A Berry Nice Time in the Gardens ...........

Autumn, a time when I can return to my childhood days without fear of reproach, without that look upon my mother's face which said: "I could tell you to behave but what's the point. You are going to do it anyway." And my crime? Brand new, shiny red wellies just waiting to crunch through the autumn leaves, crackling under foot, and kick them high into the sky. Then with my very best "I'm sorry but I am a little girl and this is what little girls like me do at this time of the year" I would giggle to myself as my poor mother apologised profusely to the elderly gentleman with the well-used broom who had spent the last hour sweeping up the leaves. And then of course there were the puddles. Brand new, shiny red wellies drawn to muddy puddles, splashing, jumping ....... "But mummy, this is what little girls like me do when the rain is kind enough to leave such wonderful puddles. After all, mud washes off, and you do want me to make the most of my brand new, bright shiny wellies. Feet grow so fast, you know, so I really must get plenty of use out of them while I can ....."

How beautiful are the Royal Botanic Gardens as autumn takes a firm grip. Mosaics of gold, red, green and brown pepper the lawns and adorn the flower beds as summer leaves this colourful month to momentarily delay the onset of winter. To many plants autumn is a beginning and not an end, a time for them to rear their heads and challenge the spectacular blooms of summer, to declare they too can be colourful, splashing the landscape with their own autumnal shades. Deciduous conifers add to the stunning swathes of colour, their needles shifting through the seasons as suble as the changes on an artist's palette. Larch trees hold a mellow shade of yellow until their needles give in to winter's beckoning and fall to the ground. Summer-flowering heathers defy autumn and hang on until the cold fades their blossom and they sleep, awaiting the return of the warming sun. Drowsy insects slowly flit from flower to flower, gathering the last of nature's nectar, attracted by those still holding fast in defiance of the long winter days ahead.
Berries and fruits, they are what autumn is about. Adorning the trees and bushes like decorations on a Christmas tree, clustering in groups, brightly coloured in hues of red, yellow, gold and black. Rowns, whitebeams, blackberries, tempting the birds and the animals, warning them of a harsh winter, enticing them to fill their larders while there is still time. Small, succulent, pecked by birds, picked by squirrels, nature's supermarket bursting with goodies to survive the days ahead. Falling leaves, carpets of gold and red, spectacular displays of berries in a watery sun hanging low in the sky - this is what autumn is all about. Conkers bouncing from horse chestnut trees, acorns leaving the safety of their "egg cups" to be snapped up by sqirrels seeking a meal or two, holly berries awaiting fame on the front of a Christmas card - oh yes, they are all here in the Botanics, an ever-changing landscape changing yet again. New life replaces old, colours shift like the tides of the sea, the weather weaves its magic and another corner of the Gardens holds you spellbound as you wander, hat, scarf and gloves firmly in place to discover a tree, a flower, a bush you may have missed before.
Yes, autumn is well and truly in situ at the Royal Botanic Gardens. Forgive all the pictures, but I had to share some of the beauty abundant in one of my favourite places, a wonderland to rival all others, a living exhibition of colour framed by the world around it. Where better to walk on a crisp, autumn day ........... And yes, I do still crunch through the leaves and kick them high into the air. And yes, I very definitely still jump into puddles, more effective now there is more weight behind my landing! Pure childish fun. Second childhood? No, I'm well past that. Must be my third? fourth? fifth? .........   
 



Scottish Heath Garden

Every time I pay a visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens - and these are becoming more and more frequent - the environment is constantly changing, a rainbow of shifting colours, every shade of green imaginable bedecking the trees and shrubs, a landscape moving with the seasons, reflecting their moods. And the more you wander around, the more you discover, little niches to be explored like a book whose pages never end.
Replacing the old heather garden, the present Scottish Heath Garden was planted as recently as 1997, and comes complete with a simulated abandoned croft constructed using recycled materials from the original garden. This is a wonderful area to wander around, a plethera of native plants creating a natural haven for wildlife in a realistic countryside setting. It is difficult to believe that you are in fact in the middle of a city. There is even a lochan, built using peat blocks for a more natural looking effect. The whole garden is a mass of upland plants which are commonly found growing together in
the Scottish hills, bringing a wonderful sense of the countryside to Edinburgh. And although they are not native, several large trees and shrubs have been retained from the original garden, kept both for their botanical importance and to give structure to the Heath Garden.
Take time, also, to peruse the various information boards and learn a little about the history of some of the plants within the garden. Did you know that most parts of broom are deemed toxic - but that did little to deter the Scots from making a "heady wine and strong beer" out of the flowering tips. Surprising? I guess not for such an intrepid nation that loves its drink - and this is in no way a criticism! And of course we all know about the broom-making industry. Heather, abundant and versatile, a favourite for making luxurious matresses, hard-wearing baskets and brushes, a source of fuel for the fire ...... and a flavour for beer! The perfect home for baby grouse, it provided watertight thatch - for houses, not the grouse - as well as super-tough ropes.
Lets move on to gorse, prickly, spectacular golden flowers
during the late summer months, scented with coconut, yielding a vibrant yellow dye. Throughout the winter the tough older stems remain green, and when ground up to get rid of the spines made nutritious winter fodder for sheep and cattle. And furthermore, a gift of gorse was considered unlucky in Fife. Why? Search me! So much to see, so much to learn. Soft rush, used for thatching and basketry, the spongy pith inside the leaves an ideal wick for candles once dipped in fish oil or mutton fat. Willow branches, an ideal wood to weave into fences, their amazing ability to regenerate meaning they soon form the perfect hedge. And the bark of the willow was often chewed to relieve pain, making it an ancient form of aspirin! Juniper, a distiller's dream, the berries of this spiny shrub give gin its distinctive flavour. The ideal fuel for illicit whisky stills, the wood burns with little smoke and a pleasant aroma - back to the drink again! I can't leave without mentioning the good old Scots Pine, Scotland's native Christmas tree. Torches and candles were made from the resin-rich pine roots, and the wood an ideal material for building. Unfortunately, its high demand, coupled with long-term climate change, has all but wiped out the great Caledonian pine forests. Those that remain are today some of Scotland's important sites for biodiversity. High demand, versatility, cost-effective - so much of the natural world around us is swallowed up in our desire to have the best, get bigger and better. Progress always seems to come at such a high cost. The more we have, the more we want. Spend some time in these wonderful Gardens, admire their beauty, see at first hand just how fragile the world around us really is. And be thankful that places like the Royal Botanic Gardens are playing their part in ensuring many of our endangered species continue, at least for the time being.