Just returned from a wonderful, relaxing day out with other members, beginning with coffee, cake and plants at Ben View Nursery and Tea - Room . what better way to start the day?
Then a short bus hop to the incredible garden of Dun Dubh (meaning Black Hill Fort) on Loch Ard. Nothing black about these gardens though, with rhododendrons, magnolia maples in many hues and 50 shades of green delighting the eye. Head Gardener Callum Pirnie led us on a fascinating tour of the gardens describing the various stages and feats of ingenuity employed in transforming what was, just a few short years ago, a derelict Victorian garden, into the spectacular garden that it is today. This was a treat and a real privilege to behold - although gardening wearing a midgie net is definitely not for me.
Lunch was enjoyed at the Faerie Tree Inn, served by the friendliest young members of staff you could wish to meet. After which we were off to Thorntree Garden at Arnprior where again we were treated to a tour of a somewhat different but delightful garden by owner Carol Seymour, with a huge variety of plants ranging from the spectacular dinner -plate sized vibrant blue flowers of meconopsis down to the most gorgeous dainty cyclamen-pink flowers of a dainty epimedium. Nor did we go away empty - handed.
This garden is a plant-buyers dream. Their Open Day is on 24th June - and it's in my diary for a return visit.
