Archive 

The Swells will return for a third year to perform their latest show "Love, Loss & Chemistry". A popular cabaret style evening of songs and stories. BYOB.

Tickets £12 (plus £1.70 booking fee) from Eventbrite

The introduction of rhubarb into Edinburgh by Sir Alexander Dick and links to the arrival of the printing press.

Kath Hay has worked within the publishing industry for more than 45 years, with book, periodical and newspaper publishers in London, Melbourne and Edinburgh.  She was also appointed Head of PPA Scotland – the Professional Publishers Association, a post she held for 12 years.  Currently, she is the Managing Editor of a local community magazine.

This season’s Winter Talks will take place on the first Thursday of the month from 10 October 2024 to 3 April 2025 (with the exception of January); refreshments afterwards.

The talks are free, but a donation to Dr Neil’s Garden would be welcomed.

The upper and lower rooms of Thomson's Tower will be open to the public as part of Edinburgh Doors Open Days this year. The hexagonal two storey tower was built in 1825 for the Duddingston Curling Society by the famous Edinburgh architect William Playfair.

The lower room which houses a Museum of Curling has been closed to the public since the Covid pandemic, but we will  spruce it up and have the story of curling at Duddingston on display once again.     

View the National Doors Open Days Programme

This event of around 300 horses and riders will take place again this year. Around 3pm, horses and riders will pass through Duddingston Old Church Lane on their way to The Royal Mile. Come and enjoy the day in the Garden, then watch this spectacular event. The Garden Cafe will be open from 1pm to 4pm for refreshments including some home baking.  All monies from that day will go towards the upkeep of Dr Neil's Garden.

The Secret Garden Exhibition showcases the work of three young Edinburgh-based artists. Although their work each uses a different medium, it is linked by a reverence for nature and all things botanical.

Chlomo Hutcheson, a graduate of Chippendale International School of furniture, works with sustainably sourced Scottish woods to produce a range of elegant lathe turned vessels.

Rosalind Sumner’s exquisite handcrafted jewellery is a study in miniature detail of flora and fauna, creating heirloom pieces in both gold and silver.

Phoebe Hutcheson, a floral artist, expresses her love of flowers through striking framed pressings and handmade brass blooms.

The theme of Fiona’s exhibition for the week is ‘CAPTURED’ – colours  and shapes from Duddingston to India – mixed media based on photographic  images.

(Private View Saturday 17 August, 11am to 4pm)

DAVID MORE

David More is a black and white landscape photographer working in film.

PAT PAIGE and KATE GRAY

Pat Paige’s work is inspired by the landscape and is  concerned with expressing a particular moment and place well through observation, sketches, memory drawing and paintings before being able to  express herself in a more abstract and painterly way. This work was inspired by the rocks, sea and movement of the Lanzarote coast.

Kate Gray is fascinated by the curious beauty of seaweed! She focuses on form and colour to create paintings which are sometimes quite representational, and sometimes verge on the abstract.

GILLIE WELSTEAD ~ AMANDA McGRATTAN ~ CAMERON MURDOCH ~ EVE SMITH ~ BRIGID COLLINS ~ MAURICE GALLAGHER ~ JOHN ROBERTSON

A group of jewellers come together with guests for this exciting Summer Exhibition.

HARRY MAFUJI

Returning for the third year to Dr Neil’s Garden, Harry Mafuji’s painting exhibition consists of a variety of beautiful landscapes, flowers, shrubs and more.

Scotland’s Garden Scheme raises money for charity by encouraging, promoting and supporting Garden openings.

Dr Neil’s Garden is delighted to be a part of this Scheme for Edinburgh. We hope you will come along and enjoy the garden.

Garden Cafe Open until 4pm  |  Plants for sale in our nursery

SORRY, THIS FREE WORKSHOP IS NOW SOLD OUT

Come and enjoy a relaxing hand stitching session at Dr Neil’s Garden brought to you by the Edinburgh Mindful Stitchers. You will find out more about the Japanese craft of mending and stitching to repair and reuse clothes and fabric using running stitch.

The workshop is for people over 16 and you do not need any previous sewing experience. All materials will be provided.

