AUGUST MUSINGS
Seasonal stories and notable happenings from the team behind Ochre Botanical Studios.
Thank you for joining us here!
Here we are, in the last days of August. After celebrating Lughnasadh at the beginning of the month, we are now deep in harvest time. The hedgerows are brimming with tasty snacks, the annuals are setting seed, and dare I say, the leaves are beginning to turn.
With Edinburgh’s venues commandeered by the Festival, this can graciously be a quieter time in our diary. At the beginning of the year, I followed the wise instructions once given to us by our mentor Paula Baxter, to carve out some time during the growing season for a holiday.
I have a tendency to feel rushed at this time of year. Under pressure to squeeze out every last drop of summer before we lose the light and the warmth, and so intentionally filling my diary with blank spaces doesn’t come easy.
A brief mountain biking trip in Tuscany, bookended by stays in Sussex either side, was just the tonic. Heatwaves notwithstanding, it was a joy to spend time with family, enjoying morning walkies carefully scheduled before the sun became too intense for four paws, sleepy afternoon siestas and warm endless evenings.
Returning to East Lothian after a time away brought an opportunity to find gratitude and renewed appreciation for the landscapes close to home. I always cherish quality time spent with nature, but there is something particularly lovely about reconnecting with places that might otherwise become overfamiliar or routine.
So for these musings, I thought I’d share a few of my favourite East Lothian walks.
Beautiful at every time of year, but particularly enchanting as the seasons begin to turn.
The surrounding woodland here – some of which is ancient – is host to some of my very favourite things: gnarly twisted honeysuckle vines, an abundance of hedgehog mushrooms in the autumn and even mythical creatures charmingly named Glingbobs and Tootflits.
Seacliff Beach
A coastline that never fails to inspire. Craggy red sandstone cliffs, powdery golden sand and the vast Firth of Forth with the pure white Bass Rock peeking through.
This beach has been cherished as the special place for us ever since we were lucky to be joined there by Eva Nemeth for a play day there two years ago.
Garvald to Gifford
This walk takes you from the village of Garvald, along the reservoirs Donolly and Danskine before winding into the Yester Estate. From there you can visit the ruins of Yester Castle, where the wizard of Yester was said to have practised his sorcery.
Pints stops at the Garvald Inn and at the Tweedale Arms in Gifford whilst by no means mandatory, are strongly advised.
There is something about walking that feels like a truly holistic way to embrace the season. Noticing the scent in the air, what the trees are doing, which birds are singing.
A fruitful preamble this morning felt very true to the month of August having come away with a big jar of brambles and purple stained fingers.
Now, time to make jam.
Upcoming Events
STRAWBERRY HILL HOUSE
FLOWER FESTIVAL
10th-13th September
Our very own Marion will take part in the festival co-curated by Flowers on the Edge she and other floral designers will fill the house and gardens with immersive installations, using only British-grown flowers and sustainable techniques.
Until next time...
