Formal

This is about all that is left of the once-formal garden in Benmore Botanical Gardens - this, and the greenhouse at the foot of this border. Once there were flowers all the way down to the house, and a small ornamental pond with fountain where now the armillary sundial stands; I used to fret that one of my children would fall into it, as we brought both of them here to practice walking when they were small.

So: a blaze of colour against the timeless hills and the blue sky. A peaceful conclusion in which we saw a small, mouse-like creature cross our bath, a red deer slipping down the hillside into Glen Massan, and millions of flying ants ensuring that we kept moving. 

Not as restful, in fact, as one might think ...