John B Maher will be exhibiting a fascinating collection of photographs.

Our Winter Talk on The Rise of Rhubarb scheduled for this Thursday 7 March, has unfortunately had to be cancelled due to ill health.

The next Winter Talk will take place on Thursday 4 April 2024 at 7.30pm in the Miller Hall (Cafe). The talk is titled ‘Dr Elsie Inglis: The woman who wouldn’t sit still.' Eliza Maud “Elsie” Inglis (1864-1917) was a Scottish medical doctor, surgeon, teacher, suffragist, and founder of the Scottish Women’s Hospitals.

Our Winter Talks are free, but a donation to Dr Neil’s Garden woud be welcomed. The Winter Talks take place on the first Thursday of the month until April 2024 (with the exception of January).

Last Spring and Summer was our most successful year so far for  exhibitions in the Upper Room of the Tower. I hope you were able to get along to some of these. It kicked off with our Artist in Residence, Brigid Collins, completing her year as Artist in Residence with an exhibition which was a fantastic opportunity to see and buy the work  that the garden had inspired during her year.

Some very exciting ‘Breaking News’.  We have been fortunate in securing a grant to carry out necessary maintenance to the Thomson Tower. This grant will allow specialist treatment to the walls. It  will not only protect the Tower but improve the look both externally and  internally. We are thrilled, and very grateful to FCC Communities Foundation for this. We will keep you informed of our progress.

All the artists have found the Tower to be the most idyllic exhibition space. Whether professional artists or amateurs exhibiting for the first time, all have only had positive things to say about their  experience. If you, or anyone you know, would like more details of hiring the Tower for an exhibition, please contact Barbara Anderson at banderson456@hotmail.co.uk

Speaker: Dorie Wilkie

Dorie was the Great Tapestry of Scotland stitcher coordinator. She took on the huge job of recruiting and organising one thousand stitchers – making the tapestry one of the world’s largest community arts projects. The tapestry is now housed in a purpose-built museum in Galashiels.

Last few tickets remaining (£5). Please contact banderson456@hotmail.co.uk to reserve a ticket.

The Winter Talks take place on the first Thursday of the month until April 2024.

Days of Drawing, Reading and Reflection with Brigid Collins.

Note: additional day between the two shown above is 17 February.

Fee: £250 for all three days (includes a donation to the garden).

Over three days, as we gently ease out of our individual and collective Wintering, we will spend time in the quiet lochside  surroundings of Dr. Neil’s Garden, together considering our place in the world by sharing in poetry and other writings, conversation, reflection  and drawing.

We will each make a simple concertina book, as a container for our personal reflections, with a view to gathering these together in an unfolding that parallels our collective experience.

Places are limited. It may be possible to attend for only some of the days, although ‘drop-in’ is not encouraged, so that we can form a close group; however, do please ask!

To book or find out more about workshops, please visit brigitcollinsart.com or email mail@brigidcollins.co.uk

WORKSHOPS NOW FULLY BOOKED

We are delighted to offer again this year our ever popular Christmas Wreath Making Workshops.

Claudia Pottier, our Head Gardener, will give a demonstration and be on hand to encourage and help throughout.

All materials for the wreaths and decorations are provided, along with tea/coffee and homemade cake. We advise you bring gardening gloves and secateurs. 

Booking Essential – please contact Dorothy Blacklock at dorothy.blacklock@btinternet.com

After last year’s success with ‘Love, Loss & Dating’, The Swells  are back with their most recent show  which was performed at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.

‘Roving Mad’ is an evening of Jazz Cabaret with stories and song about travel to odd places, meeting odd people and having odd experiences.

BYOB – soft drinks available.

Tickets: £12 from banderson456@hotmail.co.uk or from Eventbrite

Why not become a ‘Friend of the Garden’ for only £15  per annum? As a Friend of the Garden, you will be supporting the  maintenance and future development of this extraordinary garden. Application form is available from Barbara Anderson, please email banderson456@hotmail.co.uk

In this talk, Mike Lewis describes the route that Robert Louis Stevenson reputedly took from Edinburgh’s New Town to Swanston and the Pentlands.

