Explore the Outer Hebrides with me.

The “Homecoming”.

When I was a child, the Isle of Lewis was where I spent most of my school holidays. My aunt and uncle lived on a croft where my brother and I got to experience a different childhood to that which we were used to growing up. The air was a mix of sea salt and peat smoke, but to me, it was simply the smell of laughter, freedom, and adventure. My uncle is a native islander - a MacLeod, which meant we felt as if we got to know every inch of Lewis, and a fair bit of Harris too!

Somehow, 25 years had passed since my last proper trip. I had gone a couple of times with the children when they were wee along with their dad, but my aunt moved away and time moved on. It wasn’t until a few years ago, when I went back fleetingly for a family funeral, that I realised how much I had missed it! Sailing into Stornoway harbour felt like a homecoming, the Gaelic people and culture wrapped around me, making me feel as welcome as ever, like I belonged.

I was determined to go back for a proper trip, to explore all the old haunts and wallow in the beauty of it all. Although we were only there for a short week, that’s exactly what we did.

The garden unfolded it’s unique magic in May as the days lengthened and the warmer months began. After the last whispers of spring, the air was filled with a quiet anticipation, punctuated by birdsong from our increasing number of visitors. It had been a full year since we started creating our beautiful garden space here in Troon from a completely blank canvas.

Soon we would see whether all the plants we’d moved from my garden in Glasgow had survived the winter, and whether the new roses we planted last year would bloom again. We were not disappointed as suddenly, our new garden began to sing in a symphony of colours. So many of my favourite fragrant blooms began to open, each with it’s own happy memory or association with special people and places.

We ended the month on the beautiful island of Mull. A place I had always wanted to visit, I wasn’t prepared for the jaw-dropping beauty of the landscape!

After the darkness of January, I’m always excited for the arrival of spring. Fortunately life continues throughout the winter months with evergreen abundance or peaks of new shoots to remind us of what’s coming round the corner.