Author: Kirsty WilsonPage 1 of 2

Garden Highlights 2023

It has certainly been another busy and productive year in the garden for everyone working at The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE). A garden is never static, it…

The Queen Mother’s Memorial Garden

The Queen Mother’s Memorial Garden celebrates the garden’s historical connections with the Royal Family, which date back to RBGE’s origins in 1670 as a Physic Garden at the…

Planting with Nature – A guide to sustainable gardening

Kirsty Wilson Herbaceous Supervisor at RBGE and BBC Beechgrove TV presenter has written a new book that will be launching on 20th April all about how we can…

2022 Garden Highlights

It has certainly been another busy and productive year in the garden for everyone working at The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE). After two years of a pandemic…

Tulipomania

At the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh we were kindly donated 15,000 tulips by Taylor’s Bulbs to create a stunning colourful display leading up to the famous Botanic Cottage…

2021 Garden Highlights

It has certainly been another challenging year for everyone working at The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. However, one positive out of the pandemic is the growing appreciation for…

RBGE/Nature Scot Ikebana installations at COP26

During the United Nations COP26 in Glasgow during November 2021 we created thought-provoking displays of global plant life across 10 negotiating rooms with 55 individual displays. They each…

A Green Wall at Edinburgh Waverley Station for COP26

Bringing nature into our cities is an essential component for a sustainable future. Our disconnection from the natural world is constantly overlooked in the urban world. Greening our…

Autumn from the Air

As I walked around the garden today here at RBGE, there was a real sense of autumn in the air. Golden leaves lay scattered on the ground, the…

Love blue poppies? – a practical guide to growing and propagating Meconopsis

Many people aspire to grow Meconopsis, known as the Himalayan blue poppy, for their vibrant blue flowers in May each year. Meconopsis originate from Sino-Himalaya where they grow…

2020 Garden Highlights

It has certainly been a challenging year for everyone but one positive out of the pandemic is the growing appreciation for our gardens and being out in nature….

A Pictorial Meadow at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

A rainbow of flowers was sown in the middle of spring during the Covid-19 lockdown by Herbaceous Supervisor Kirsty Wilson. At the time only key horticultural staff were…

The Herbaceous Border – a rainbow performance!

The word ‘herbaceous’ means that the plant has non-woody stems that reach their full height and produce flowers within one year. The plant will then die down over…

A Rainbow of Flowers

The rainbow symbol is used to represent peace, hope, joy, inclusion and diversity. During the current global health crisis created by the Covid-19 virus, it has also come…

Sunshine for you!

In early spring, even the smallest bloom is a cause for celebration. Narcissus also known as Daffodils are always the first to arrive in our gardens and what…

Sweet Success

Flowers set on bare branches are a delight in winter, but there are also some evergreen plants that flower. They are a great comfort to the soul during…

2019 Garden Highlights

There is always a ‘plant of interest’ for every month of the year growing in the Living Collection at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Kirsty Wilson, Herbaceous Supervisor…

The Importance of Rain Gardens in a Changing Climate

In the past few years at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) we have experienced changing weather patterns that reflect how climate change will affect Scotland in the…

Winter Interest

During winter many of our herbaceous plants take refuge underground and deciduous trees shed their leaves. This allows the spotlight for rich evergreens and other plants in the…

Incredible Autumn

You may have noticed a slight chill to the air and a softer, golden quality to the morning light, which can only mean one thing: autumn is here….