On Wednesday we met Andy's Mum, Jean, in Alnmouth-only an hour from Edinburgh! We had lunch there, then went down to Alnwick Castle Gardens. After a bit of faffing around with carparks-it was extremely busy and we had to find the overflow field-we found our way to the garden. 
As soon as we found it we then got a bit lost in the bamboo maze! It was beautifully cool in there. 
The gardens are the long term project of The Duchess of Northumberland (Here is a less than enthusiastic article about her and the way it has developed. Here is a more positive one!) and are great for a family day out. There were many families having picnics and kids using the various watery facilities-fountains that spurt unexpectedly and streams to paddle in. It was a boiling hot day, and so perfect for this kind of thing.
We had a wander around, enjoying the walled garden, rose garden and various covered walks. We then found ourselves at the ominous gates of the Poison Garden. We were told by the guide not to touch or even smell anything amongst the deadly plants to be found there. The garden is arranged with beds in the shape of tongues of flame and the guide created a suitably scary atmosphere with her gruesome tales of plant related deaths. The most scary plant was Oleander-even a scratch from the wood of this plant can kill, we were told-so if you have it in your garden be very careful! Here is quite a good article about it.
This is a cannabis plant and one of the healthiest looking in the garden. A lot of the plants looked a bit unhealthy and undernourished which seemed appropriate somehow. I only noticed the sign when I looked at my photos though-KEEP OFF THE GRASS-ha ha!
This is the treehouse-a huge affair containing a cafe and restaurant.
And this wobbly bridge-one of two we crossed-every child that passed in the opposite direction shook the bridge! We had fun!
Later on, after Jean had gone home, we had our beach walk. The sun was beginning to set and this is the time the Oyster Catchers seem to like the best. They are cute and comical birds who do not eat oysters apparently!
Jackdaws on the phone wires.
As soon as we found it we then got a bit lost in the bamboo maze! It was beautifully cool in there. The gardens are the long term project of The Duchess of Northumberland (Here is a less than enthusiastic article about her and the way it has developed. Here is a more positive one!) and are great for a family day out. There were many families having picnics and kids using the various watery facilities-fountains that spurt unexpectedly and streams to paddle in. It was a boiling hot day, and so perfect for this kind of thing.
We had a wander around, enjoying the walled garden, rose garden and various covered walks. We then found ourselves at the ominous gates of the Poison Garden. We were told by the guide not to touch or even smell anything amongst the deadly plants to be found there. The garden is arranged with beds in the shape of tongues of flame and the guide created a suitably scary atmosphere with her gruesome tales of plant related deaths. The most scary plant was Oleander-even a scratch from the wood of this plant can kill, we were told-so if you have it in your garden be very careful! Here is quite a good article about it.This is a cannabis plant and one of the healthiest looking in the garden. A lot of the plants looked a bit unhealthy and undernourished which seemed appropriate somehow. I only noticed the sign when I looked at my photos though-KEEP OFF THE GRASS-ha ha!This is the treehouse-a huge affair containing a cafe and restaurant.And this wobbly bridge-one of two we crossed-every child that passed in the opposite direction shook the bridge! We had fun!Later on, after Jean had gone home, we had our beach walk. The sun was beginning to set and this is the time the Oyster Catchers seem to like the best. They are cute and comical birds who do not eat oysters apparently!Jackdaws on the phone wires. I would love to live by a beach-bliss!
