A season of botanic pleasures

Colour is finally returning to our gardens with the coming of spring – and that’s opening up a whole raft of potential days out across Courier Country.

Debbie Butler from the Scotland’s Gardens Scheme charity tells Craigie that it’s a case of the more the merrier as the opportunities to visit gardens are about to open up for a new season on Saturday.

She explains: “This year is bigger and better as Scotland’s Garden Scheme Angus and Dundee adds four superb new gardens to its portfolio in the north-east.

“Now known as Angus, Dundee and the Mearns, openings commence over the weekend of April 20 and 21 and will run until the end of October.”

Pointing out that most of the gardens under the auspices of SGS offer teas, and that children get free admission, Debbie says seven venues are set to be included as part of the Angus offering for the first time this year – with another six returning after a gap and a further three opening in their own right as opposed to as part of a group.

She promises that “a plethora of botanic pleasure” awaits, ranging from the likes of Brechin Castle with its grand glasshouses and Arbuthnott House to the “more domestic and exotic” Charleston forest garden in Dundee and Carnoustie’s tropical garden, with two pop-up outdoor locations also being included.

Among the gardens in the Mearns joining the group is the attractive walled garden at Glenbervie House near Stonehaven, with regular updates on the scheme’s activities available by looking up “sgsangusdundeethemearns”on Facebook, or via the website scotlandsgardens.org

The glasshouses in the grounds of Brechin Castle will be opening to visitors this spring.