Refreshments will be served afterwards.

The talks are free, but a donation to Dr Neil’s Garden would be welcomed.

We now have the list of next season’s Winter Talks which will take place on the first Thursday of the month from 5th October 2023 to 4 April 2024 (with the exception of January); refreshments will be served afterwards.

The talks are free, but a donation to the Dr Neil’s Garden would be welcomed.

Take a look the exciting and varied list of topics below – be sure mark the dates in your diary...

Thursday 5 Oct 2023  Jewels of the Forth  |  Ian Archibald  |  

The Firth of Forth has been for centuries one of the major gateways to Edinburgh and Scotland from Scandinavia and the Baltic. This presentation shines a spotlight on the deserted islands of the Forth. All within viewing distance of the land, many of these abandoned islands are home to tales that deserve to be better known.

Thursday 2 Nov 2023  Robert Louis Stevenson’s Road to Swanston and the Pentland Hills  |  Mike Lewis  |  

This talk describes the route that Robert Louis Stevenson reputedly took from Edinburgh’s New Town to Swanston and the Pentlands.

Thursday 7 Dec 2023  The Falklands War 1982 – A Fighting Royal Marine’s Perspective  |  Brigadier Iain Gardener  |  

Ian Gardiner was a rifle company commander in 45 Commando and he ‘yomped’ with his Marines across East Falkland and captured the Two Sisters mountain in a furious night battle. He will explain many of the wider aspects of the war as well what it was like to take men into battle in this most challenging of environments.

Thursday 1 Feb 2024  The Great Tapestry of Scotland  |  Dorie Wilkie  |  

Dorie was the stitcher coordinator. She took on the huge job of recruiting and organising one thousand stitchers – making the tapestry one of the world’s largest community arts projects.

Thursday 7 Mar 2024  |  The Rise of Rhubarb  |  Kath Hay  |  

The introduction of rhubarb into Edinburgh by Sir Alexander Dick and links to the arrival of the printing press. Dr Neil’s Garden has an interesting connection to this story.

Thursday 4 Apr 2024  Dr Elsie Inglis  |  Lesley Orr  |  

The woman who wouldn’t sit still! Eliza Maud “Elsie” Inglis (1864 – 1917) was a Scottish medical doctor, surgeon, teacher, suffragist, and founder of the Scottish Women’s Hospitals.

Speaker: Ian Archibald

The Firth of Forth has been for centuries one of the major gateways to Edinburgh and Scotland from Scandinavia and the Baltic.

This presentation shines a spotlight on the deserted islands of the Forth. All within viewing distance of the land, many of these abandoned islands are home to tales that deserve to be better known.

Our Winter Talks are free, but a donation to Dr Neil’s Garden would be welcomed.

The Winter Talks take place on the first Thursday of the month until April 2024 (with the exception of January). See 'Programme of Winter Talks' below.

The Riding of the Marches through Edinburgh is a cavalcade of almost 300 horses accompanied by pipe bands making their way to the Royal Mile where up to 20,000 people will line the streets to see them.

However, for a better view and close-up experience, make you way to Duddingston Village where you can see the procession as they make their way through King’s Park to the Royal Mile. They should be in the village around 3pm.

Why not come and make an afternoon of it by visiting Dr Neil’s Garden where you can enjoy these special attractions to mark the occasion:

- Music from the wonderful The Tubby Horse Company (in the Garden)

- Art Exhibition by Kenny Macalister and Helen Orr (in Thomson’s Tower)

- Plants and Bric-a-brac sale

- Delicious home baking and refreshments in the The Garden Café (open from 1pm)

Kenny Macallister and Helen Orr both hail from the West of Scotland.

They have led parallel lives but now come together to exhibit art that reflects their interpretation of life, travelling and working in South India and Scotland.

Their art describes the chaos and colour of street life in India as well as the remote and wild landscapes of Scotland.

Kenny Macallister spent his formative years on the west of Scotland and spent his career as an exploration geologist living for several years in south India and Egypt. A self-taught artist working with acrylic and experimenting with oils, ink and charcoal, he describes the chaos and colour of street life in India in this exhibition and introduces some literary inspiration from Robert Burns and others.

