Category: LearningPage 9 of 19

Latest blog stories connected with learning at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Gardeners Kitchen – What to cook in August

I have a problem in my house, its botanical name is Cucurbita pepo a.k.a. courgettes. Most sensible gardeners advise that you don’t need more than 3 plants. However…

In memory of Sergeant George Cruickshanks Fallow (1890-1915)

George Cruickshanks Fallow was born to Archibald (a grocer and fruit grower) and Margaret (by 1914 a postmistress) in Rosebank near Dalserf, Lanarkshire on the 5th November 1890. …

What to do in your Fruit and Vegetable Garden in Scotland: AUGUST

Here is a list of jobs to do in the garden this month: Weed regularly to prevent weeds setting seed for next year. Water copiously if we have…

A hive of activity

In recent weeks we’ve seen fantastic progress being made on rebuilding the Botanic Cottage. The final slates are going onto the roof this week, and the pan-tiles are…

Really Wild Veg – or is it just feral veg?

One of the difficulties with studying the wild ancestors of domesticated food plants is knowing if plants are truely wild? Domesticated plants will generally inter-breed quite happily with…

What to do in the your Fruit and Vegetable Garden in Scotland – JULY

There are plenty of jobs to do in July in the garden to ensure a bountiful harvest. Dry spells can greatly influence the quality and yield of fruit…

In memory of Lieutenant Isaac Bayley Balfour [Jr.] (1889-1915)

During the initial few months of the First World War 56 men out of a total male staff of around 88 at RBGE enlisted, rising to 73 by…

In memory of Private William Gordon Dickson (1871-1915)

William G. Dickson joined the staff of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh as a Labourer on the 3rd August 1914, the day before Great Britain declared War on…

Out in the sticks

A train and bus ride see me heading out west to a air pollution monitoring station out on the edge of a small town.  My bus stop is…

On the Bobby’s watch

Surveying in Alloa as part of my project Lichens as Air Quality Indicators led me to a local police station. This is not my first encounter with the…

With the cherry blossom comes the spring

Under a glorious canopy of blossom I find the Stirling’s automatic air pollution monitoring station, (part of the Automatic Urban & Rural Network).  A rather battered looking station,…

In memory of Private Duncan Smith (1884-1915)

Duncan Smith began work at RBGE as a probationer or trainee gardener on the 4th January 1909 at the age of 24, receiving training and work experience in…

What to do in your Fruit and Vegetable Garden in Scotland: JUNE

June is an exciting time in the Edible Garden. Some of the seeds sown earlier this year are finally starting to bear fruit. Peas and broad beans are…

Really Wild Veg – celery added to the 2015 trials

Finally the weather is warming up and seed sowing for the 2015 set of Really Wild Veg trials is now complete. This project, now in its third season,…

Sutherland kale and the Triangle of U

An internet search for Sutherland kale produces quite a lot of hits. This leafy brassica seems to be a bit of a sensation among foody types looking for…

Botanic Cottage: Another milestone

This week sees another milestone in the rebuilding of the Botanic Cottage, with the completion of work on building the stone walls. When the chimney pots are added,…

In memory of Private Thomas Adam (1878-1915)

In researching this series of centenary blogs in which I research each of our former staff members who enlisted during the First World War and are named on our…

Surveying by the sea

  Situated next to the theatre, this is quite a pleasant spot to be surveying in. I’m at the heart of the Musselbrough hustle and bustle, yet within…

Air pollution & nutrient enrichment

Some sites are very quick to survey.  Unfortunately this isn’t a good thing.  It’s quick only because there are literally NO LICHENS to survey. Trees surveyed in this…

In memory of Private Walter Henry Morland (1881-1915)

Walter Henry Morland joined the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) on the 5th January 1910 as a rose specialist. He came to RBGE near the age of 30…