Planticru notes: Dunninald

We visited Dunninald Garden near Montrose last Sunday for their Open Garden Day. We have been several times before but not when the bluebells are in flower. A wood carpeted with blue is always a great attraction. This did not disappoint. The bluebells (with the odd pink or white hybrid) covered the wild garden on either side of the Beech avenue. The avenue once led to an earlier Dunninald House and must have been an imposing way to arrive. We meandered along the paths that dissect the avenue heading for the walled garden.

The walled garden is a hidden treasure set apart from the house as was the custom in the 17th and 18th centuries. Unusually at Dunninald instead of straight walls the south side has sweeping curves which support trained fruit trees. Walled gardens have a great historical significance in gardening history. Many were in their hey day before the first world war and employed a team of gardeners. I wondered how many gardeners had once worked here supplying fruit, vegetables and flowers for the house.

The gate into the garden provides an tantalizing glimpse of the well tended productive garden beyond.
It is kept in immaculate condition. This is amazing on two counts, Firstly because it is so labour intensive and secondly because there are only one or two people looking after it. The plants are thriving and must benefit greatly from the shelter of the walls and woodland and the micro-climate this creates. What a treat to wonder along the many paths admiring the range of fruit and vegetables as well as the herbaceous borders.

Also of note are the elegant 18th Century Glasshouses which shelter the more tender plants and fig tree.The original heating system of pipes is still in evidence but I'm not sure if it is still in use.