Yesterday Michael and I had the opportunity to go visit Crathes Castle Gardens. It lashed torrential rain on the way there, and then magically cleared up for our walk around the gardens. Everything was sparkling. And it was a red-letter day in more ways than one: the first day Michael didn’t have to work since mid-April! Hooray! Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers about our work situations; things have eased now. Here are some photos from the gardens:
Yew hedges, Crathes Castle Gardens, Aberdeenshire, June 2012.
The yew hedges are said to date from 1702 – amazing! Below, the white border was buzzing very loudly with bees:
White border, Crathes Castle Gardens, Aberdeenshire, June 2012.
The June borders were, as always, highly delightful:
The June borders, looking up to the Castle. Crathes Castle Gardens, Aberdeenshire, June 2012.
I don’t know what the name of this part of the garden is, but yellow seemed to be the planting theme. Even the trees seemed a bit yellow in the sunshine!
Crathes Castle Gardens, Aberdeenshire, June 2012.
Looking across the lawn where on my birthday visit people were playing croquet:
Crathes Castle Gardens, Aberdeenshire, June 2012.
Another photo of the yellow-themed garden, showing the side of the castle:
Looking towards the side of the castle; Crathes Castle Gardens, June 2012.
As we walked around, we thought of how great it must be to visit this garden as a child. There are so many wonderful hiding places. In fact, the Dafter has been taken to Crathes Castle for school trips many times and is completely jaded by it! Not something that I can imagine…
A great hiding place and lookout under one of the yew hedges. Crathes Castle Gardens, Aberdeenshire, June 2012.
I really like the ice house, which looks a bit like a very secure hobbit dwelling:
The ice house at Crathes Castle, Aberdeenshire, June 2012.
I suppose long ago the winters were so much colder that they would cut blocks of ice and store them here for the rest of the year. We take so much for granted in our lives – but not these beautiful gardens.
Filed under: Gardens, Scotland, Summer Tagged: Crathes Castle, flowers, garden, Scotland, summer
