We have selected some of our favourites for you to enjoy. Some are open year-round, and others are part of Scotland’s Garden Scheme, so only open for a brief period when they are looking there best.
Thursday 15th June
This is a long, sloping and terraced garden at over 800 feet in the Braes of Angus, developed to be a garden for all seasons. Half is dominated by bulbs, rhododendrons, azaleas, primulas, meconopsis and clematis. The other half is mainly later summer bulbs, herbaceous plants and roses. There is also a rockery/scree.
Sunday 4th June
Built on the site of a former watermill on the Lunan Burn, originally laid out in the 1970s by James Aitken, the Scottish landscape designer and naturalist. The sheltered four-acre garden has a range of mature trees, including a Himalayan blue cedar, large rhododendrons, azaleas and a wide range of shrubs. The former mill lade feeds rocky waterfalls and a lily pond. Planting includes established perennials with seasonal colours, many bulbs, primulas and heathers, plus a vegetable garden on the site of an old tennis court and a new wildflower meadow.
Blair Castle stands as the focal point in a designed landscape of some 2,500 acres within a Highland estate. Hercules Garden is a walled enclosure of about nine acres recently restored to its original 18th-century design with landscaped ponds, a Chinese bridge, contemporary plantings, and an orchard of more than 100 fruit trees. The glory of this garden in summer is the herbaceous border, which runs along the 275 yard south-facing wall. A delightful sculpture trail incorporates contemporary and 18th-century sculpture as well as eight new works, letter-carving on stone from the Memorial and Commemorative Arts charity’s 'Art and Memory Collection'. Diana’s Grove is a magnificent stand of tall trees including grand fir, Douglas fir, larch and wellingtonia running along the Banvie Burn, with the 12th-century ruins of St Bride’s Church on the far bank.
During June – You can enjoy afternoon Tea at Tullibardine Restaurant, in the grounds – 10am-4pm
Two renowned semi-formal walled gardens adjoin an 18th-century house and steading, sheltering long borders of herbaceous perennials, superb old-fashioned delphiniums and roses, together with pavings rich with violas and dianthus. An extensive and diverse collection of plants, interesting kitchen garden, spacious lawns, and river, lochside and woodland walks beneath fine trees. A wide variety of shrubs with good autumn colour and a picturesque turreted doocot and a ‘Gothick’ wash house. Myriad spring bulbs include carpets of crocus following massed snowdrops and daffodils.
The Abercairny garden which was originally designed by Lewis Kennedy is in the shape of a horseshoe and set within a wall. It is edged by huge trees that include Douglas firs and Sequoia sempervirens and it is laid out on three terraces. The top terrace is mostly formal, with mature informal beds on either side; these beds contain roses, rhododendrons, and azaleas. The second (originally called the Bowling Green) includes rhododendrons and fruit trees. The third is made up of gardens that have been created in the last sixteen years. Here you will see, amongst many new plants, a paulownia tree, different kinds of cornus and eight magnolias. There are lots of different varieties of candelabra primulas in the primula garden. At the bottom of this garden there is a stream and Kennedy’s two Swiss bridges. Look out for red squirrels.
Scone Palace Garden Fair will be the perfect day out for gardening enthusiasts and their families. In the Gardens at Scone Palace, come and experience a line-up of top nurseries selling quality plants, gardening workshops, competitions, and more, with our Head Gardener, Brian Cunningham and the team from the gardening programme 'Beechgrove.'
From the dramatic first blooms of daffodils along the mile long avenue in spring to The Walled Garden’s vibrant borders at their peak in late summer. To the high drama of The Macbeth Trail with its atmospheric wood sculptures to the vastness of the Douglas firs in the Pinetum. Our gardens are full of stories, sights and scents.
Walled garden - Inside, there’s row-upon-row of borders, shrubs, bedding plants and perennials complemented by a tranquil ornamental pond, a large central fountain and a Monet-inspired bridge. The walls of the garden have various species of beautifully espalier-trained old heritage apple trees which blossom in spring and bear fruit in the late summer.
The Italian Garden - The Italian Garden offers a place of serenity to take a stroll. It is a perfect combination of formal borders and lavish plantings which make it a thrilling kaleidoscope of colour throughout the spring and summer, typical of the splendour enjoyed in the Edwardian era. It’s raised terrace, stone fountain and gravel walks all add to the beauty and thoughtfulness of the space.
