Dunbar’s Close, Edinburgh, Scotland

If you find yourself in Edinburgh, Scotland, you will be inclined to walk the Royal Mile from Holyrood House to Edinburgh Castle.

It is the iconic corridor. Travel guides highlight it. People flock to it; movies immortalize it. Along the way, there is history, shops, then more history, and more shops....   Continue Reading

A Great Place for a Party

Gardening, by its very nature, is about putting down roots. So when we moved into our home in 1977, we had bare ground outside and white walls inside. We immediately set about putting down roots in our garden and community. This year, we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary and our 46th year in our garden with an open garden day....   Continue Reading

Holiday Lights Magical Brookgreen Gardens

Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet (near Myrtle Beach), South Carolina, celebrates the holidays with Nights of a Thousand Candles. I was there this December, and I will say I have never seen anything like it in all my holiday garden experiences.  There is so much I could say about this incredible garden, but I’m going to let the photos attempt to share the magic....   Continue Reading

Broadwoodside, a new garden in an old place

In a land of historic castle gardens, the contemporary Broadwoodside garden offers color, whimsy, and a story all its own.

Robert Dalrymple is a distinguished graphic designer known for his production of fine art books and catalogs. (British Art Museum, Victoria & Albert) His private home garden 25 miles outside Edinburgh is the result of transforming an old farm stead into an exceptional garden that rivals those centuries older....   Continue Reading

Fyvie Castle, a garden of color

Not every castle has a garden, but many gardens have a castle.

Luck was with me as we arrived in Scotland to explore gardens. Late August gardens provide the fireworks of Dahlias, colorful puffs of hydrangeas, and the first shades of fall colors in this climate, and I was eager to see it all. We had three weeks to explore, and by the time we turned in our rental car, Rich had driven 852 miles, and we had visited 32 gardens, the big and the small....   Continue Reading

Garden Travels, the best view of our world

I’ve just returned from a three-week trip exploring Scottish Gardens. My husband and I rented a car at the Aberdeen Airport and set off for our adventure. Rich did all the 852 miles of driving with a right-hand drive and a left-hand 6-speed shifter. Our GPS guide was the calm and reassuring voice of the actress Emma Thompson, and we loved her. But it takes both of us to stay focused on driving down shady tiny “B” roads with one-lane bridges, watching out for horseback riders, cyclists, and huge farm equipment along the way....   Continue Reading

Finding a Pathway Through The Plants

Finding your way forward during these times of uncertainty can be challenging. Nonstop news of floods, fires, searing heat, wild winds, and tragic wars magnify our uncertainties. I look to the garden for direction.  I am ready to immerse myself in a green walk among the plants....   Continue Reading

Flowers in the Tetons, Wyoming

The majestic mountains are so big, the sky so wide and the view in every direction is spectacular.  Exploring the Grand Tetons is an experience of grand proportions.  It is easy to miss the wildflowers  surviving in this dry climate under a bright summer sun. Yet the flowers are there, in yellow, purple, red and white....   Continue Reading