The Castle stands upon a wide, level, grassy terrace, which is stopped
on the north-eastern side by the parapet of a retaining wall, broken by
a flight of steps down to the path that is bounded by the two hedges of
ancient yews shown in the first picture. These hedges divide the flower
garden into two equal parts on the lower level, for, from where the
Castle stands, the ground falls to the south and east. On each side of
the steps, just beneath the terrace wall, is a flower border.
Immediately on entering the double wall of yew there is an opening to
right and left--an arch cut in the living green--giving access to the
two square gardens, in both of which a path passes all round next the
yews. There is also a flower border on two sides. The middle space is
grass with flower beds; in the left-hand garden (coming from the Castle)
are bold masses of herbaceous plants in beds grouped round a fountain;
in the one on the right, for the most part, Roses and Lilies.
To the south-east, and occupying the space next beyond the rose garden
and the end of the lawn adjoining the Castle, is the kitchen garden. The
main walks have flower borders. Where the two cross paths intersect is a
Mulberry tree with an encircling seat. The subjects of the second and
third pictures are within the kitchen garden.
Many are the beautiful points of view from the kitchen garden, for there
the grand yew hedges show beyond the flowers; then, towering aloft,
comes the fairy castle, and then fine trees; for trees are all around,
closely approaching the garden’s boundaries.
* * * * *
The brilliancy of colour masses in these Scottish gardens is something
remarkable. Whether it is attributable to soil or climate one cannot
say; possibly the greater length of day, and therefore of daily
sunshine, of these northern summers, may account for it. Of the great
number of people who go North for the usual autumn shooting, those
[Illustration: CRATHES
FROM THE PICTURE IN THE POSSESSION OF
MR. GEORGE C. BOMPAS]
who love the summer flowers find their season doubled, for the kinds
they have left waning in the South are not yet in bloom in the more
northern latitude. The flowers of our July gardens, Delphiniums,
Achilleas, Coreopsis, Eryngiums, Geums, Lupines, Scarlet Lychnis,
Bergamot, early Phloxes, and many others, and the hosts of spring-sown
annuals, are just in beauty. Sweet Peas are of astounding size and
vigour. Strawberries are not yet over, and early Peas are coming in. The
Gooseberry season, that had begun in the earliest days of August with
the Early Sulphurs and had been about ten days in progress in the
Southern English gardens, is for a time interrupted, but resumes its
course in September in the North, where this much-neglected fruit comes
to unusual excellence. It is a hardy thing, and appears to thrive better
north of the Border than elsewhere.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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