Scotland tour May 2009 - suggestions?

[Christina Fryle]

Thanks for the information! I have to check wich date we will be in wich place before deciding anything - but I am very grateful for the tip!

[ChrisB]

Christina,  I've been to Susan's mum's garden, you should put it on your list right away, while the offer is there, its very, very nice, full of lovely surprises!  I went with a coach trip and there was plenty of room for all of us around the garden, and in such a lovely tranquil setting too.

[Christina Fryle]

Yes, of course I will put it on my list! I just meant I cantīt book anything before I know the exact schedule. Iīm really looking forward to this trip!

[ChrisB]

I didn't spot on your list, Branklyn Garden in Perth.  Its a super garden, under National Trust for Scotland ownership I think.  Enjoyed it much more than Cherrybank, also in Perth.  Not sure what is happening with Cherrybank nowadays, maybe someone else would elaborate?

[Christina Fryle]

Interesting! Branklyn IS on my list - I just didnīt mention all the places... Is Cherrybank changing in any way? I havenīr been there - just thought it would be interesting as a some of our members are avid collectors of heaths and heathers.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Christina, as this thread is developping, I think you'd better prepare to spend a month in Scotland 

[Christina Fryle]

Yes, I realise we wonīt be able to see a third of all the suggested sights! But I am sure we will come back another time and then I will look back and pick some of the places we miss on this first tour. And in between I might show up with my husband Leif. The two of us travel a lot - not only on garden tours, but also to see plants in their natural settings in the mountains. And sometimes not even to see plants but for the good exercise and beautiful views.

[ranunculus]

And sometimes not even to see plants but for the good exercise and beautiful views.

You sometimes walk with your head up, now there's a novelty ... please don't tell my wife ... (she has undergone years of training to spot plants)!!   

[Susan Band]

Dear Christine,

Just email me is you want to visit mum's garden. It is certainly lovely in May. I am afraid the field where I grow most of my plants is too difficult to get to by bus, I have a few frames near my house, which is in the same village to mum's, you can look at them if you want.
One of my favourite gardens in this area is Cluny gardens although I am not sure if you can get a large bus to there or not.
Cherrybank gardens is a good heather garden but I am not sure if it will open next year as they only have one gardener at the moment, a crazy idea about enlarging it to make it the biggest garden in Scotand used up all their money and never got off the ground.
Susan

[ChrisB]

Ah, Susan, I knew there was some recent news about Cherrybank, but couldn't remember what.  Cluny is one of my favourites too, but when we went it was quite impossible to consider a bus trip up there, I went separately to see it when we were staying near Aberfeldy.  Your mum's garden is just super!

[Christina Fryle]

Cliff, as devoted photographers of not only flowers we have to raise our heads to get pictures of the views too! And in some mountains the plants are not as many as the good sights. Madeira for example. But I donīt have that many pictures of the Dolomitian views. Too many flowers there!

Susan, yes I will email you. I have a deadline in a few days. Will check everything concerning the tour afterwards and get back to you.

[Maggi Young]

Christina, you should see some of the landacape and mountain views that Cliff shows us  in the Dolomite pages of this forum... he , too, looks up sometimes.... it is Mrs Booker who must concentrate on the ground!!

[ranunculus]

... it is Mrs Booker who must concentrate on the ground!!

Oh yes ... she of the permanent stoop and the heavy backpack ...

[Luc Gilgemyn]

 
I was sure you love her dearly Cliff... 

[Christina Fryle]

Oh, poor Mrs Booker, then!

Yes, I think I already looked at some of those wonderful Dolomite photos - and longed to go back! But our next journey (after Scotland) is to northern Greece. We went there in May this year and loved it, so we just have to go back soon!