Please Grandpa!

Went with a small group of Professional Gardeners' Guild members to two gardens near Peebles today. Peebles is about 25 miles south of Edinburgh. First was Portmore, a wonderful, large and recently restored private garden where we were shown round by the creator herself, the lady of the house. Absolutely wonderful, though the rain began to fall as we crowded into the bothy for tea and biscuits.

Secondly  was Kailzie (pronounced Caley) which is a garden open to the public all the time, with a tea-shop and plant sales and all the usual things. It was pleasant enough, but less personal and not a patch on Portmore. As a` popular wedding venue, there was one on today, which was unfortunate as the rain came down solidly all the time we were there and we were amused by the bridal party in flimsy dresses and stilettos - you should have seen the women! - trying to take photographs on the lawn under dozens of umbrellas. The bride gave a loud and rather rough instruction to her father to 'keep this ***** umbrella over me'!

In spite of my intention of Blipping a lovely garden picture, this one won my personal competition for favourite picture of the day.