Saturday 28 November 2009

Greyfriars Kirk Herb garden revisited

While I was working with the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, I had a meeting with Greyfriars Kirk about a year ago (you can read about it here) to discuss the future of their herb garden. The garden was established many years ago but had fallen into disuse. We visited the garden today as part of the Bank of Reason walk round Edinburgh. It was lovely to see that the Kirk has established a number of herb beds, like the one above. There are beds of culinary herbs and medicinal herbs, plants include camomile, mullein and liquorice. Some of the beds are being edged with sandstone blocks which were otherwise going to be taken to landfill by a local builder.

The walk was very enjoyable and interesting and I'll post more about it over the next week or so (we visited some very interesting gardens!). The weather was very misty for part of the day (see my new banner) and we were accompanied by a banner and two 'trees' (see below).

18 comments:

jarvenpa said...

We would get along well (thank you for stopping by my blog). Gardens--particularly herb gardens, but--well, any gardens--are dear to me. And I have a private imperial project, reclaiming the parking lot strips and empty lots of the town near my bookshop.
I will stop by again for more of your news and photos. Love the costumes!
I'm in redwood country; environmental struggles are part of the air here.

maryt/theteach said...

Looks like a beautiful place to take a walk even in winter... :)

d. moll, l.ac. said...

The new banner is breath taking, must be the mist.....

Michael said...

Loving the new banner. Could be Weathertop.

Melissa B. said...

Oh, everything is so green in your neck of the woods! Thanks so much for sharing these Superior Snaps...

RG said...

We are "trying" to start reading The Mists of Avalon again!

I hope the Bank of Reason inspires some serious action!

Rambling Woods said...

I remember all the misty foggy lakes in Scotland..My sister and I would also be on the lookout for the Lochness monster..old nessie. Your country is one place I would so much like to visit as my memories are only those that an 11 year old would enjoy...Michelle..Love the new banner

Jasmine said...

Thak you for this post. You have shared so much magic x

Reader Wil said...

Herb gardens are very important. My children are always trying to set up herb gardens. Here in Holland the gardens are too small and in Australia the wallabies eat everything especially herbs.
The word kirk in Scotland is our word "kerk", meaning church.I suppose we have more similar words.
Thanks for sharing your post!

Deb G said...

Lovely banner photo and I'm always glad to hear of more herb gardens. I'm planning on planting more herbs next year.

Golden West said...

Let's hope more and more herb gardens take root.

apprentice said...

It looks like they've done a great job, though this weather does nothing for anything. And I love the photos, they really capture these dank, dark winter days.

I have goldfinches on the feeders shining out of the gloom like wee velvet clad footmen.

BlueJayEye said...

More Green Power, Juliet.

Gillena Cox said...

very interesting; hey Juliet Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her husband is here in Trinidad from 27 to 29 for CHOGM 2009 here is a link to a cultural performance for the opening ceremony

http://www.chogm2009.org/video/video_stream.htm

lots of papers on the environment will be presented among other issues

CHOGM Y2K9
the monarch
her gloved hands

much love
gillena

Titus said...

Love the look of the emerging herb garden.

Quite taken with the "Bank of Reason" too, but those costumes just a little too reminiscent of "The Wicker Man" for me!

Cynthia said...

envying your strolls around various
churches & gardens.
yum... the scent of liquorice and
camomile must be wonderfully
refreshing.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Next time you go for this herb walk, I would love to go with you.

I used to grow a lot of things until the computer took me over, now I just enjoy cyber gardens,

Carver said...

What a wonderful walk through the herb garden. I enjoy all of your shots.