Summer at Cawdor Castle - 6

Here we see a lovely woodland walk at Cawdor.



Visitors express surprise that the gardens grow so well, situated as Cawdor is, in a latitude that is geographically north of Moscow, although politically somewhat to the right. The answer is a combination of reasons: the soil is fertile; the climate is tempered by the Gulf stream; the rain-fall, at around 625mm (24 inches) is well distributed through the year; at midsummer there can be 18 hours of sunshine daily; and of course, not least, there is head gardener, Mr Derek Hosie who is quite excellent. Like good cooks, good gardeners are temperamental people and this seems always to have been the case; it is set down that as long ago as 1679 that a new gardener having agreed to come to Cawdor, suddenly refused to go north 'on any account.' Perhaps he thought of the winters.

Happy Feast!