Gardens from Eden

14/08/2026

Who would like to join me on a tour of English gardens in spring and the opening day of the Chelsea Flower Show with Ross Tours in 2027?

08/08/2026

06/08/2026

🌿 A midsummer masterpiece in the heart of Edinburgh.🌿

Early summer is one of the most rewarding times to explore the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, where over 350 years of botanical history meet world-class horticultural design. Founded in 1670 as a physic garden for growing medicinal plants, it has evolved into one of the world’s leading botanic gardens, blending scientific research with stunning ornamental displays.

At this time of year, vibrant herbaceous borders are bursting with colour from elegant Delphinium, Salvia, Persicaria, Echinacea and graceful drifts of Astilbe, while magnificent specimens of Hydrangea add bold splashes of blue, pink and white throughout the landscape. Towering mature trees including majestic Sequoiadendron giganteum, stately Fagus sylvatica, elegant Acer palmatum and the iconic Araucaria araucana provide structure, texture and year-round interest.

Every garden room has its own character. The intricate rock garden recreates alpine habitats with remarkable precision, the tranquil Chinese Hillside celebrates the beauty of Asian landscapes, and sweeping lawns, carefully framed vistas and expertly layered planting demonstrate why this garden continues to inspire gardeners and landscape designers from around the globe.

Whether you’re fascinated by rare plants, inspired by exceptional planting combinations or simply searching for your next favourite garden, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a place you’ll want to visit again and again.

Which part would you head to first, the Rock Garden, the Chinese Hillside, or the spectacular herbaceous borders? 🌿👇


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02/08/2026

Hidden away in the heart of East Lothian, Inveresk Lodge Garden is one of Scotland’s true horticultural treasures. 🌿 Created around a charming 17th-century house and lovingly developed over generations, this intimate garden is a masterclass in colour, structure and seasonal succession.

In summer, every border seems to burst into life. Sweeping drifts of Delphinium, Phlox, Hemerocallis, roses, Geranium, Salvia, Astrantia and elegant lilies weave together with ornamental grasses, creating layers of texture and colour. Mature specimens of Acer, yew, beech and flowering crab apples provide the perfect framework, while carefully clipped hedges and topiary add year-round structure.

What makes Inveresk Lodge so inspiring is the artistry behind the planting. Every border has been designed with height, foliage, colour harmony and flowering sequence in mind, proving that great gardens are about thoughtful design as much as spectacular plants. Around each corner you’ll discover another beautifully composed vista that feels both natural and meticulously planned.

Whether you’re looking for inspiration for your own garden or simply love discovering remarkable places, Inveresk Lodge reminds us that some of Scotland’s finest gardens are also its most intimate.

Which planting combination would you love to recreate at home?


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31/07/2026

Which would impress you more, the extraordinary geometric parterres or the spectacular summer borders? Tell me below!👇

27/07/2026

Looking for one of Scotland’s most spectacular formal gardens? 🌿✨ Drummond Castle Gardens is a masterpiece of symmetry, precision and artistry that has been evolving for nearly 400 years. First laid out in the 1630s and later redesigned in the grand Italian Renaissance style, the gardens are famous for their intricate parterres, clipped yew hedges and sweeping geometric patterns, all centred on an elegant sundial.

July is one of the very best times to visit, when vibrant herbaceous borders overflow with colourful perennials including Delphiniums, Salvia, Nepeta, Geraniums and Alchemilla. Roses perfume the air, while topiary provides year-round structure and contrast. Mature specimens of Fagus sylvatica, Taxus baccata, Cedrus libani and spectacular Acer species frame the formal design, creating stunning vistas that draw your eye across every carefully planned axis.

What makes Drummond Castle so captivating is the remarkable balance between architectural design and planting. Every hedge, border and pathway has been meticulously positioned to create changing perspectives, proving that great garden design is every bit as much about structure as it is about flowers.

Whether you’re passionate about garden history, planting design, topiary, landscape architecture or simply love discovering beautiful places, Drummond Castle is guaranteed to inspire.

