"In a walled garden"

I visited historic Cambo Gardens in Scotland in June.
Sunday, 07 July 2024     

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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 ...


 Reader Comments

1/4  Virginia - 2125 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Monday, 08 July 2024

I really enjoyed reading your blog Deirdre. Yes we can enjoy seeing gardens of the cool temperate climate and long to grow many of their plants but dont forget they have a much shorter season than we have and there is very little out in winter. Here we have something of interest all year and yes we can grow things which only grow in glasshouses there. Thanks, Virginia, I appreciate your wisdom as you have gardened in the UK as well as here! Deirdre


2/4  Valerie - 2121 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Monday, 08 July 2024

Walled gardens are my favourite kind of garden, so thanks for your lovely description of this one. I like that idea of grasses mixed in with perennial plants. The roses must have been a joy to be near, especially with their scent. Yes there is something wonderful about walled gardens. I always loved the book The Secret Garden when I was young, set in such a garden. It was a very enjoyable experience visiting Cambo Gardens. Deirdre


3/4  Sue - 2074 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Tuesday, 09 July 2024

Gardens of 300 years of age do certainly have a presence, nothing quite like them here with various family members having put their stamp on them. The walled gardens are so inviting and as you say a sanctuary behind lovely stone walls. Guess we can make sanctuaries here but in different ways. Have just added two grasses to a small border to give movement. Nice to see plant familiars in the glasshouse and feel glad to be able to grow them outside here. Thanks for your tour. Yes those amazing historic gardens are so very different from anything we can see here. I was really taken by the grasses included with the perennials and hope to seek out some more to add to my garden. Deirdre


4/4  Margaret - 2122 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Thursday, 11 July 2024

Enjoying reading your blog on Scottish gardens. The walled gardens are a joy, I would love to have one myself. Gardening so different from our gardens here.Thanks, Margaret. Yes the gardens are so very different there! Deirdre


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