Allium giganteum in Cambo Walled Garden, Kingsbarns, Scotland

Cambo Gardens, situated in Kingsbarns, near St Andrews in Scotland, has been in the same family for over 300 years, dating from the late 18th century, when Thomas Erskine, 9th Earl of Kellie (c. 1745-1828), bought the estate. The gardens include a vast 28-hectare woodland, with many criss-crossing paths, some of which run down to the seashore. This woodland is home to swathes of snowdrops in late winter and early spring: the garden holds the National Collection of over 200 varieties of these bulbs. The jewel of the place to me was the 1-hectare walled garden: a kitchen garden in the original design, but redeveloped over the past 40 years into an ornamental garden of great beauty.

Perennials and grasses growing in Cambo Walled Garden, Kingsbarns, Scotland

Perennials and grasses growing in Cambo Walled Garden, Kingsbarns, Scotland

The lovely stone walls of the garden provide protection from frost and cold winds, and by absorbing then releasing solar energy, allow the creation of a slightly warmer microclimate. The walls give a feeling of sanctuary, define the frame of the garden, and act as a support for many climbing roses that clamber over them. The garden is divided into nine areas with different themes. It isn't a strict grid but feels quite structured. Each of the areas has access paths going through them, enabling the visitor to get close to the plants and enjoy the feeling of being engulfed by a billowing floral frenzy when it is at its peak in summer.

Paeony growing in Cambo Walled Garden, Kingsbarns, Scotland

Paeony growing in Cambo Walled Garden, Kingsbarns, Scotland

Some of the garden areas are influenced by the style of the Dutch landscape designer Piet Oudolf, combining many ornamental grasses with bold drifts of perennials. With many of the perennials having flowers on spires or atop tall stems, this was a most arresting combination of forms, and used plants other than the North American 'prairie' specimens usually seen in this style of gardening (although there is an area outside the walled garden that includes grasses with these perennials). There is such ethereal beauty in these gorgeous flowers, most of which sadly don't thrive in our Sydney gardens, but it is possible just to allow oneself to be enveloped in the experience of walking amongst them and enjoy seeing them grow to perfection in a climate that suits them. Many were plants the names of which I used to know off by heart in my 'cottage garden years' when I still believed I could grow cool-climate plants if I just tried hard enough: herbaceous Salvia, many species Geranium, rare lilies, giant Allium giganteum, paeonies, Knautia macedonica, Persicaria amplexicaulis cultivars, Sisyrinchium striatum, Dierama pulcherrimum, Eryngium giganteum and Echinops ritro. Yes, I tried and failed with all of these!

Tall grasses growing with perennials in Cambo Walled Garden, Kingsbarns, Scotland

Tall grasses growing with perennials in Cambo Walled Garden, Kingsbarns, Scotland

The grasses really made such a difference to the borders, providing linear contrast and movement, as they swayed in the breeze. They also made the plantings seem more naturalistic and uncontrived. When the grasses flower, this gives even more interest and diversity to the scene. The grasses give a contemporary feel to this historic garden, and I really felt inspired to use this idea in my garden.

Roses and perennials growing in Cambo Walled Garden, Kingsbarns, Scotland

Roses and perennials growing in Cambo Walled Garden, Kingsbarns, Scotland

In other areas, the 200 species of gorgeous old-fashioned roses are combined with herbaceous perennials in a more conventional style of planting, and these filled the air with scent. The combinations of colour and form provide a feast for the eyes, and ideas to take home to use with plants that can grow in our gardens. Tall shrubs and small trees provide height and structure at different points within the walled garden, with many unusual specimens, including a number of lilacs, Escallonia and Crinodendron hookerianum.

Sisyrinchium striatum growing in Cambo Walled Garden, Kingsbarns, Scotland

Sisyrinchium striatum growing in Cambo Walled Garden, Kingsbarns, Scotland

Other parts of the garden include plantings around a stream that runs through the garden; a potager garden; a dry Mediterranean area; and a wildflower meadow to attract insect life. A large edible garden has been added in recent years to provide produce for the popular café in the historic stables.

Plectranthus zuluensis growing in a glasshouse at Cambo Walled Garden, Kingsbarns, Scotland

Plectranthus zuluensis growing in a glasshouse at Cambo Walled Garden, Kingsbarns, Scotland

Near the entrance to the walled garden are several glass houses to grow plants that couldn't survive outdoors. I did giggle when I entered these, as inside were cosseted, proudly displayed, potted examples of plants that grow outdoors without a care in the world in my own garden: Tibouchina multiflora, shrub and rhizomatous Begonia, Plectranthus zuluensis, Clivia and Abutilon - and the sorts of Agave that we can't even give away when they are donated for sale at our garden club. It was a lesson in appreciating the hand we are dealt in the climate where we live - whilst still being able to enjoy the joy of being in the sort of garden we can only normally dream about. If my Scottish ancestors had not emigrated to Australia all those years ago, it might have been a different story ...