I knew coming in this would be a lovely trip, but it’s really shaping up to be incredible. It’s now day three in Edinburgh…what a beautiful city.
Yesterday was a scorcher, about 27° C. That’s in the mid-80s, I think, and for Scotland it’s absolutely a day at the beach. We piled into a bus at 9:30 and made our way through town to the stunning Edinburgh Botanic Gardens.
The gardens are free to all visitors and right in the city, so they’re very accessible to the residents of Edinburgh. It’s lovely to see such an investment in the natural beauties by the government. At the newly constructed visitors center, the guides split us into three small groups, and we set off on tours of the grounds — though we couldn’t even begin to cover the 70 acres.
My group’s guide, Stephanie, was a tiny Welsh sprite of a woman, who seemed to know the garden by heart and loved every plant in it. The California garden enthusiasts in the group — some of them Master Gardeners, others just friends and spouses but plant lovers all the same — stopped to “ooh” and “aah” at the rhododendrons and azaleas, exotic trilliums and various trees you just don’t see in the states. (Though we did stop in a grove of redwoods, and everyone seemed right at home.)
After our guided tour, I went with four women to visit the Queen Mother’s garden, planted in her memory after her death in 2002. It was nestled behind a long, tall row of trees that had been cut into hedges — that’s where the photo I posted last night came from. All the plants in that garden had royalty-themed names, and stones along the ground detailed each decade of Elizabeth’s life.
After a long, relaxed walk in the shade through the gardens, we stopped in the gardens’ restaurant for a little bite to eat. Fresh!! I ordered a vegetarian dish, spiced falafel with couscous, and “rocket” (arugula) and mixed greens. Also at the table: Smoked Scottish salmon on a chive scone, and a lovely salad with chorizo, red beans and a mustard vinaigrette. With a glass of wine to wash it down, we were truly “ladies who lunch” yesterday.
I’ve posted some photos on Lawn & Garden Retailer‘s Flickr — go ahead and add us as a contact if you have an account, too! Or, if you like short bursts of information, you can follow me through my travels on Twitter at @lgrmag.
Today, we’re driving along the A1, one of the main “motorways” out of Scotland and into northern England to visit Alnwick. Which is pronounced Annick. (Of course.) The sun’s trying to peek through the clouds and haze, but I’m not holding my breath. The weather today is far more Scottish: misty, chilly and damp. But still beautiful. What a glorious garden getaway so far!
For more information, visit www.gardengetawaytours.com or contact Vanessa Dinning at plantvan@gmail.com.