Helen Orr is a self-taught contemporary Scottish artist who has a distinctive abstract style which captures the mood of a place. Helen’s art evokes a sense of escape: the smell of the wind, the rolling of the sea, the threat of the storm, the escape of the water and the warmth of the sand. Helen paints mainly in oils on canvas or board and sometimes in mixed media using acrylics, oils and ink. Her recent work, inspired by time spent living in California, explores the human form in water, floating, diving and swimming with strong aquamarines and dancing reflections on water.

Àite Naomh / Sacred Place is an exhibition by Alicia Hendrick showing the original drawings and prints produced from a funded residency on the Isle of Iona through the Columcille Legacy Award and the subsequent installation entitled Leabaidh rìoghail do Chalum Cille / A royal bed for Columba at Cobhan Cùildeach (The Hermits Cell) funded by VACMA award. Both awards were administered by CHARTS.

I grew up in Argyll on the Kilmahew Estate, Cardross, trained at Glasgow School of Art and recently moved to Edinburgh. I am delighted to be able to show this work at Thomson’s Tower at Dr Neil’s Garden and look forward to spending time in the garden drawing.

This exhibition features pieces by Jane Raven produced during a ceramics throwing course she attended in Tuscany in early 2023. The pieces will be accompanied by still-life photos taken by Jane of the ceramics, which she has turned into prints involving collage.

There will also be a few pieces of mosaic on display by the well-known mosaic artist Helen Miles: 

see helenmilesmosaics.org

Find out more about Jane’s artwork at Jane Raven Art at: janeravenart.co.uk

The ‘Sparkle’ Exhibition is a showcase of five local Edinburgh jewellers with a variety of disciplines including silver work, Viking weave, enamels and stone setting.  The jewellers taking part are:     

- Amanda McGrattan of A McGrattan Jewellery

- Cameron Murdoch of Cam Life Designs

- Eve Smith of Silvermeadows

- Gillie Welstead

- Jo Reeves

Harry Mafuji and Patrick Poon, respectively a painter and photographer, both Edinburgh based, share a love of nature and landscape. We hope this exhibition will enable you to see the natural world with fresh eyes.

The exhibition is also an opportunity to compare two art forms: painting and photography. These are usually very different in style but in this case we think the painterly style of the photographs sits comfortably with the landscape and still life paintings.

Days of Drawing, Reading and Reflection with Brigid Collins

“Tender discoveries…whose ‘finding’ in some small way rearranges psyche and understanding.” (Conversations with Jane Hirshfield, in Beshara Magazine, Arts & Literature Issue 20, 2022)

We will weave drawing, literature and poetry into conversation – looking outwards, as well as a looking inwards – first, by spending quiet time drawing, reading and reflecting and then coming together at points throughout each day. It may be possible to attend for only some of the days, although ‘drop-in’ is not being encouraged, so that we can form a close group. However do please ask.

To book or to make an enquiry contact Brigid: mail@brigidcollins.co.uk  Mobile: 07814 021961  https://brigidcollinsart.com  For further details see https://suchfragilefutures.brigidcollinsart.com

Working with Amphibian and Reptile Conservation we’re HOPPING you can join us for an afternoon of Amphibian Adventures. This is NEWT to be missed!

We will feature face painting and kid’s pond dipping.

We are delighted to present "Macro Landscape: Nature in close-up".

Please come along and see the wonderful photography from John B Maher.

See John B Maher Photography 

Eric Melvin takes us through the story of Duncan Napier.

Duncan’s story is one of real courage in adversity. His journals describe a very tough childhood. A chance encounter with an Edinburgh lawyer, the philanthropist John Hope, rescued him from a life of toil, poverty and despair.

Thanks to John Hope, Duncan received an education; was introduced to Christianity and was persuaded to give up alcohol. Another stroke of luck introduced Duncan to herbalism and it is John Hope who helped him open his first shop in 1860.

This illustrated talk will recount Duncan’s struggles against the odds to succeed and in doing so, give a rare authentic working-class description of life in the overcrowded Old Town of Edinburgh.

As always these talks are free but donations are welcome.

