Inveresk Lodge Garden
Bob Jones writes: “As the website of the National Trust for Scotland declares: ‘A peaceful hillside garden and pond tucked away in a charming village; and worthy of a visit at any time of the year.’
First we climbed the steps to enjoy the warm ambience of the conservatory.
1. Aeonium arboreum ‘atropurpureum’ (Dark Purple Houseleek Tree) – we can look forward to panicles of small yellow flowers in late spring
2. Araucaria heterophylla (Norfolk Pine) sapling, native to Norfolk Island in the Pacific Ocean (RHS). The tallest recorded species is 52 metres high and about 170 years-old, growing in Malaga in Spain
3. Prunus persica ‘Early Rivers’: produces nectarines in late July – good for bottling or jam-making
Outside now; the garden faces south-west and slopes down towards a bend in the River Esk
4. The distinctive buds of Paeonia suffruticosa (Tree Peony). These shrubs can live up to 100 years. On the right is a young hybrid in our garden in early May 2021
5. Chaenomeles japonica (Japanese Quince) in full bloom, clearly benefitting from the underfloor heating in the greenhouse.
6. The faint pink blush at the base of the petals suggests that this is Magnolia soulangeana – just coming into flower
7. Juglans regia (Common Walnut Tree): Travels well and when old wood is removed vigorous new growth will spring forth
