Flowers
Flowers
 One of my co-workers, Sandra Wall, is an avid gardener and follower of my travels. (Her husband, John, lived for a year in Scotland and recently completed a book, "The Secret of St. Andrews" set in St Andrews, Caithness and here in Jackson, TN. You'll have to read the book to get the tie in. And know a little local history.) Today, as we were discussing her garden, she suggested that I might display more of myflower photos from my travels. So, Sandra, here they are, from my camera to God's eye.
Dunrobin Castle
 The summer of 2008, l joined my friend, Sharon Campbell, in a brief trip to north in Scotland through Caithness to the Orkney Islands. One of our first stops was Dunrobin Castle near Golspie (a site in John's book and one of the locations in "Tramps & Hawkers"). Now, I'm sure rot every castle has a garden, but everyone I've seen has, including Dunrobin. The Garden viewed from the Castle ‍ They often include veges with the flowers, here some cabbages The gardens include benches, hedges and stonework.
Mainland, The Orkney Islands
 We all have those days that we consider “red letter” days. I spent a little over 24 hours on the island of Mainland in the Orkneys and it was truly one of the most memorable of my life.
Thistle among the clover and wildflowers. Heather, Broom, Scapa Flow & Sheep
Abbotsford
 Abbotsford is the home of Sir Walter Scott, truly a renaissance man of his time. A traveler, novelist and contemp-orary of Burns, Byron, Wordsworth, and Southey . . . and apparently he was also a passable gardener.





The Borders, Melrose & Floors Castle
 The lovely town of Melrose lies in the Borders near the banks of the River Tweed. tt is most notable to me for being the home of Mr. Barry Austin, noted Coachman and Guide. (In one of those strange coincidences we sometimes encounter, it is also the name of the street that I grew up on.) Like many of the towns we passed through, Melrose is resplendent with private gardens of flowers. Floors Castle (pronounced Fluers) looks toward the River Tweed just west of Kelso in the Borders. It was featured in the movie Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan.
Crathes Castle
 Crathes Castle is a tower castle near Banchory in Aberdeenshire. It boasts nearly four acres of walled garden.
Caledonia
 The following come from various locations in Scotland.
Near Glenfinnan upon Loch Shiel Near Urquhart Castle On the Isle of Iona ‍
The Emerald Isle
 It is said that the Emerald Isle is made up of many shades of green...forty to be exact. While I cannot debate this, I also learned that it contains every color in the rainbow.
Powerscourt is located in the Wicklow Moutains just 20km from Dublin. It is famous throughout Europe for its gardens. It was the site of Celtic Woman’s Songs from the Heart concert in 2009.
Kilkenny Castle overlooks the River Nore in Kilkenny Co.
Blarney Castle, home of the Blarney Stone In the City of Bantry, Co. Cork Ilnacullin Island lies off the coast of Co. Cork in Bantry Bay is world renowned for its Italian Gardens.
The Ring of Kerry is 110 mile loop of roadway around the Iveragh Peninsula in Kerry Co.
With the Cliffs of Moher in the background ‍ Bunratty Castle and Folk Park
Flowers in Paradise
 In 2005, my nephew, Jeff, was stationed in Hawaii for a year on the island of Oahu. My brother, John and his sons, decided to visit him before he returned. We spent a week and even made a day trip over to the Big Island, Hawaii.
The Flowers of Oz
 I was fortunate to win a trip to Australia in 2002. I spent two weeks in Oz, the natives nickname for their land down under.