Since the day after Christmas, we’ve been under either a stay at home or a stay local (for us – within Glasgow) order. Last week, based on improving COVID numbers, the Scottish government opened up traveling throughout Scotland as far as you can go as long as you return home the same day.
Glasgow is beautiful and does have a lot of green space, but I’ve really been longing to see the Scottish countryside and open spaces. My former work gave us a joint membership to the National Trust for Scotland as a wonderful and very generous parting gift. The National Trust maintains historic properties throughout Scotland – castles, homes, gardens, battle sites, etc.
We looked through the guide and selected something just outside of Glasgow for our first foray – Greenbank Garden.
It was a beautiful, cool and sunny day – perfect for a stroll. Inside the walled garden, there was a large lawn with big shrubs and then behind the lawn, many smaller “rooms”. It was a complete joy to see kids – and their parents – running about playing hide and seek. Lots of nooks to hide.
There were also lovely trees – still just starting to emerge into spring and open views.
As you can tell, it was a great time – enchanting and beautiful. Perhaps my absolute favorite thing was this little stump near the entrance to the property. Full of moss (as so many things are here in this humid climate) and with some big mushrooms growing on it, it absolutely looked like a perfect home for some forest fairies.
In a time where there is so much loss and suffering, I hope you too are finding restorative breaks – whatever they may be – to replenish your hope and wonder. Much love to you all.
I’m so glad you got out to explore a bit. What a great gift from your former employer – & now you’ll get to use it more. Thanks for the photos!