A Tale of Two Gardens

Still not much travel even though Oregon, like other places, tries to open up a little. Anne and I are being very conservative—no sit-in restaurants, very little shopping, no real trips. We have been on the lookout for ways to get out of the house. We’re not fans of wild camping, but we did consider taking Morse, the travel trailer, to a formal RV resort on the coast. We stopped considering it when the Oregon coast became a Covid-19 Hot Spot and we saw pictures of filled campgrounds crowded with campers with no masks and not maintaining social distancing. We did finally decide a trip to The Oregon Garden with friends Scott and Jane Thompson (in separate cars) would be doable. That three hour visit is the kernel of this post, along with telling about a Scottish garden we’ve visited several times. Mostly pictures without much commentary.

If nothing else, I hope this post bring a little color and brightness to a quite dark time.

The Oregon Garden, Silverton, OR.  www.oregongarden.org

Opened in 1999, The Oregon Garden is an 80-acre botanical garden with more than 20 specialty gardens (such as the Evergreen Garden and the Children’s Garden). The garden has four miles of ADA paths and usually operates a guided tram ride. The garden is open 365 days a year and is lovely any time of year. 

I usually visit the garden two or three times a year for flower photos, but this time I was particularly interested in the garden’s Covid-19 adaptions, including

Visitor’s Center was closed until July 10th,

This isn't the Visitor's Center; it's a garden shed.

Hours restricted to 10 to 4 daily, 

For a while I had my ducks in a row.

Only 300 guests in the garden at any one time, 

The tram is not operating, 

Drinking fountains are turned off (bring your own water), 

The crow on the right was teaching the young one how to feed.

Only restrooms by the entrance and the Children’s Garden are open, and

Masks are required in indoor public areas and six foot social distancing is expected in all areas.

Using a special photo program.

The local statue of Nessie.

The four of us maintained appropriate social distancing and then enjoyed a picnic lunch (we each brought our own) at different ends of the picnic table. A lovely and successful trip.

Kailzie Gardens, 2.5 miles from Peebles in Scotland’s Borders region,  www.kailziegrdens.com

In better times when Anne and I have visited the Scottish Borders we have spent time at Kailzie Gardens  (pronounced kay-lae), a private garden in the Tweed Valley. The garden dates from 1812 and is currently owned by Lady Buchan-Hepburn of Peebles. 

This is a spectacular 17-acre garden consisting of both woodlands and walled formal gardens, including greenhouses. Kailzie also hosts Tweed Valley Ospreys (an osprey observation area open Easter to the end of August) and Kailzie Courtyard Cafe.  The gardens are usually open all year, but this year closed in March and didn’t reopen until July 3rd.

These two gardens are very different, but we enjoy both and hope the photos will help brighten your day.

NEXT: Stay Safe and Find Out.

I MISS SCOTLAND

Here are a couple of photos that I’ve recently taken on backyard safaris. At least I’ve been able to get out into the yard, but I must tell you…

I really MISS SCOTLAND.  We didn’t have a fall trip to Scotland last year and this year’s spring trip had to be rescheduled because of the pandemic. We are now rebooked for the end of August. I give that trip, though, less than 10% chance to happen—we’re basically still closed, Scotland is closed, and the virus is expected to still be with us. So, I really MISS SCOTLAND. That’s the topic of this simple photo essay: What I miss about Scotland.

  I miss the friends we’ve made in 34 trips to Scotland since 2000.

Our Scottish family (John & Jacky Clifford), Yann & Sharri Gosweiller (neighbors), and in the back is Ollie (guest from Germany).

Jim Craig is a famous champion Scottish footballer.

Andrew Cuthbert, whisky shop owner and guru, and motorcycle mechanic extraordinaire.

I miss the breakfasts and special dinners in the B&Bs.

At Merlindale B&B the breakfasts are fantastic and the special dinners for friends and family are legendary.

I miss the sheep in the road--whenever I can.

I miss the special birthday celebrations in Scotland.

Jonathan, Jacky, and Ailsa Clifford celebrating Jon's and Jacky's birthday (a day apart) with a cake Anne made.

I miss the golf in Scotland—golf is good here, but better there.

The 18th at Old Moray is a great finishing hole.

Late afternoon light gives Ballatter GC a  special feel.

The challenging bunkers at Panmure GC near Carnoustie.

The wild Durness GC in the far northwest corner of Scotland.

I love the testing 9th at Durness GC where I have to hit over the Atlantic Ocean.

I miss the chance to meet fans of my writing in the B&Bs.

Holly and her daughter from Chicago booked into the B&B just for a chance to meet  Bob and Anne, the travel writers.

I miss the friends we’ve made on the golf courses in Scotland.

Grahame Linnie, golf professional at Crail GC

With Anne are Wendy and Roger Baily, golf club manager from Colvend GC, who came up to join us playing our course, St Fillans GC.

Gordon Hibbert is the Super Golf Manager of St Fillans GC (the club we belong to) and now a good friend.

I miss the call of the cuckoos in the spring.

A real cuckoo on Carrbridge GC. We hear them on most courses in the spring, but have only seen a couple.

I miss competitions at Scotland’s golf courses.

John celebrates his huge win while Anne stares on in disbelief--his prize,,,magnificent bragging rights.

Anne and I love playing in Scottish club competitions. We meet great people in the competitions, such as Leslie and John from Minto GC in the Borders. 

At our club, St Fillans GC, there is almost always an informal competition. Teams are drawn at random and the entry of £2 buys coffee after the round and gives a little to the winner--on a good day you can win enough for a bacon roll for lunch.

Even though we have spectacular scenery here, I miss the special scenery of Scotland we don’t get here. 

Dunnottar Castle on Scotland's east coast along the North Sea.

The mountains of Glen Coe

The view from Isle of Skye GC includes the ferry to Raasay, Loch Sligachan, and Ben Lee (Ben is Scottish for mountain).

Gorse or whine and the north Scottish coast from Royal Tarlair GC.

Interesting landscape in  the Orkney Islands.

The heather is lovely, but is hard to get golf balls out of.

Threave Castle on one of Scotland's five River Dees.

Most of all, I miss the adventure of travel. I hope you all keep safe and maybe soon we can travel together. Keep traveling even if they are small roads.

The main road of the Isle of Arran

Here’s a note of hope. After selling 60 or more books a month through the winter, we went to selling none—nobody was traveling or wanted travel books. But now we’ve started selling again. Not as many as before, but enough to show that some people are at least thinking about traveling again.

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