Who am I?

Even experienced gardeners need supervision at times!

I have worked in horticulture for the past 30 years since leaving school.  I grew up  in a family  of gardeners, so I learnt the value and good taste of home grown food from an early age. My career has been varied, covering many aspects of horticulture, starting with a year long placement training with the National Trust for Scotland at Inveresk Gardens. I then went on to study at Threave School of Gardening near Castle Douglas, this 2 year course resulted in a Diploma in Horticulture and various other qualifications including the RHS Certificate in Horticulture.

Working in the walled garden at Theave, when the summers were long and warm,
we were young and had much to learn

A long long time ago, graduating from Threave School of Gardening in 1989

After leaving college I worked with Dougal Philip in his original garden centre in the ld walled gardens on the Hopetoun estate. Here I worked in the gardens and garden centre gaining much experience in retail horticulture. In 1991 I moved to the Murrel, a 14 acre private estate near Aberdour in Fife as assistant gardener. I became head gardener a year later managing the woodland gardens, water gardens, rose gardens, a walled garden, rockery and vegetable garden ranged around a house designed by a student of Edward Lutyens in his style. It was a fantastic experience covering many aspects of horticulture including propagating plants to sell at the open days through the year. 

Working in the Rhododendron beds in the Murrel, 1992

After a short break to have my eldest son I became head gardener at Annet House museum in Linlithgow where I worked for 7 years. I was given the remit of designing the gardens to reflect plants and gardening in Scotland from the 1500’s onwards. This was a great combination of my interest in Scottish history with plants and gardens, developing fruit beds, herb and vegetable potagers, a cutting garden and writing a small book on the garden and it’s plants. 

I've been published! Excuse the very short hair, about 1996

From Annet house I moved to Binny Plants doing nursery work while my children were young to eventually becoming head gardener running the gardens and with responsibilities in helping run the nursery and working on show stands.

Binny Plants team, Gardening Scotland, 2011

 I worked there for 12 years until November 2014 when I decided it was time for a change. I made decision to take a year out and see where I wanted go and what I wanted to do in life.  This, it turned out was Quercus Garden Plants!

Being my own boss is pretty cool despite the hard work 



Comments

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    Replies
    1. gary-greenfingers.blogspot.com

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