Branklyn Gardens
Top of the list must be Branklyn Gardens signed off Dundee Road less than a mile from the city centre.
The gardens were created in the 1920s by John and Dorothy Renton who had built a house above the banks of the River Tay. They were keen gardeners and wanted a garden that featured rare and unusual plants. Fortunately they knew many plant hunters and were given seeds from China, Tibet, Bhutan and the Himalayas. John designed the gardens and Dorothy was in charge of the plants.
The garden passed to the National Trust for Scotland when John Renton died in 1967.
The gardens extend over about two acres and tumble down the hillside to the river, with a network of gravel paths and steps winding their way through the gardens. They are a delight to explore, with trees, shrubs, herbaceous borders and impressive rock gardens recreating the mountain slopes where many of the plants came from. Everything is labelled and there was hardly a weed in sight.
These really are a garden designed for all seasons with plenty of colour throughout the year. My first visit many years ago was early spring when spring bulbs covered the ground. Going back a few months later, these had been replaced by the wonderful Himalayan blue poppies, dog toothed violets and and rhododendrons.
The last visit was mid September. By then many herbaceous borders are past their best. Not here though as there was still plenty of colour with Michaelmas Daisies and Sedum still in flower. Even on a dull,damp and somewhat misty day, the gardens were still a delight.
There were Colchicum and Nerine lilies along with the autumn colours of the Acers.
There is a small tea room serving very good home made cakes.
There is also an extensive plant sales area by the entrance with a wide range of unusual plants a very reasonable prices. Thbe gardens are well worth a visit.
Riverside Park and the National Heather Collection
Riverside Park extends about a mile along the east bank of the River Tay and is just a short walk from the city centre.
As well as a Nature Park, the gardens are also home to the National Heather Collection. This is the largest heather collection in Scotland with over 650 different species of heather. The gardens have been designed to attract butterflies. On a dull and damp September day, there were no butterflies but the display of heathers along the small stream was a delight. (The gardens are also part of the Perth Art Trail too. )
Rodney Gardens
These really are a hidden gem and if we hadn’t been stopped by traffic as we drove over Queen’s Bridge, I wouldn’t have realised they were there. My eye was caught by the impressive iron archway proclaiming Rodney Gardens.
These are an extension of Riverside park and can also be reached by taking the path skirting round the edge of Kinnoull Churchyard.
The gardens aren’t very big but are a delight with a carefully trimmed knot garden beyond the archway off south street.
Beyond the sculptured pillar is a grassed area with formal flower borders.
There are plenty of seats and on a sunny day it is a delightful place to drop out.