Another year gone, so quickly and going out in stormy weather as it arrived. It’s always hard to sum up a whole year in a few words with all the highs and lows 365 days brings. These days I focus on the positives and we are blessed in so many ways. David and I have each other and all our wonderful children and partners, a small plush mouse dog and a cantankerous one eyed cat and lovely friends who are great company, supportive and kind. We are working away on our wee cottage and garden, finally making our own home together. Our two businesses continue to flourish and David has just become a published author. I finally feel my painting is improving. We’ve had great days out, a holiday and a couple of nights away through the year, exploring new places and old favourites. I made it to Coll to visit my Aunt and I also had a student reunion after 38 years which was awesome. We saw the most stunning display of the Northern lights, not once but twice from our own back garden, an experience I will never forget and if I never see them again, I know I've been very lucky.
We’re not doing much tonight except huddling under a blanket with flu remedies and a hot water bottle mouse dog, how ever you celebrate have a great New year and all the best for 2025, cheers.
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Now that Christmas chaos is out the way we have lots of exciting new workshops this year as well as our ever popular willow fedge weaving and border design workshops. The willow and border design workshops are on the website now so you can book straight away. The willow workshops are weather dependent but I will keep in touch if there are any changes once booked.
I will be adding the new workshops soon so keep an out here and on instagram for posts announcing availability.
Book here - Nursery Shop
In an effort to get out the house, blow some cobwebs away and sweat out this lurgy we had a lovely walk in the borders this morning. Though I was wabbit by the end and have been on the sofa ever since! But it was good to get out. Such a lovely walk, 4 miles, from Bowden church through woods, along the river, over fields and back by old tracks in the shadow of the Eildons 
Bowden church is well worth a visit too, dating from the 12th Century with a Lairds gallery along the north side. Lots of interesting grave stones and a stone mounting block for when you came by horse.
Here is my walk descriprion on the latest blog: A circular walk from Bowden Kirk
We have three new workshops running through out the year for 2025. These shorter workshops at an hour long are £10 per person and an informal workshop in one of our new polytunnels. These are available to book through our website where I will put up a couple of months at a time as we go through the year. These workshops were suggested by some of our customers, so thank you Anna Webster, Charles Howie and Alison Nisbet.
Propagation workshop
Colourful containers through the year
How to have succession of colour through the year in a single pot. 11am – 12pm, £10, limited to 6 places.
Maintenance of potted plants
How to maintain and get the best from permanently potted plants, indoors and out. 11am – 12pm, £10, limited to 6 places.
Follow the link below to book:
Day 4 of the flu, oh joy. Carrying on with the theme of painting plants from my garden here are some Cyclamen coum and all its parts through the year which have just started flowering in the back garden under a pieris and in an alpine trough. I’ve done this painting over a few days to allow the layers to dry and working on one or two areas at a time. I home you like it, some colour for a miserable weather day.
I am very pleased with this, progress is happening and I may have to invest in some much finer brushes. Loving this attention to detail (there's a surprise 😃 )
I am very pleased with this, progress is happening and I may have to invest in some much finer brushes. Loving this attention to detail (there's a surprise 😃 )
2024 looks like its going out the way it’s been all year with stormy, horrible weather. There have been plenty highs and lows this year, running a business does not get any easier! But supported by David, Fiona, Isabel and our lovely customers we grow, we expand, we get over the humps and bumbs and here we are about to step into 2025 and our 10th year in business!
Highlights include the gardens growing from strength to strength, providing customers with ideas and a lovely place to visit as the plants mature, being interviewed for a podcast! A new poly tunnel, lots of new customers and all the fabulous feedback we get
The lows are always varied and challenging, we started off the year in January with significant storm damage to all our covered growing areas and the weather was awful in spring which always has a head on effect on sales, in fact the weather was pretty rubbish all year. But somehow, we always make it through. Here are some of our seasonal highlights from 2024.
Wishing you all a very happy New Year and all the very best for 2025
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| January and February 2024 |
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| Spring 2024 |
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| Summer 2024 |
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| Autumn 2024 |
#rural #countrylife #countryliving #cottagelife #antiquecottagescenes #interiors #scottishborders #independantretailer #smallbusiness #localbusiness #independantplantnursery #uniqueplantnursery #hardyscottishplants #scottishgarden #gardeningontheedge #scottishborders If you to see what's new and looking good at the nursery like our Facebook Find out more about the nursery here - our web site: www.quercusgardenplants.co.uk Follow us on Instagram @ quirkybirdgardener and Quercus Garden Plants |
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