Fair ye well 2025

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As 2025 comes to a close, its hard to believe another year has passed so quickly. a quarter of a century of this century already! Blink and the kids are all in their mid 20's to early 30's, getting engaged, getting married, buying their own homes, working hard in their careers and establishing their own adult lives, when it only seems like yesterday they were snuggled up on the sofa with me watching movies and munching in a shared bag of crisps. 

What a way to start the year with a glorious show of the Northern Lights on New Years Eve!


David had a successful year publishing his debut novel in January and finishing the year with his sequel being published. Both are selling and he has received lots of great revues which is fantastic. Of course I am biased, but I genuinely do love the books and the story as it weaves through Edinburgh, a city I know well. He is enjoying his semi-retirement and having time to write and fly his growing collection of gliders. Of course I am eternally grateful for all his help at Quercus and the huge job this year of building four new tunnels at the nursery, which was a huge piece of work. It is all very much appreciated and his endless support of everything I do (and putting up with me).

You can find David's books here - David Dodds Author 

My blog about  - Exploring Edinburgh old town with "Touchpaper" by David Dodds

David taking his book on a tour of places
mentioned in the book in January


Personally its been a very mixed year, starting off with not feeling well at all before Christmas 2024, endless trips back and forward to the hospital for scans, blood tests, ultrasounds and biopsies in January and February. When not one but two types of cancer are mentioned, and having lost four close family members to cancer, the waiting on results was almost worse than the physical symptoms. It was a huge relief in late spring to be given the all clear and just a follow up appointment in mid summer to make sure. It did take me until August to feel like myself again and regain my energy and a positive frame of mind. I never take my health for granted and its a sharp reminder when something like this happens just how fragile we really are. Its been fantastic to see all five of our kids doing well and David's writing being recognised and to see Quercus continue to grow and be loved by our customers and visitors, many of them new. Its what keeps me going, knowing all our hard work is appreciated and we provide something valuable to the horticulture trade with our plants grown on site, our commitments to wild life and the environment. Of course none what happens at Quercus is possible without the support of David, Fiona and Isabel. 

We've had great days out, lovely weekends away and a wonderful holiday in Orkney in autumn. We've spent time with family and friends and explored new walks and eaten in some great places. Here's a snap shot of 2025, with useful links where possible.


   January

Read my blog - a walk through Yester Estate and Yester Castle

A snowy start to my working year

January in the nursery garden


Yet more storm damage


February


A wee break in February in the Yorkshire dales at Ingleton



Snowdrops in the nursery gardens


A new nursery entrance


March

A fun afternoon having afternoon tea on the Orient Express in Leith
 which was one of my christmas gifts


Read my blog - A visit to Tappoch Broch and Torwood Blue Pool


In the garden at home

In the nursery woodland garden



April


A walk with Ben at Peden's Cove 



April in the garden at home


Read my blog - A walk along the Leader River



Creating a new sitting area in the back garden

Knackered but happy gardener


The nursery gardens in April



May

Building my greenhouse at home



Great article in the Sunday Post


Building tunnel 2

May in the nursery


June


June in the garden at home




Celebrating David's 60th birthday with family on a hire boat on the Union Canal
a fantastic fun day




A walk up Dollar Glen


Turning the nursery compost heaps



June in the Nursery


High praise from our customers



July




and Barter books on the way home

Lunch with Becky


A visit to the pictish stones at Aberlemno


Exciting year in 2026


I made an appearance at the garden show at Ingleston!

and met up with my friend Sarah Fiona


and in the same weekend met up with old friends for the 65th celebration and reunion of Threave School of gardening, what a fantastic weekend



A trip to Dunbar


The nursery in July


Dan and David doing work on the Garden railway


August

The Peebles show is always a great working day out

August in the garden at home

A birthday day out for me

A night at the Peebles in Bloom awards

Our August Charity day


A day in Edinburgh visiting The Portrait gallery exhibition about James 6th and Andy Goldsworthy's exhibition at the Mound



August in the garden at home


In the nursery in August and some much needed rain after a beautiful but very dry summer



September

We haven't done much renovations inside this year but the front of the house has had a facelift. 
The costs probably weren't that much different either for a full face face lift  😐
The 60's extention had a full new roof and insulation, new gutters and some of
the slates redone on the main roof. Then David and I repainted all the wall with two coats. 
With the front garden finishes aswell the front of the house looks a million times better than it did.
 Its not the prettiest face of the house as sadly the really nice stone walls are on the back of the house where only we get to enjoy them, lol


A visit to Holdhird gardens and Ambleside in the Lake district



A walk in Carrifran where a lot of the plants we've grown for BFT 
have been planted


In the garden at home


My annual trip to Coll, this time with Dan for company





In the nursery in September


October


A walk along the Tweed

My annual autumn display went big this year

A trip to Dawyk


A walk at Gameshope




A great trip to Beamish with Dan and David




A visit to Abbotsford


We did get the bathroom renovation done, a very much needed job, painting by me, new bathroom
suit fitted local plumbers RA Walter and lino from Kristofferson Carpets in Galashiels

Lots of apples harvested and cooked

Isabel and Shannon planting a new hedge

October colour in the nursery



Four new tunnels, never envisaged we get to this 


October in the nursery



November


We had a fantastic two weeks in Orkney for our holiday this year, stunning scenery, great food, so much to do and lovely accommodation too
Orkney week 1
Orkney week 2



November in the nursery

Winter means admin tasks

and christmas fairs


December
December in the nursery




A foggy night out in Peebles

Preparing for christmas

Christmas with family, the best time


A walk at Newcastleton


Successfully making medlar cheese
Medlars part one
Medlars part two

There you have it, 2025, there wwas so much more, but I didn't want to bore you all. You can of course read more on all my blogs about the nursery, gardens, good food and places to visit. I've now been writing them for 12 years!!!


See you in 2026


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Find out more about the nursery here - our web site: www.quercusgardenplants.co.uk

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