A Late-Blooming PassionMILLHALL, KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE

摘要

One of the great joys of the National Gardens Scheme and of its Scottish equivalent, Scotland's Gardens, is the way new gardens of high quality and real originality are continually being discovered and added to their respective lists, even in areas you think you know well. The perfect proof of that is the garden of Alan and Debbie Shamash. My own garden is on the English (Cumbrian) side of the Solway Firth. Theirs is on the Scottish (Kirkcudbrightshire) side. So we're almost neighbours. (In Victoriantimes, we could have crossed the Solway easily and quickly by ferry. Nowadays, you have to drive laboriously to the head of the Firth then down the other side. So much for progress . . .) And ever since we moved here, thirty years ago, I've regularly visited the many fine gardens on the Scottish side and had innumerable conversations with gardeners there.