Starting the 2023 series of Winter Talks we have Alison Sheridan.

This will highlight recent important discoveries, excavations and developments that change our understanding of the Neolithic (New Stone Age) period in Scotland – from ancient DNA analysis of human bones to the latest finds from the Ness of Brodgar in Orkney.

There is no charge nor booking arrangement for these talks but donations towards the upkeep of the Garden on the night would be welcome.

We are holding our annual Christmas Wreath making workshops again this year. 

Led by our gardener, Claudia Pottier, these will take place on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th December from 12:00 to 16:00. 

The cost is £40 which includes all materials and refreshments and will take place in the Millar Hall (Garden cafe). 

Spaces are limited. If you would like to book a place, please contact:  dorothy.blacklock@btinternet.com

Dr Neil’s Garden are proud to present a cabaret evening by The Swells, “Love, Loss & Dating“.

Following their success at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, The Swells, three men of a certain age, will tell their story of Love, Loss & Dating. 

Almost everyone has known love, lost someone they loved and been on a date, so join them on this gentle humorous journey with some beautiful, moving and fun songs from the past and more recent.

Tickets £10 from Eventbrite or email: banderson456@hotmail.co.uk

Based on professional visits to national parks and nature reserves in 30 countries, Roger reviews the critical issues facing them such as wildlife crime, deforestation, tourism, and how to address them to ensure their perpetual protection.

There is no charge nor booking arrangement for these talks but donations towards the upkeep of the Garden on the night would be welcome.

An exhibition of work by Fiona Storey, considering feelings and the symbolism of colours.

Fiona graduated from Edinburgh College Of Art in 2003 with a BA Hons Degree in Design and Applied Arts.

Her abstract paintings are inspired by colour, nature and life by the beach.

The eagle-eyed will already have spotted a flax patch growing this year in our Physic Garden. Flax is the plant from which fibres can be extracted to process into linen, using methods known for generations in Scotland, and throughout the world. But what relevance today for this ancient fibre crop?

This Flax Futures exhibition explores the exceptional potential of flax fibre across well-being, community, future heritage, biodiversity, textile production and material innovation.

Curator John Ennis hopes to encourage attendees to move beyond ideas of sustainability towards regenerative design, walking more lightly on the earth, engaging in issues of local resilience and climate change. John will be on hand to offer a series of Flax Chats with special guests throughout the programme: full details on the Journeys in Design Eventbrite channel.

Jane Raven is an artist who has a studio in Edinburgh. She works with prints and ceramics and gets her inspiration from the natural world.

Her images include insects, birds and flowers which makes Dr Neil's Garden the perfect setting for her work.

She also works with glass and stone and there will be examples of these on show as well.

Harry Mafuji studied art in Tokyo and then London. More recently he studied art history in Edinburgh, focusing on the interaction of Japan and Britain in the late 19th century. 

Harry comments that the exhibition “reflects my everyday life in the city where I constantly see something new that inspires a painting”.

Artist Brigid Collins will talk about her time as Artist in Residence at Dr. Neil’s Garden and the work being developed from this, inspired by Christine De Luca’s poems, evolving alongside Brigid’s artworks.

Poet Christine De Luca writes in English and Shetlandic, her mother tongue. She was appointed Edinburgh’s Makar for 2014-2017. She has had eight poetry collections published, the most recent of which, Veeve (2021), is currently longlisted for The Highland Book Prize. Previously, Dat Trickster Sun, (2014), also from Mariscat, Edinburgh, was shortlisted for the UK-wide Michael Marks Award. She also has five bi-lingual volumes published (French, Italian, Icelandic, Norwegian and English) and a tri-lingual pamphlet of poems of Eugénio de Andrade (Portuguese, English and Shetlandic). She is a member of Shore Poets, Edinburgh. Christine enjoys collaborating with musicians, most recently with jazz composer Tommy Smith – and artists, most recently Victoria Crowe and Brigid Collins.

Tickets £15, purchased at the door. You will have the opportunity to view Brigid’s exhibition in Thomson's Tower at the end of the talk. The Talk will take place in the Kirk Hall and the Poetry Walk will take place in Dr. Neil’s Garden. N.B. If the weather is very bad, Christine will give her poetry reading in the Kirk Hall.

