Heart Space

Heart Space

how hopeless one becomes
when love invades the mind
all other matters go out the window
to make room for irrational daydreaming time
logic, sense, what of it ?
disappears without trace
arousal, a warm knowing filling up its space

Signs of Spring....

Signs of Spring in The Walled Garden at Abbotsford 2014

..making a start..

Stipa Splendens grass beside the Orangery

Phlomis seed heads looking wonderful in the cold

..with the aid of a wee helper..

Apple Trees

"Unless a tree has borne blossoms in Spring,you will vainly look for fruit on it in Autumn"-Sir Walter Scott

Scotch Bridget  the oldest Apple Tree in the Walled Garden at Abbotsford-120-130 years old.This year all the Apple Trees will undergo some restoration pruning.

Grenadier Apple Tree

eaters

cookers

Tower of Glamis Apple Tree between 80 & 90 years old.

Lord Derby

Lord Derby

and if you need some info here's a link or two and some interesting stories

                                                                      http://www.tweedvalleyfruittrees.com
                                                                    http://www.fedcoseeds.com/trees/renovating.htm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-432344/How-grandmas-apple-tree-shook-experts-core.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/3316714/Britains-oldest-trees-the-roots-of-a-nation.html

                                                                 

The Yew Trees

The Yew Trees planted at the entrance to the Walled Garden from the Morris Garden at Abbotsford
the home of Sir Walter Scott are needing some attention. Some re-shapeing and a trim is in order.

and so it begins

starting to take shape

the back side

tying in .....to be continued..

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara

The Scots Pine Tree

Going for a walk with the Royal Scottish Forestry Society to help us determine how best to care for Sir Walter Scotts woodland.

A rather old Horse Chestnut tree

 A wonderful group of people.

and the planting of a Scots Pine, our Jubilee Tree to mark the Queens 60 years as monarch and the beginning of the relationship between the RSFS and The Abbotsford Trust

                                                               http://www.rsfs.org

Gardening -The Home of Sir Walter Scott-Abbotsford

                                      http://www.scottsabbotsford.com/category/blog/



http://www.scottsabbotsford.co.uk/blog/in-1987-historic-scotland-officially-recognized-the-gardens-and-grounds-at-abbotsford-as-being-of-national-importance-joanna-swiers-is-one-of-the-gardeners-here-and-she-told-us-about-her-work/

JO's Graduated in SQA Level 3 Ammenity Horticulture!! Yee-Haa...

Conifer and Heather Garden

Clearing and tidying a conifer and heather garden.

Hedge

For the same friend, tidying up a little box hedge.

Stream

Clearing out a stream from weeds and making a herb plot better.

Whisky barrel

A wee job i did for a friend in the summer.De-rusted, oiled up and painted an old jura whisky barrel as a planter...lovely ..re-cycling at its best!

Abbotsford House

The Walled Garden, tidying up for the winter coming, The Morris Garden tidying the herbacious perennials, trimming the holly hedge and next stop the fountain.

An Ancient Alliance

Hunter gathering is mans oldest profession
That's littered and honoured with age old lessons.
Conserving, preserving, managing wildlife and game
A delicate balance of feast and famine to maintain.
Experience, knowledge and a little luck
Helps the gamekeeper do his work.
He's done it for years, since man began

Observing, protecting this earth

The wild habitat of man.
Always full of amazing and beautiful sights,
A duty to protect it is his right.
A tradition of Scotland he's keeping in place
Not a frenzied killing zone of disgrace.
It's about time those few
Who cannot see the wood for the trees
Should leave well alone this natural balance
Of men and wild places
An Ancient Alliance.