Which feature captures your imagination most, the perfectly clipped parterres, the vibrant summer borders or the incredible symmetry? Let me know below! 🌿👇



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26/07/2026

🌸⏰ Edinburgh’s Floral Clock is more than just a garden feature... it’s a living masterpiece that has been keeping time with flowers for over 120 years.
Nestled within the beautiful gardens of West Princes Street Gardens beneath the dramatic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, the world-famous Floral Clock was first created in 1903, making it the oldest floral clock of its kind. Every summer, thousands of carefully grown bedding plants are meticulously planted by hand to create an entirely new design, with tens of thousands of plants forming intricate patterns, vibrant colours and astonishing detail.
July is one of the very best times to visit, when the display is at its colourful peak. You’ll find carpets of Begonia semperflorens, Alternanthera, Echeveria, Sedum, golden Pyrethrum, and colourful Pelargoniums woven together with incredible precision to create a living work of art that changes every year. The inspirational display took me back to my youth as an apprentice creating carpet bedding displays for some of the town centres in the North West of England.
Beyond the clock itself, Princes Street Gardens are a wonderful example of Victorian public park design. Sweeping lawns, colourful herbaceous borders, mature specimens of Cedrus libani, Fagus sylvatica, Acer pseudoplatanus, Quercus robur and elegant flowering cherries provide structure and seasonal interest, while winding pathways lead visitors through beautifully layered planting beneath the shadow of Edinburgh Castle.
It’s remarkable to think that this peaceful garden was once the site of the drained Nor’ Loch before being transformed into one of Scotland’s most iconic urban green spaces. Today it perfectly blends horticultural craftsmanship, engineering and history into one unforgettable display.
If you’re visiting Scotland this summer, don’t just admire the Floral Clock,take time to explore the surrounding gardens. Every path reveals another carefully framed view, another beautiful planting combination, and another reminder that great garden design is truly timeless.
🌿 Which annual planting scheme has been your favourite?

24/07/2026

Hidden away in the Scottish Borders, Kilbryde Castle is one of those gardens that quietly rewards every curious plant lover. Originally laid out around the historic castle and carefully developed over generations, the gardens blend formal structure with relaxed, naturalistic planting, creating beautiful contrasts around the estate.

July is when the borders really come alive. Towering drifts of Delphinium elegant spires of Digitalis purpurea, colourful, Phlox paniculata, and swathes of Geranium weave through richly planted herbaceous borders. Clouds of roses perfume the air while graceful climbers soften the stone walls. Mature specimen trees, including magnificent Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur and striking Cedrus species, provide a timeless framework that gives the garden its wonderful sense of scale and permanence.

One of the joys of Kilbryde is its balance between careful design and seemingly effortless planting. Every border is layered with contrasting foliage, textures and flowering times, ensuring there is always something new to discover. The garden feels both refined and welcoming, a masterclass in how thoughtful planting can enhance the surrounding landscape rather than compete with it.

If you love gardens where every path reveals another beautifully composed view, Kilbryde Castle deserves a place on your Scottish garden wish list. The whole garden is maintained by the owners, a magnificent effort!

🌿 Which feature captures your imagination most, formal borders, magnificent specimen trees or romantic roses? Let me know below!

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22/07/2026

Some gardens impress with flowers… Broadwoodside makes you stop, look again, and then notice something new around every corner. 🌿✨
Hidden near Gifford in East Lothian, around 45 minutes east of Edinburgh, Broadwoodside is one of Scotland’s finest contemporary private gardens. Over the past 25 years, book designer Robert Dalrymple and his wife Anna have transformed a restored 17th-century farm steading into a remarkable fusion of architecture, art and horticulture.
The journey begins with beautifully structured courtyards, where crisp geometry takes centre stage. A striking chequerboard of granite setts and lawn is punctuated by elegant Acer platanoides ‘Globosum’ (Norway maple) underplanted with clipped Buxus sempervirens, while cloud-pruned Ceanothus and climbing roses soften the historic stonework. Beyond the buildings, the garden gradually relaxes into expansive, naturalistic planting that blends effortlessly with the surrounding East Lothian countryside.
July is a wonderful time to visit, when richly layered herbaceous borders, sculptural topiary and architectural planting are all at their peak. Wander along the famous Topiary Walk, discover the willow pond and its charming temple, admire quirky follies crafted from reclaimed stone, and keep an eye out for Broadwoodside’s wonderfully witty carved inscriptions hidden throughout the garden. Every path rewards curiosity, proving that the very best gardens tell stories as well as showcasing plants.
Broadwoodside is a brilliant reminder that outstanding garden design isn’t just about what you plant, it’s about creating spaces that surprise, inspire and make you smile.
Which feature would you explore first: the geometric courtyards, the Topiary Walk or the hidden inscriptions? 🌳👇
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