Sunday, 4th of June – 2pm-5pm – Homemade Tea is offered.
Geilston Garden has many attractive features including the walled garden with herbaceous border providing summer colour, tranquil woodland walks and a large working kitchen garden. This is the ideal season for viewing the Siberian iris in flower along the Geilston Burn and the Japanese azaleas.
Sunday, 25th June – 2pm-5pm
The Bishop’s House is one of six villas in Kilmacolm designed by James Salmon in 1905. It was originally named Miyanoshta but renamed when it became the official residence of the Catholic Bishops of Paisley (1948-1993). The house is now a family home and much care has been taken in preserving the house and garden, both in landscaping and planting, which remain mostly as designed by Salmon. The house sits at the top of the garden and is framed by mature beech trees. There is a burn running down the side of the property (children should be supervised).
Sunday, 18th of June – 2pm-5pm
In 2023, Thorntree look forward to welcoming visitors to their garden opening on Sunday 18 June as well by arrangement on other dates. Carol will happily walk round the garden with you, or you can wander on your own. The garden continues to evolve and cotoneasters by the saltire beds have been cut back which means the four flower beds are no longer hidden behind a hedge! Also, the view past the summerhouse can be seen and the Annabelle hydrangea has popped up now that there are fewer branches above it. It is an inspiring garden to visit at any time of the year. From the garden you can see panoramic views from Ben Lomond to Doune, watching the Forth meander down the bottom of the valley. Please note: plants are always available for sale as part of the trainee experience under the WRAGS scheme.
Thursday 15th June
Explore the garden at the Hill House to find a tranquil outdoor space that was lovingly tended and enjoyed by the Blackie family, especially Walter Blackie who was a keen and knowledgeable gardener.
There are seasonal highlights to discover year-round. Early spring-flowering bulbs in the wildflower orchard herald the end of winter, followed by azaleas and bluebells around the lower lawn, once used as a tennis court. In summer your senses are stimulated with floral fragrance in the Rose Garden and vibrant colours in the herbaceous borders. As the season changes, there are stunning autumn colours from Japanese maples in the Rock Garden, followed by the striking branch structure visible in their winter form.
Other features of interest include a secluded pond area, mature shrubberies, an apple orchard to the north of the house and a small vegetable garden providing ideas and inspiration for grow-your-own. From the south terrace lawn, the house and the box can be appreciated from a different perspective.
Although formal in layout, the garden is managed to encourage biodiversity and with sustainable horticultural practices. This is evident in the abundance of wildlife in the garden including frogs, newts, bats, butterflies and many species of birds.
25th June – 1pm-5pm
Come and enjoy a wander round the spacious lawns which connect the various areas of the garden. Densely planted perennial borders dominate in the front, while a more evergreen, winter-friendly area occupies the back for viewing from the kitchen windows. Explore the busy herb and vegetable garden, designed to be pretty as well as productive; the new apple orchard; and lastly, take in the farmland views, along with some peace and serenity while you stroll the paths of the wild paddock. With its open nature and many seats, the garden is accessible to all.
4th June – 1:30pm-4:30pm
The twenty-year development of the hillside garden at Glensaugh, with its fine outlook over the Howe of the Mearns, continues as lawn evolves into wildflower meadow and borders are replanted. Trees, species rhododendrons and other shrubs provide year-round interest while herbaceous planting extends colour into the autumn. Yew hedges and well-placed natural stone give structure in the lower garden where a productive kitchen garden and polytunnel exist alongside informal borders and a sunken pond.
Take a stroll down to Drum’s magnificent Garden of Historic Roses – follow the path down past the pond, which teems with wildlife in summer, and into the walled garden.
Here, you will find four separate areas highlighting four centuries of garden design and rose growing. Formal knot gardens, box parterres, symmetry and topiary are typical of the 17th and 18th centuries, while more informal, flower-rich planting schemes represent the 19th and 20th centuries. Different types of rose feature in each section, and the contrast is fascinating – historically older roses are often more highly scented but usually only flower once, unlike their modern successors.
A labour of love for Drum’s gardening team and their army of fantastic volunteers for several decades, the Garden of Historic Roses features an enormous array of rare and exotic roses. Take your time to experience all the wonderful colours and scents.
