CAROLE AT THE GYLE, 0131-539 9000, www.gyleshopping.com Carole Baxter, of The Beechgrove Garden, will give blooming good advice to green-fingered shoppers at the Gyle Centre on Sunday. She headlines the mall's Flower Power weeke
nd, giving advice to novice and seasoned gardeners in plant clinics. If you're worried about mildew or rose rust, Carole is on hand with advice. Suntrap Garden experts will be there all weekend providing hints and tips on how to ensure their outside space blossoms with demonstrations and workshops. All Flower Power activities are free and run from 10am to 4pm each day, with Carole's plant clinics open from 10:30am-12:30pm and 1:30pm-3:30pm on Sunday.
GARDENING SCOTLAND 2008, 0131-333 0965, www.gardeningscotland.com The national gardening and outdoor living show bursts into bloom from 30 May to 1 June at The Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh. The biggest plant sale of its kind in Scotland, this year's event will have a record 15 show gardens, plus advice and demonstrations on living and gardening in harmony with nature. At the heart of the show is Dobbies Floral Hall, filled with thousands of plants, some of which are the rarest to be found anywhere in the country. Other attractions include the pallet garden contest, food fayre, international village, floral art competition and craft marquee. Tickets £14/12, kids free, 10am-6pm Fri-Sat and 10am-5pm Sunday.
SUNTRAP GARDEN, Gogarbank, nr Edinburgh, 0131-339 7283, www.suntrap-garden.org.uk Open to the public on Sunday, 25 May in aid of horticultural charity Perennial, the Gardener's Royal Benevolent Society. Suntrap's tranquil garden, with lush flower beds, houses the National Bonsai Collection of Scotland. The open day will include plant sales, music, refreshments, demonstrations and gardening advice. 10:30am-4:30pm, adults £2, OAPs and children £1.
WHITCHESTER HOUSE, Duns, Berwickshire: This is one of the finest rhododendron collections in the country, but its rare flowers blossomed unseen for more than 25 years while the grounds were left to return to wilderness. Thanks to drug rehabilitation charity, Teen Challenge, this sleeping gem is slowly being brought back to life. This Saturday, there is a rare chance for visitors to see the grounds while the rhododendrons are in full bloom. Tickets must be booked in advance and cost £15, including afternoon tea. Call 0845 676 0636 to book.
BOTANIC BIODIVERSITY, 0131-552 7171, www.rbge.org.uk: Weeding, planting and admiring your handiwork in the garden is great but how much do you know about how plants and animals interact to help your garden blossom? During Scottish Biodiversity Week (17-25 May), the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh will host events that help highlight, and celebrate, exactly how living things interact. Most events are are free.
The full article contains 470 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
