Saturday 14h June
All day visit to three gardens in Fife.
Willie Duncan’s Garden, Willie Duncan is no stranger to the Caley. He is a long-term member, having performed workshops for the Caley and appearances on our Gardeners’ Question Time - among his many talents. He and Barbara Whitelaw share a plot – once owned by Barbara’s grandmother – on the windswept south Fife coast. In spite of the gales, the garden is heavily stocked with a wide range of plants, many of them rare, including palms, varieties of Pittosporum and ferns. There are dramatic sea views, a wild garden with pond, greenhouses and a remarkable apple orchard. Barbara has kindly offered to provide morning tea and coffee.
Our second garden . This garden has grown over the past 14 years from a bare field. Set in 1.5 acres on a gentle slope with gravel and grass paths, and stone or gravel steps, there are some raised beds, a small orchard, two ponds and a vegetable patch. Planting is a mixture of evergreens, flowering shrubs and herbaceous borders. Acers, pines, Cornus bamboos, peonies, Agapanthus, day lilies, Trillium and Erythronium all do well here. There are benches and seats around the garden. Gordon is also an artist and paints plants of the garden.
Kirklands, Saline. Owned by Gill and Peter Hart, since 1977, when the original garden had disappeared and the walled garden was home to two ponies. Peter and a retired miner undertook the hard work of restoration; walls were rebuilt and overgrown or dead trees removed. The lovely 2-acre garden is mostly set on a slope, with a further 20 acres of recently planted woodland. There are herbaceous borders, a bog garden and a fern collection. Areas to the front and rear of the house are flat. The Saline Burn, with bridges, divides the main garden from the woodland which has an upgraded path system.
The house dates from 1832. Tea, coffee and home baking will be provided.
Sunday 29th June
Our second garden . This garden has grown over the past 14 years from a bare field. Set in 1.5 acres on a gentle slope with gravel and grass paths, and stone or gravel steps, there are some raised beds, a small orchard, two ponds and a vegetable patch. Planting is a mixture of evergreens, flowering shrubs and herbaceous borders. Acers, pines, Cornus bamboos, peonies, Agapanthus, day lilies, Trillium and Erythronium all do well here. There are benches and seats around the garden. Gordon is also an artist and paints plants of the garden.
Kirklands, Saline. Owned by Gill and Peter Hart, since 1977, when the original garden had disappeared and the walled garden was home to two ponies. Peter and a retired miner undertook the hard work of restoration; walls were rebuilt and overgrown or dead trees removed. The lovely 2-
Sunday 29th June
Afternoon Walk to the Coast of East Lothian.
Meet at Longniddry Bents Car Park, at Ferny Ness at 2 pm.
Members’ own transport.
Meet at Longniddry Bents Car Park, at Ferny Ness at 2 pm.
Members’ own transport.
This walk is a follow-up event to the 18 March Lecture on ‘Gardens and Wildflowers of the East Lothian Coast’ by Dr Stan da Prato, who will be guiding the walk. It is anticipated that it should last about an hour and a half.
Look out for a white Astra estate vehicle with owner Stan beside it, as there is more than one car park. Participants should wear strong footwear and bring waterproof clothing.