The roses can be enjoyed at their best in June and July when a heady aroma perfumes the air. They are complemented by an impressive collection of herbaceous plants which extend the garden’s season of interest well into autumn.
Take time to wander round our internationally renowned Walled Garden. Largely designed by Sir James Burnett and his wife Sybil in the early 20th century, it’s divided into eight individual sections. With pools, fountains, themed borders, roses and many unusual plants, it’s inspirational at any time of year. For a kaleidoscope of colour it’s worth coming in summer to see the herbaceous borders at their blooming best. Don’t miss the ancient yew topiary and hedges – some of them were planted as early as 1702. We have also recently completed our new Evolution Garden, which showcases the development of plants through time.
Two of our nationally significant garden collections include extremely rare conifers and the Malmaison carnation.
The traditional walled garden is vibrant throughout the seasons, with specimen trees, herbaceous borders and a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. You can also enjoy some of the fresh produce in our recently refurbished courtyard tearoom.
The gardens, which were started under the supervision of Prince Albert, have been expanded and improved by successive members of the Royal Family.
Between 1923 and 1925 Queen Mary devised the charming garden, with a semi-circular wall of rocks surrounding a fountain. The gates to this garden bear the monograms GR and MR.
The Duke of Edinburgh extended the gardens to incorporate a large kitchen garden, with the produce harvested and used for the Royal Family's summer holiday.
The formal gardens, covering some three acres, also contain a range of Victorian glasshouses and the conservatory, which displays flowering pot plants throughout the year. To the West of the main garden, in the trees between Garden Cottage and the West Drive, nestles the water garden.
On the impressive front lawn, at a point opposite the tower and about 100 yards from the path, a stone marks the position of the front door of the earlier house, demolished in 1856.
Under the guidance of His Majesty The King, there are plans for a number of new features within the gardens at Balmoral and you may catch a glimpse of these new developments during your visit.
3rd/4th June
Two acres of wild garden, with a wide variety of rhododendrons and azaleas, and an impressive collection of trees, including metasequoia, cryptomeria, Acer cappadocicum, Sequoia sempervirens, Quercus robur ‘Filicifolia’, liriodendron, several Japanese maples, magnificent beech and Scots pine trees, and extensive yew topiary; also an acre of walled garden with embothriums, Acer griseum, liquidambar, several sorbus varieties, parrotia and a large herbaceous border. Fine views of Strathearn from the front of the house.
Kilbryde Castle gardens cover some 12 acres and are situated above the Ardoch Burn and below the castle. The gardens are split into three parts: informal, woodland and wild. Natural planting (azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias) is found in the woodland garden. There are glorious snowdrops, spring bulbs, and autumn colour provided by clematis and acers. Some new plantings for additional late summer/autumn colour were added in 2017. Visits to see the snowdrops can be made by arrangement. Following the successful event in 2022, there will again be a Plant Fair on 4 June 2023. Refreshments will also be available.
Sunday, 18th of June – 2pm-5pm
In 2023, Thorntree look forward to welcoming visitors to their garden opening on Sunday 18 June as well by arrangement on other dates. Carol will happily walk round the garden with you, or you can wander on your own. The garden continues to evolve and cotoneasters by the saltire beds have been cut back which means the four flower beds are no longer hidden behind a hedge! Also, the view past the summerhouse can be seen and the Annabelle hydrangea has popped up now that there are fewer branches above it. It is an inspiring garden to visit at any time of the year. From the garden you can see panoramic views from Ben Lomond to Doune, watching the Forth meander down the bottom of the valley. Please note: plants are always available for sale as part of the trainee experience under the WRAGS scheme.
Queen Anne Garden’s - A peaceful and pretty garden on the sunny south side of the castle, overlooked by the Queen’s Lodgings and the Prince’s Tower. There may have been a royal garden here since the 1400s and the flat lawn was turned into a bowling green in the 1620s. Visitors can shade beneath the lovely beech tree which is over 200 years old.
Sunday, 4th of June – 2pm-5pm – Homemade Tea is offered.
Geilston Garden has many attractive features including the walled garden with herbaceous border providing summer colour, tranquil woodland walks and a large working kitchen garden. This is the ideal season for viewing the Siberian iris in flower along the Geilston Burn and the Japanese azaleas.
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