On hearing the first gowk*

Year of Natural Scotland Capricious – whimsical – wayward – fickle – freakish – crotchety, northern springs will either delight or drive you to despair. The last week of May and only now are we seeing the tender pale green leaves of the birch, willow and rowan. In the cool air the buzz of the […]

Waving not drowning

The Hebridean Gardener’s Lament “its cold, wet and windy” or in my case the grumpy gardener blues is yet to be replaced by the sunny morning tuneless whistle as I pull on my red woolly hat and wellies and march off to the garden. In the “edgy islands” spring does not officially start until May […]