Summer in Abbotsford's Gardens

Abbotsford’s gardens have something for everyone, making a visit the perfect summer day out for families, garden lovers, curious minds, and anyone seeking a little moment of peace and wellbeing in nature.

'The rose is fairest when't is budding new'  -Sir Walter Scott (The Lady of the Lake)  

Scott approached the design of Abbotsford’s outdoor spaces with as much thought and imagination as the interior of the house. Scott’s original ‘outdoor rooms’ incorporated a kitchen garden, vinery, a canopied pathway with architectural features inset into the wall, and a wild planted area towards the south. Although modified over the years, the layout is still fundamentally the same and Scott’s eclectic outdoor furnishings are very much a feature. Where else would you find an expansive gothic arcade as a backdrop to a sunken garden where a statue of the character Morris from Scott’s novel Rob Roy cuts a dramatic figure on bended knee? The theatrical is all around including a ‘Juliette’ balcony at Scott’s bedroom window, and a ‘Rapunzel’ tower overlooking the River Tweed. The three enclosed outdoor spaces function like rooms, each with their own character, purpose, and mood. 

Soft furnishings 
Softening these architectural features, Abbotsford’s outdoor rooms are also furnished with herbaceous borders, successional planting which promises colour throughout the year, and there is always scent in the air from Musk Roses such as Felicia, or Gentle Hermione. Head Gardener Tim Owen describes the Abbotsford garden as offering both ‘light and shade’ in that the experience can be both tranquil and stirring, much like one of Scott’s romantic novels. 

The Mindfulness Garden, funded by a generous donation from a private donor, tucked serenely in the north of the Morris Garden, is filled with soothing pastel colours, textural plants, and the gentle sound of water and wildlife. For the ‘wow’ factor, visitors can ascend the narrow Gothic staircase in the northeast corner and take in the panoramic view of the meadows running down to the River Tweed and across to the lush rolling hills. And of course, the recently restored Pavilion and Furnace House opened last year, is a treasure trove of sensory discoveries for all ages.

A garden of discovery
There’s always something new to discover in the garden rooms. This year’s planting around the statue of Morris – Geraniums, Poppies, Lavender-Leaf Sage, and Orange Geum – is proving to be a big attraction for insect life. In the Walled Garden, the cut flower bed welcomes Larkspur, Nigella, Sweet William and Snapdragons. The diverse planting echoes Scott’s passion for natural beauty and biodiversity, making Abbotsford’s gardens a haven for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. 

Don’t forget your Friends of Abbotsford or Circle membership, as well as Abbotsford Unlimited tickets, all give you access to Abbotsford’s house, chapel, gardens and Witch Corner during the open season.