Scottish Gardener, The

‘At last, a readable and spirited book which relates the gardens to the character of their creators and the prevailing forces and fashions which shaped them’ – Angus Grossart, The Herald

‘a very special book’ – Scots Magazine

‘beautiful’ – Country Living

Gardens have been created to fulfil many functions: some to provide food or medicine, others for pleasure and recreation or simply to reflect the wealth and status of their creators. This lavishly illustrated book celebrates the extraordinary diversity of Scottish gardens and their creators, whether they be herbalists, plant collectors, nurserymen, botanists, artists or amateurs. It also traces the development of different types of garden – monastic gardens, royal gardens, walled gardens and town and village gardens – through the ages.

By focusing on around sixty in detail, out of the thousands of Scottish gardens, Suki Urquhart examines the distinctive tradition of Scottish gardening, how it has developed over time, and how it has been shaped by climate, conflicts and changing fashions. Since the emphasis is very much on how gardeners stamp their own character on their gardens, it is private rather than public gardens which are featured here. Information is given on visiting the gardens. 

Visit the Baltersan Castle website to learn more about the magnificant gardens and landscape featured in The Scottish Gardener.

Suki Urquhart started gardening in the Far East. In the mid 1970s she moved back to her native Scotland where she gardened around a sixteenth-century tower house. Since then she has lived and created gardens for herself throughout Scotland. She became a full-time garden designer in the 1980s and she has worked as a freelance garden and features writer for numerous magazines and newspapers since 1996.

Ray Cox’s family has been involved in horticulture for three generations. He is a full-time garden and plant photographer whose work has been published in a wide range of magazines, newspapers, books, websites, calendars and greetings cards throughout Europe and America.