New for 200910th Apr 09

Attadale Gardens is now reopened – the gardens are open from 1 April – end of October, Monday to Saturday 10.00 am to 5.30 pm

A new addition is the giant sundial. Last week saw the installation of the carved slate gnomen supported by the wild cat of the Macpherson family crest. The cat was copied from the handle of an antique silver spoon. Graciela Ainsworth, the well-known Edinburgh based sculptor created the work. It marks the completion of a project that was started last year. The sundial measures some 35 feet across and is laid out to the west of the house.

In addition, Graciela has also carved a stone with the initials of Nicky and Ewen Macpherson, together with their national flower, a protea for Nicky and a thistle for Ewen who have devoted the last thirty years creating Attadale Gardens as they are today.

She has also a newly carved a slate bench so that visitors can sit and admire the sundial. The bench carries the lines by Hilaire Belloc, “I am a sundial and I make a botch of what is done much better by a watch”