Posts by Emma Emmerson
A Few Winter Warmers
Remember from 1st November we start our winter opening times of 10am – 4pm daily. We stay open right through the winter, closing only for Christmas and New Year.
Although the weather is chilly, Woodside is full of winter warmers: with a wood burning stove in the tearoom you can keep warm and watch the feeding birds up close with a slice of Pat’s delicious Spiced Toffee Apple cake(subject to availability) and freshly roasted coffee from Fairtrade supplier Three Hills Coffee of Selkirk.
New to the tea room menu are Club Sandwiches and a range of cold drinks, including alcohol-free lager.
Christmas just around the corner
As Christmas is approaching, we are beginning to take orders for our handmade fresh wreaths suitable for doors or for the cemetery. Christmas decorations and gifts are beginning to sneak into the plant centre shop now, with our main display being ready in early November.
As a small independent shop we can buy the things that we like – we’re not restricted to central buying contracts like many of the bigger shops. This means that you’ll nearly always find something unusual that you won’t see elsewhere, so if you haven’t shopped with us before at Christmas, please do have a look this year – you will be surprised how much we can fit into our little space. Our range includes light up reindeer, climbing squirrels (yes, really) children’s toys and games, novelty signs, battery powered lights, garlands and load more. And of course we stock real Nordmann Christmas Trees from the last week in November.
Next Kailyaird Restaurant: 13th September
The Kailyard Restaurant Jedburgh is the fortnightly evening dining experience which takes place in the Birdhouse Tearoom.
What makes us different from other restaurants is that we base our menu very much on what is available in the garden, so our menu is predominately vegetarian, with an option for meat-eaters. Fish is very popular with our diners, so we have added that to the menu this year.
Items freshly picked from the garden and featuring on the menu this month are: tarragon, fresh figs, courgettes, tomatoes, potatoes, beetroot, green beans, carrots, pears, plums and grapes.
I hope the menu is tempting!
MENU
Starters:
Cream of mushroom and tarragon soup £5.50
Sweet potato and mustard blinis topped with blue cheese and warmed fresh figs £5.99
Smoked salmon pate with toasted foccacia £5.99
Mains:
Butternut squash and courgette tagine served with spiced couscous £11.99
Spinach and feta in flaky pastry served with tomato salad in a mint dressing, and herby new potatoes £11.99
Pollock, beetroot & potato traybake with lemony crème fraiche £12.99
Pheasant breast stuffed with sausage-meat, chestnut and thyme, wrapped in pancetta and served with herby potatoes, garden vegetables and a bramble sauce £13.99
Puddings:
Pear & chocolate frangipane served with Scottish tablet ice-cream £5.99
Strawberry mousse cheesecake with whipped cream £5.99
Plum crumble cake and custard £5.99
Cheese and biscuits with homemade chutney and freshly picked grapes (for one) £7.50 or for two to share £12.00
Booking essential. Please call us on 01835 830315.
Tables are available from 7pm.
More Planting Trees available!
Some may be sad to see the end of Summer, but here at Woodside we are excited that Autumn has begun and that it is the start of Tree Planting season.
We have the best choice in the Scottish Borders for ornamental trees suitable for planting in this area.
So many to choose from, we have around:
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14 varieties of Sorbus (Rowan & Whitebeam) to choose from including rare varieties such as: Ravensbill, Fingerprint, Bisetti Pearls, and Hemsleyi John Bond.
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5 varieties of Liquidamber (Sweetgum Tree) which put on an exceptional show of autumn colour.
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6 varieties of Malus (Crab Apple) which produce showy edible autumn fruits.
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7 varieties of Betula (Silver Birch) including the aptly named variety “Edinburgh”.
We also have the stunning long needled Pinus Wallichiana, the rare oak Quercus Crimsonschmidt, beautiful Acer Rubrum October Glory, and the maple syrup tree – Acer Saccarinum.
All of which have good Autumn or Winter interest.
Please note – that some trees were ordered in as singles, meaning we only have 1 of that variety for sale. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Interest in the trees this weekend is likely to be strong, so don’t delay your visit to pick out the tree you’re looking for.
Tree Planting for the Autumn Season
It is now tree planting season, and in stock we have a great choice of fresh trees available for the autumn season.
Grown in Yorkshire, the trees selected have been chosen for hardiness and autumn interest.
Highlights include:
Cercidiphyllum Japonica Pendula – The Weeping Katsura Tree, which has attractive heart shaped leaves which turn fiery shades of red and orange in the autumn. Originating in Japan, this ancient tree gives off an unmistakable smell of candyfloss in the autumn as the leaves begin to fall.
Liquidamber Palo Alto – This is a rare form of Liquidamber, rarely offered for sale in the UK, which has an upright habit, and leaves resembling a Japanese Maple. Liquidambers are well known for autumn leaf colour, and this one turns dark mottled red in the autumn.
Malus Rosehip – An attractive new form of crab apple which has masses of white blossom in the spring and forms beautiful rounded red fruits in the autumn, which strongly resemble rosehips in appearance. The fruits can be used for cooking, jam and jelly making, or left for the birds to enjoy.
