Columbine plantings in a beautiful, lush, colorful border concept. (Two of our staff members exclaimed, “I want this!” upon seeing…)

Views from beneath a lime walk.

Rhododendrons are, for many, one of the joys of early summer in Scotland. This year, the Scottish Rhododendron Festival is taking place at several gardens and properties across Scotland as the flowers burst into bloom across the country. Organized by Discover Scottish Gardens, the festival runs until May 31st, 2018 with most gardens offering tickets by donation to support Scotland’s Gardens, charity dedicated to historical, ethnobotanical preservation. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the event’s website.

A slight tilt in the landscape makes the lushness of this particular garden all the more impressive: hedgerows have been strategically placed to catch water as it drains down the hill, providing simultaneous insulation from floods and increased drought resilience.

Iron gates and subtle tin fixtures grace and adorn various lookout points in the garden. Left, where two custom-made birds preside over the splendor of camellias and topiary growing down the hill below.

Forget-me-nots, also known as Scorpion Grasses, are a popular flower in the Highlands and Scottish borders, commonly seen at the bases of trees or lining mass-planted walkways like the one to the left. The pervasiveness of this blue flower is what has led many fans of the Outlander series, which takes place in Scotland, to speculate that this is the mysterious “little blue flower” that catches Claire Mackay’s attention moments before she enters the world of Jamie Fraser. The identity of that little blue flower has since become a hotly-debated topic.