An exhibition by Brigid Collins who says:

“During my time as Artist in Residence at Dr. Neil’s Garden you are likely to have spotted me 'dropping down' to observe, learn from and converse with the wonderful plants that live here, so freely, among the grasses that line the shore of Duddingston Loch, tended by inspiring gardener, Claudia Pottier (another artist) and supported by a crew of hard-working volunteers. I am also in conversation with poet Christine De Luca and others, who are finding words, arising from conversations between ourselves, the plants and our mutual responses to this very special place as the world has been going through what feel to be exceptional times…

"The poet John Clare (1793-1864) spoke of 'dropping down' in order to see nature as it might appear to other beings: he dropped down to view the world and I am trying to allow myself to do this – slowing down, dropping down, cultivating seeing as heeding – because I feel a need more strongly than ever to study, attune to and learn from what is happening in nature, all around me.”

This exhibition of Brigid’s artwork towards the end of her time as Artist in Residence, includes works inspired by the garden and poems by Christine De Luca and others.

An exhibition of art created from archival fabric designs.

After years of sourcing and supplying print designs to fashion and interior designers, the pandemic alongside moving to Portobello presented Regg with a challenge and opportunity to reimagine how to work with the archival fabric designs.

Working from a private collection, his driving motivation was that these drawings had to see the light of day one way or another! Regg sees himself has a custodian and curator and it is his pleasure to be the conduit that shares these reworked and restored limited edition designs.

Regg says “I was taken by Dr Neil’s Garden – a beautiful jewel hiding in plain sight – from the first moment that I visited and there could be no better or more fitting place for my debut exhibition!”

Come along to Duddingston Kirk Hall and browse, buy and have a cuppa.

We have a great collection of Bags, Scarves, Handbags, Hats and Jewellery (no shoes) for sale at bargain prices.

As well as raising funds for the garden, we are encouraging you to buy pre-loved items rather than new. At Dr Neils Garden we are very aware of the damage being done to our planet through climate change (no curling on the Loch for many years!). The production of clothing and accessories contributes to this.

We have recently joined forces with Edinburgh University who are monitoring the garden for various emissions to the air along with other environmental issues.

Admission £3; free for children up to 16.

As well as small independent gardens like ourselves, many of the gardens open under the SGS are privately owned and normally inaccessible to the public. 60% of funds raised go to charities nominated by each garden owner, with the remainder being donated to SGS.

To find out more about Gardens Open under this scheme visit: www.scotlandsgardens.org

The Garden cafe will be open on both days with all proceeds going to Christian Aid.

An exhibition of small pieces of tapestry weaving by local artists.

The Happiness Project: our creative response to dark times.

John Maher is a semi-professional photographer. In recent years he has been printing his images onto aluminium because of the three dimensional quality and clarity this medium provides.

The prints are also light-fast, scratch resistant & waterproof.

Also exhibited are a selection of Giclée inkjet mounted prints.

Once more we are hosting the popular Christmas wreath making workshops.

Claudia Pottier, our Head Gardener, will give a demonstration and be on hand to encourage and help throughout. All materials for the wreaths and decorations are all provided along with tea/coffee and homemade cake.

We advise you to bring gardening gloves and secateurs.

Cost £35; this includes all materials and refreshments.

Dr. Neil’s Garden is pleased to participate in the Scottish International Storytelling Festival. Hosted by Donald Smith with guest storyteller James Spence.

Enjoy family and parallel adult sessions of stories in one of Edinburgh’s wonderful community gardens.

Suitable for accompanied children 3-7, or for adults interested in garden settings and stories.

This is a free event, donations to Dr. Neil’s Garden would be appreciated.

Parking is available in Holy Rood High School car park between 11:15am and 5:30pm. As normal NO dogs are allowed in the Garden other than assistance dogs.

