miss marie's miscellany

Sunset

There've been some beautiful skies in the evenings lately

This was on Sunday evening........one of those times when you're glad you had your camera with you :-)

Daily snapshot:2

On Sunday, I spent the day by the shores of Loch Tay in Perthshire at my friend Jane's house. This is the spectacular view from her back garden; lucky her, being able to look at this every day!

 

Beach walk

A blustery Sunday afternoon walk

enjoying the sky light

the shadowy silhouette of the Isle of Arran

and the sun trying to break throught the cloud

3 good things - day 4

1) My dad phones and says he has received a CD I bought him from Amazon which I understood he wouldn't get till the end of next week. I'm glad it got there quickly and in time for Christmas.

2) It's still soooooo cold here, but the trees are covered with glittering frost and the sun makes them sparkle  - you have to stop and stare, it really is magical (and thermal underwear makes it possible to gaze for more than a fleeting few seconds!)

3) I am asked to play for the ballet - it is a piece I don't know well and I have never played before, but I take a leap into the dark and it's ok, very exciting and brilliant music :-)

Oh well, it is Christmas Eve. The state of play in this household is good - food prep well on course, the presents are wrapped, the cards are written, the wine is chilling; I'm ready for the big day.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

 

 

The snow has arrived

Up till now we seemed to have been getting off lightly weather-wise in Glasgow, it's just been cold. Not a drop of the white stuff. But it snowed a bit yesterday and a bit more during the night, and a lot this morning.

I'm not quite sure how I'm going to get to work later :-( .......but it is very pretty :-)

Edited at 2pm to add; work has been cancelled, hurray, and there has been loads more snow falling, so I may just go out and build a snowman to celebrate!

 

Three gardens in one day: part 3

Last stop on this whistle-stop tour is Castle Kennedy Gardens, set on a vast sprawling estate, with a lake and tree-lined avenues. Castle Kennedy is a romantic ruin, covered in wisteria

 

Next to the castle is a beautiful walled garden

 

A lovely space to wander around
 

 

 

and enjoy the flowers

 

 

 

I have to admit the feet were starting to hurt a lot by now, so a big explore of the huge estate was not really going to happen. If you want to see Monkey Puzzle Avenue you will have to visit yourself! 

But through this gate..........

 

we found a lily pond to rival all the ones we'd seen before.

 

 There were so many water lilies you could hardly see any water

 

Monet would have been proud!

That's the end of the garden tour, I hope you've enjoyed this little slice of this beautiful part of Scotland.

 
 
 

 
 
 

 

Three gardens in one day: part 2

Next stop on out garden tour was Glenwhan Gardens. I think this has to be one of the best gardens I've ever visited; it is natural and un-manicured, with gorgeous planting, great sweeps of flowers and foliage.  

 

The garden spreads outwards and upwards around 2 lochans with amazing views from the highest points.

 

There are so many paths winding around the garden and also in between the plants, that you really feel right in the midst of the garden and are able to explore fully. There's lots to catch the eye amongst the flowers

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are even peacocks wandering around, this was the closest I could get before this one ran away

 

I've just let the pictures do the talking in this post :-)

 

Truly a beautiful and inspiring place.
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

Three gardens in one day: part 1

 

The main reason for visiting Dumfries and Galloway was to go to some of the beautiful gardens of the region, which is situated in the Gulf Stream, hence the  beautiful and lush wealth of horticultural interest. We managed to go to 3, each with a distinct character of their own. The first was Logan Botanic Gardens. This is affiliated to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh, and is a plantsman's paradise with exotic species from all over the world. 

 

 

Tropical!? If you look closely, you can see some of the many fish in the lily pond.

 

There are so many eye-catching plants........this is a Lantern Tree

 

 If you look at this tree's bark, you can see how it gets its name -  the Filo Pastry Tree (honestly!)

 

Palm trees everywhere

 
 
   

Gunnera - huge plants, it's like being on another planet standing in the midst of a sea of these.

 

I'll take you to Garden no.2 tomorrow!

 

 
 

 
 
 

2000 acres of sky

When you're at the most southerly point in Scotland, that is just about all you can see.

 

 This is the Mull of Galloway. 

 
 

The road south from Stranraer is quiet and becomes narrower and narrower the further south one travels. The last stretch is a single track with passing places, rough terrain, a bit scary to negotiate. But it's worth it for that view. To the east (in the picture below), you can see Luce Bay and to the west (in the last picture in this post) we could just make out the coast of Northern Ireland.

 
 

There isn't much there....... a lighthouse

 

a couple of cottages and the sea and the sky.

The sun shone and the waves rippled.

 

Peaceful.