Inveresk Lodge Garden

The light was little better than on our last visit to this lovely garden and its unusual C17 lectern sundial, which was transferred from Pitreavie Castle in 1968.
The East Lothian Sundial Trail describes it thus:
This lectern sundial is a star desk type with polar hemi cylinders mounted on a square column. This stands on four balls on a square plinth on top of an octagonal base. This dial was formerly at Pitreavie in Fife and was seen there by Ross*. It was moved here sometime in the early 20th century. As far as lectern dials are concerned, it is second in age only to the lectern dial at Dundas Castle. It is dated 1644 and bears the initials and arms of Sir Henry Wardlaw. This is a significant sundial. 
* Thomas Ross - Ancient Sundials of Scotland 1890.


However, the garden is full of butterflies and other insects, particularly on the many Buddleia bushes but also on a variety of flowering plants and shrubs. A modest collage appears in the extra (Comma, Peacock, Painted Lady and Small White) - by now old faithfuls on blip this year. We saw also a rather tattered Speckled Wood down in the wild meadow garden.

Next time we shall ensure our visit is on a sunny day, to make the best of that unusual sundial.