IN THE MARQUEE

MC : Steve Harvey—Duddingston Kirk’s Poet-in-Residence

    12:00 Opening by Ian Rankin

    12.15 The Aberlady Moonshine Orchestra

    13:00 Brian Gibbs with Jessica Gibbs & Mike McGeary 

    14:00 The Tubby Horse Company

    15:00 Rosie Nimmo & band

    16:00 Raffle drawn

    16:15 The Aberlady Moonshine Orchestra

    17:00 Close

IN DUDDINGSTON KIRK

    12:30 Veda Runge (violin), Tricia Whyatt (piano) and Colette Woods (flute and vocals)

    12:15 Dr Bashabi Fraser, CBE reading her poetry

    14:15 The Wintones

    15:00 Alfred Leishman (classical guitar)

    15:15 June Nelson (fiddle) and Mike McGeary (guitar)

IN DR NEIL’S GARDEN, BY THE DIPPING POND AT THE FAR SIDE OF THE GARDEN

 A programme of children’s entertainment.

    12.:30 Clunie Mackenzie and Pete Baynes Stories and songs

    13:15 Gordon the Magician, Magic show

    14:30  Clunie Mackenzie and Pete Baynes will be back to singalong with children and the young at heart.

    15:30 Gordon the Magician is back.

IN TIMES SQUARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN

    13:45 Veda Runge (fiddle) and Tricia Whyatt (clarsach) will play a selection of Scottish airs and other Celtic music

    15:00 Arksong – The music of singer/songwriter, Marc Pilley

IN THOMSON’S TOWER’S UPPER ROOM

    12:45 The Painting Minister and his world. Presenters: Jacquetta Megarry and Keir Bloomer 

    14:30 The Painting Minister and his world. Jacquetta Megarry and Kier Bloomer (repeat of 12.45 talk)

ALL DAY:  Stalls, raffle, tombola, plant sales and refreshments. Some stalls require cash payment.

N.B. There is no performance on 21st, 22nd or 23rd of August.

Join us again for the award winning show ‘The Garden of Delight’ in Dr Neil’s Garden.

This is an ecological-themed promenade play for children aged 4-10 years old and their families.

Tickets £7 or £20 for a family of 4. Order tickets through the Edinburgh Fringe Box Office www.edfringe.com or at the door.

We’re pleased to present a new exhibition of Nature Paintings by Harry Mafuji.

We have recently appointed for the first time an Artist in Residence, Brigid Collins, who for the next year will use the Garden and Tower for inspiration in her art work, carry out workshops in the Tower and hold an exhibition next May.

Brigid Collins is an Artist and Educator, based in Edinburgh. She came to Scotland to study Illustration as a post-graduate at Edinburgh College of Art from her home in Ireland, having studied in Dublin and worked as an Archaeological Illustrator on Viking excavations in the city of Waterford. Brigid now practices as a Visual Artist and is passionate about weaving poems and plants together in her work.

Alongside her Visual Art practice, Brigid is a visiting lecturer in the Illustration department at Edinburgh College of Art, course leader of the School’s Outreach Programme at Leith School of Art and External Examiner for the Art & Design Foundation course at The International College in the University of Dundee. She has also devised and led workshops with diverse groups, including at Cornton Vale women’s prison, with displaced Syrian women at The University of Stirling and with delegates at The Expressive Therapies Summit at UCLA, Los Angeles.

Having collaborated with poets of international acclaim, Brigid’s publications include Frissure (Polygon, 2013), in collaboration with award winning poet and essayist, Kathleen Jamie; For A’ That: A Celebration of Burns (2010) with contemporary poets and writers, including DBC Pierre and Kirsty Gunn; A place where thought happens (2006), with poet, Larry Butler and Jewellery Designer, Teena Ramsay and Room to Rhyme.

We are delighted to open the garden doors to the public this Saturday and Sunday as part of the Scotland’s Garden Scheme.  An annual event which we had to miss out on last year. 

Entry cost is £3 (children under 16 go free). 

Plants will be for sale from the nursery and take away tea’s, coffee’s and snacks will be available from the café.

The garden is looking spectacular and we welcome all our friends back to enjoy it.

So what’s been happening in the Garden?

As you can imagine, Claudia and her team of volunteers having been working hard.

The photos show: workers and wheelbarrows; amending paths; reseeding; improving drainage.