What a Place to Park a Pineapple!

Off for a short run round this afternoon, we ended up at The Pineapple. This curiously beautiful building is just a little north of Airth on the A905. Part of a walled garden, the Pineapple forms a section of the north wall which originally supported a long row of glass-houses growing, you guessed it, pineapples. These fruits were,at one time, exceedingly exotic and to be able to provide some for dinner parties was a sign of serious wealth. The pineapple subsequently became a symbol of welcome; see all the gate and fence-post finials in stylised pineapple shape.
There was a swallows nest above one of the inside doors and the swallows were zooming in, out and around us as we watched.
The garden is now mostly in grass and trees and provides a good space for dogs to run and play safely.
National Trust for Scotland look after this building and have refurbished it to provide a couple of flats available for holiday lets - very novel.
See also MaggieD's blip today for another photo and the family connection to pineapples.