What's New

The musings of a plant fanatic

Thursday 5 December, 2024

In this blog I’m going to have a go at describing a number of plants which I’ve grown in my time in Scotland’s west, mostly outsiders but occasionally insiders, for which I’ve had to go a little further than the local garden centre.

A Winter's Tail

Monday 18 November, 2024

Thank you to wildlife and botanical artist, Linda Latham, for her thoughts on moving to a new, smaller garden and welcoming wildlife into her new environment.

Groups and Villages

Monday 18 November, 2024

Read about our groups of gardens, urban trails, villages and curated collections of gardens, opening for charity in Scotland this year.

Top Tips for Rooting Stem Cuttings

Tuesday 16 July, 2024

Les Jack, SGS Treasurer for Dumfriesshire shares his easy and reliable method for rooting stem cuttings.

Vegetable Matchmaking - Companion planting in my kitchen garden

Tuesday 18 June, 2024

In this article, Ian describes his own vegetable garden and shares some tips for common companion plant pairings, as well as the essentials of creating an organic harmony in a raised bed.

A Visit to Braevallich Farm

Saturday 25 May, 2024

Oban u3a Gardens and Wildflowers Group visit to Braevallich Farm - and other SGS gardens

The Creation of a Garden

Wednesday 22 May, 2024

Les Jack , SGS Treasurer for Dumfriesshire shares his inspirational story.

A Lifetime of Tools

Tuesday 16 April, 2024

We all have our favourites but I was quite surprised this year to find some new tools join my collection, which I’m finding seriously impressive.

Dividing herbaceous perennials in the spring

Friday 15 March, 2024

Ann Burns gives her top tips for dividing herbaceous perennials in the garden to create new plants, tidy up your borders and help your plants to thrive.

Scotland’s Gardens Scheme launches 2024 season

Friday 9 February, 2024

Scotland’s Gardens Scheme returns for 2024 with an exciting new season of gardens, raising funds for hundreds of charities and involving over 1000 volunteers and garden openers.

Snowdrop Hints and Tips

Friday 26 January, 2024

Bruckhills Croft Garden Owner, Helen Rushton, gives her top tips for taking care of snowdrops in your garden!

New “no dig” beds at Willowhill

Tuesday 8 August, 2023

Follow the progress of new "no-dig" beds at Willowhill in Fife.

Scotland's Gardens Scheme through the decades. An archive diary, by Volunteer Archivist, Alice Manning.

Friday 4 August, 2023

I’m Alice, a postgraduate student with the University of Dundee’s Archives and Records Management programme, and I’ve been cataloguing Scotland’s Garden Scheme’s archival records.

How to propagate from cuttings

Friday 30 September, 2022

In this short video tutorial Penny Wright demonstrates how to propagate from cuttings.

How To Save Seeds

Friday 30 September, 2022

In this short video tutorial Penny Wright demonstrates how to save and store seeds collected from plants growing in your garden.

Designing a garden in challenging conditions

Thursday 5 May, 2022

In this short series Caroline demonstrates how she makes the most of a difficult garden...

Rhubarb Recipe

Tuesday 1 February, 2022

Try this rhubarb recipe tried and tested by garden owners at 101 Greenbank Crescent in Edinburgh

Dealing with ash dieback at Humbie Dean

Monday 17 January, 2022

Frank Kirwan, the Garden Opener at Humbie Dean shares his recent experience with ash dieback in his garden in East Lothian.

Douneside House Head Chef Matt Price shares his recipe for Wark Farm hogget

Wednesday 15 December, 2021

Matt Price, the Head Chef at Douneside House, has generously provided a seasonal recipe for Wark Farm hogget, for supporters of Scotland’s Gardens Scheme to try.

Christmas Wreath Workshop

Wednesday 1 December, 2021

Follow along this free 30-minute video tutorial and make your own Christmas wreath. The workshop was kindly delivered by Penny Wright.

Garden Design Tips - Videos

Tuesday 16 February, 2021

In this video series, Edinburgh-based Garden Opener Jean Knox, shares her tips on how to design garden from scratch.

Growing snowdrops in Scotland - video

Monday 8 February, 2021

In this webinar, Helen Rushton is sharing her experience of growing snowdrops in East of Scotland.

Plants for Winter Colour

Friday 4 December, 2020

Garden Opener, Jean Knox, shares her favourite plants for winter interest.

How to Create a Small Wildlife Pond

Wednesday 27 May, 2020

Moira Coleman, volunteer from Angus & Dundee, shows how she and her husband created this fun wildlife pond from an old kitchen sink!

How to Split Waterlilies

Friday 15 May, 2020

Julia Young, from South Flisk (Fife), shows how to split waterlilies.

Notes from the Chairman's Garden: Euphorbia griffithii

Wednesday 6 May, 2020

Our Chairman, David Mitchell, shares his thoughts about his favourite plants blooming in his garden just now.

Notes from the Chairman's Garden: Muscari botyroides

Monday 20 April, 2020

Our Chairman, David Mitchell, shares his thoughts about his favourite plants blooming in his garden just now.

How to Photograph Your Garden

Wednesday 15 April, 2020

How to take photographs of your garden - tips for capturing the garden by Sheila Sim, a professional garden photographer.

How to Create a Straw Bale Garden

Wednesday 15 April, 2020

Straw bale gardening is a great way to grow vegetables, even in a small garden. Doesn't matter if you have poor soil or limited compost supply. It's also cheaper than making frames for raised beds and, most importantly - it works!

Notes from the Chairman's Garden: Magnolia stellata

Tuesday 7 April, 2020

Our Chairman, David Mitchell, shares his thoughts about one of his favourite plants blooming in his garden just now.