Dawyck Acers

It was the very last day of our Membership for Dawyck Botanical Gardens. We are not renewing at the moment as sadly dogs aren't allowed there. I already spend about 1.1/2 to 2 hours dog walking every day and don't feel I need to add any more walks to my daily programme at the moment. This morning I mainly went there to do some shopping but couldn't resist a quick tour of the gardens where the acers are putting on a spectacular show.

We will undoubtedly be back, probably in the spring when the Rhododendron and Azalea walk is looking it's best but for the moment we will be walking in the Penicuik Estate where all doggies are more than welcome.

Fresh Green, Blossom and a Kingfisher

View of the Low Pond

It looked and felt a bit more spring like today and we all enjoyed our walk in the Penicuik Estate a lot more than yesterday.

Flora in action

Blossom and fresh green on the trees by the Walled Garden

While strolling along by the Roman Bridge I spotted a flash of turquoise and there it was: a kingfisher. I had never before seen this beautiful bird in the flesh, and it moved way too quickly to take a picture, so we simply stood and looked! A very special moment.

A Sunday Idyll in the Penicuik Estate

Lost Garden of Penicuik

We had a rather dramatic start to the dog walk in the Penicuik Estate, that involved one dog running off  from the car park while we were left in charge of an English Bulldog. All ended well although I had to remove Flora from the scene while it was all going on as she was not too keen on making the acquaintance of the bulldog, so I decided to investigate the Lost Garden of Penicuik. I knew it was there but had somehow never investigated further. You can read more about the history of this place by following this link. It is the New Garden as opposed to the Old Garden that has featured on my blips before as it can be seen from the paths in the Estate. The New Garden (also walled, just like the Old one) was established in the 1870s as the location of the Old Gardens proved to be too cold.

It must have been an utterly magnificent place in it's heyday, but sadly had fallen into disrepair till the Penicuik Community Development Trust took it on in 2012 and started on what they call a 50 year plan.  Originally it was part of the Penicuik Estate.

This fountain is now looking sad and overgrown but in my imagination I could just about envision it spraying water high into the air and it gently dropping back into this lovely basin.

As for the entrance gates, they are a work of art. A return visit will be on the cards very soon, once the growing season is a bit more advanced. There are many more treasures to be found there and I'll return with my Canon in tow. All very inspirational.

Walk

Easter Monday Dog Walk

We did in fact walk twice today (it was so lovely in the sunshine). This morning it was along the old railway line and we spotted 4 deer. Then this afternoon we were back at the Penicuik Estate and had a quick look inside Penicuik House. This is as far as you can go but it gives you an idea of the inside. Many of the walls are still standing and have now been stabilized.

Flora enjoyed tippy toeing over the stone floor but she prefers being out and about on the paths, sniffing around and meeting other dogs. She is getting so confident and today even let someone she didn't know stroke her. Well done, you amazing little girl!

We enjoyed the views and the weather as well as the rurality of the scene with the sheep and their lambs resting in the field by pond.

Penicuik Estate vista

We are walking Flora there as much as possible to get her used to meeting both dogs and people and I am loving it . You can see Penicuik House on the far horizon

Penicuik Estate walk

Penicuik House

The Chinese Gate with in the distance the monument to the Scottish poet Allan Ramsay

In the forest

Penicuik Estate dog walk

Secret Forest Path

Walk in the Penicuik Estate

Both yesterday and today we took Flora for a walk around the Penicuik Estate. I felt she was gaining in confidence and it was time to take her to a place that is a haven for dog walkers to get her more used to meeting both other people and dogs. That is something that doesn't happen often enough in the nearby Deepsyke Forest where we normally walk. Contrary to what it looks like it was quite fresh as a very cold and stiff breeze negated the effects of the sun.

I don't have words for how proud I am of this little girl. When she arrived 4 months and 16 days ago she was afraid of everything, including her own shadow. Very, very slowly she has started to come out of her shell and today she amazed me by meeting 3 large dogs as well as a man (she is much better with women) and gradually saying hello to the dogs and eventually letting the man give her a stroke. Yesterday she even went up to some dogs (small, gentle and calm, she seems to know which ones are okay) and took the initiative in getting acquainted. I blamed the tears in my eyes on the wind but really my heart was swelling with love and admiration. There is still a very long way to go but we have started to walk the path to a happy dog existence.

This is the walled garden of the Estate. Volunteers are gradually restoring it. 

The Estate was looking gorgeous in the sunshine and I am so looking forward to seeing more of it now that Flora is walking so much better and the days will gradually get warmer. I'm already thinking up other outings too. It's so important that Flora is better at socializing as it will make her life (and ours) so much more enjoyable and exciting. 

Sun Reflections

The reflections in the forest and in the fire pond were out of this world!

Sunshine in the Forest

Amazingly this is the same forest we walked in earlier this week when the snow was thick on the ground.

Today it was bathed in glorious sunshine 

Endless Beauty

It's not often that I post twice in one day, but this day was too special and wonderful. After the glorious morning snow it continued to give us blue skies and sunshine. We took Flora for a very long forest walk that she loved and that was breathtaking. We met no one and were walking on virginal snow. No words for so much beauty. So pictures will have to tell the tale. Enjoy!

This last one is my personal favourite. All the pictures this afternoon were taken with an iPhone 6Plus. It did an amazing job.

A Few Isolated Snow Showers

When the weather forecast told us to expect some isolated snow showers overnight, I didn't think I would be greeted by more than 5" of snow when I opened the door this morning to let the dog out. In some places there was substantially more due to drifting. The birds were desperate for their food so I duly obliged.

It was still snowing heavily at that stage and the above picture was taken through the window. Technically it is rubbish but I love the effect and this is what it truly looked like.

Would Flora want to go for her walk? The answer was a resounding yes. It seems we have acquired a bouncy Romanian snow dog. In some places the snow was higher than her but she didn't let that deter her and she soon figured out that walking in our footsteps was the best way to go. However at time she bounced ahead, jumping up above the snow. I didn't manage to capture those moments because I was too nervous about the effect of all that snow and wind on the camera.

 Here she is though: one very small dog out in the big white world. 

 It's now some time later and the sun has come out, interspersed with more snow. Frost is forecast for tonight so it should be an interesting time tomorrow morning. Time to start shovelling some of that snow before the drive becomes a skating ring.

Flora and I however are already looking forward to our next snow walk!