What's New

Sweet Autumn Treats from Mellerstain

Tuesday 14 October, 2025

With thanks to Gill Harrop, Administrator at Mellerstain for these wonderful seasonal recipes! Enjoy these bakes for yourself at the Mellerstain open day on Saturday 25 October 2025, 11am-5pm surrounded by stunning autumn colours.

The musings of a plant fanatic

Wednesday 1 October, 2025

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.

Bringing back the roses

Thursday 26 June, 2025

Adrian Miles tells the story of the community-led restoration project to bring back the roses in Newburgh's Memorial Garden

From Our Hearts to Yours

Wednesday 18 June, 2025

In this blog, Kirsty Maguire tells us why their chosen charity is especially close to her family's hearts.

Woodfall Gardens Recovering from the Storm

Tuesday 6 May, 2025

Many of us across the West of Scotland and Central Belt were affected by Storm Eowyn, which swept across the country at the end of January. With our thanks to Liz and Ross Muir, garden owners of the beautiful Woodfall Gardens, for sharing their story.

Top Tips for Wildlife Friendly Gardening

Friday 11 April, 2025

We are delighted to share these top tips from our e-newsletter readers. With our many thanks to our e-newsletter subscribers for their wonderful submissions, we hope that our collaborative blog inspires you to encourage wildlife into your own garden!

Top Tips for Trailing Geraniums in your Garden

Monday 3 March, 2025

Les Jack, SGS Treasurer for Dumfriesshire shares his top tips for gorgeous geraniums in your garden.

Just Green?

Monday 13 January, 2025

Thank you to Wildlife and Botanical Artist, Linda Latham, for her January update from her garden and encouragement to appreciate the beauty of the simplest things in our garden!

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.

Sweet Autumn Treats from Mellerstain

The musings of a plant fanatic

Bringing back the roses

From Our Hearts to Yours

Woodfall Gardens Recovering from the Storm

Top Tips for Wildlife Friendly Gardening

Top Tips for Trailing Geraniums in your Garden

Just Green?

A Winter's Tail

Groups and Villages

Top Tips for Rooting Stem Cuttings

Vegetable Matchmaking - Companion planting in my kitchen garden

A Visit to Braevallich Farm

The Creation of a Garden

A Lifetime of Tools

Dividing herbaceous perennials in the spring

Scotland’s Gardens Scheme launches 2024 season

Snowdrop Hints and Tips

New “no dig” beds at Willowhill

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

How to propagate from cuttings

How To Save Seeds

Designing a garden in challenging conditions

Rhubarb Recipe

Dealing with ash dieback at Humbie Dean

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

Christmas Wreath Workshop

Garden Design Tips - Videos

Growing snowdrops in Scotland - video

Plants for Winter Colour