Garden of the Season – Scone Palace
When the gates of Scone Palace reopen in February after the estate’s winter closure, it is always a sign that spring is not far away. Scone, which lies on the northern edge of Perth, is one of the most historic sites in Scotland and it has played an integral part in the story of the nation.
At its heart is Moot HIll, the grassy mound where, for centuries, Scottish kings were crowned.
Today the Stone of Destiny on which they sat is now on permanent display in the new Scone Museum, but the echoes of the past still linger in this beautiful place.
The gardens cover 100 acres of land once occupied by an Augustine monastery and the woodlands are filled with ancient trees, including the very first Douglas Fir to be grown from seed in Scotland.
The Douglas Fir is the tree credited with transforming the UK landscape and its forestry industry, and its significance here is that the seed from which Scone’s tree was grown, was sent back from America by plant hunter, David Douglas, who was himself born on the estate.
Other notable trees at Scone include Hemlocks, Noble Firs, and Sequoias which, over the last two centuries, have matured into large specimens.
Scone is home to the Earls of Murray and they have stamped their personality on the estate in the shape of the Murray Star Maze, a complex labyrinth grown from both green and copper beech. Elsewhere there are shrubberies and a walled garden that once supplied food to the estate.
This month however the focus is on the snowdrops that carpet the ground and on Saturday, 22 February a special Snowdrop Day will take place as part of the Scottish Snowdrop Festival in order to celebrate this annual flowering. On the day visitors will be able to follow a waymarked snowdrop trail through the Friar’s Den and the Victorian pinetum and leading down the old driveway which is lined with towering Lime trees.
Part of the woodland is being prepared for fresh snowdrop plantings and there will be a chance to help the estate gardeners lift, divide and replant bulbs, and to receive a few bulbs to plant at home by way of thank-you.
Meanwhile there will be a small display of specialist snowdrop varieties in the gift shop and the estate cafe will be open daily throughout February so that visitors can warm up with a hot drink after tramping through the woods.
Details:
Scone Palace, Perth, PH2 6BD
Scone Palace Estate is open daily from 10am until 4pm during February and then from 10pm – 5.30pm until 31 October.
Entry to the grounds is free during February.
Car parking: £5
Direction: Scone Palace is two miles north of Perth on the A93.