Sorbus Joseph Rock – This is a yellow berried form of the native Rowan, or Mountain Ash, and is easy to grow and very hardy. A good plant for autumn berry colour in colder gardens.
Quercus Crimschmidt – This is a new Oak hybrid, sometimes called Crimson Spire, and it has a narrow habit with dark green leaves turning a stunning red in autumn.
Betula Jaquemontii – Probably the best of all the white stemmed birches, the Himalayan Birch is hardy and easy to grow, and is offered as a single or multi-stemmed tree.
Tree sales are likely to be brisk over the next few days, so if you would like us to reserve any of the trees listed please give us a call on 01835 830315. Better still, come in and see what trees we have, as there are many more varieties available.
The Age of the West Equine Show
Our annual equestrian theatre performance is nearly here!
“The Age of the West” is a unique production, performed by Equestrian Theatre Scotland, in the garden at Woodside. It is a one-off performance taking place next weekend on Saturday 10th August, and features stunning horses and talented riders, fresh from filming “Outlander” and who can also be spotted in “Game of Thrones” and in the recent film “Mary, Queen of Scots”. You may also see performing dogs and we are sometimes lucky enough to enjoy the performance of a talented goat! Combined with live music, a freshly prepared buffet supper, and an attractive setting in the garden – what more could you wish for?!
Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased by calling during our opening times of 10-5, or you can call into the Plant Centre and pay in person. We accept all major cards except American Express. Tickets are £18 for adults, £12 for children and £50 for a family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children). The ticket price includes a two-course buffet.
We are anticipating that this show will once again be a sell-out (we have been hosting the equestrian theatre for a number of years now) so please note that you will not be able to purchase tickets at the door.
Gates open at 6.15pm, with the buffet served from 6.30pm. The show starts at 7pm.
You are advised to bring something to sit on, such as a picnic blanket or deck-chair as we have limited seating, and also to bring with you everything you might need for an evenings outdoor entertainment (umbrella, midge repellent, sun glasses etc).
This year we have purchased two large gazebos, so there will be a certain amount of undercover seating in case of rain.
Don’t forget to book your tickets by calling us on 01835 830315 and have your card details handy. It should be a wonderful evening’s entertainment.
Recommended Roses
My favourite roses are back in stock – Flower Carpets.
These low growing roses provide weeks, if not months of beautiful flower colour, and are not subject to the rusts, mildews, blackspot and aphid damage that other roses can be prone to. As a result they are easy to grow in full sun or part shade, in any decent garden soil or in a container. Planting with Root grow and Bone meal improves performance even more. The only thing they are lacking is fragrance, but with so much in their favour I can forgive them that!
Colours now available at Woodside are Pink, Red Velvet, Scarlet, Amber, Sunset, Gold, White, and Ruby, so a great choice of colours to select from. These will sell quickly, so be sure to hurry.
Kailyaird Dining Evening – 19th July 2019
This Friday is another of our dining dates at Woodside, when our Birdhouse Tearoom becomes the Kailyaird Restaurant for the evening, catering mainly for vegetarians, but with an option for meat eaters. This week’s delicious menu features lots of home-grown produce from my garden, including beetroot, salad leaves, Arran Pilot potatoes and agretti, which is an Italian herb with a flavour similar to samphre. To book a table please phone on 01835 830315 – tables are available to book from 7pm.
Menu 19th July
Starters:
Mushroom and freshly picked tarragon soup served with rye bread and garlicky tarragon butter
Smoked salmon pate, topped with freshly picked agretti and served with g/f sweet potato biscuits
Freshly picked baby beetroot and goat’s cheese salad with balsamic dressing
Mains:
Fennel and chickpea stew served with creamy oven baked potatoes scattered with fresh rosemary
Mediterranean fish bake with courgettes, black olives, tomatoes and freshly picked herbs, served with fresh tagliatelle
Spicy bean chilli served with rice and a cooling soured cream and courgette “slaw”
Slow cooked pork belly in cider and sage leaf, with baby carrots, peas and creamy oven baked potatoes
Puddings:
Strawberry mousse cheesecake with fresh strawberries and cream
Black Forest chocolate log with fruit infused soured cream
Raspberry and hazelnut meringue “Eton Mess”
Cheese, home-made chutney and biscuits
Gluten free, vegan diary free options available – please let us know when you book
We have a good selection of interesting soft drinks available to purchase, but currently do not have a license to serve alcohol. If you wish to bring your own wine you are more than welcome – the corkage fee is £2 per bottle.
Perfect Time to Plant Trees
The ground is absolutely perfect for planting trees at the moment, with some moisture and plenty of warmth.
Don’t forget to enrich the ground with Bonemeal or pelleted chicken manure to give the plants a good start.
Poor soils may also benefit from the addition of tree planting compost, just to help improve the soil structure to make it easier for roots to push through, and all plants get a boost when planted with “Rootgrow”. Just ask a member of shop staff and we can show you these products.
FULL LOYALTY CARD OFFER FOR JULY
If you’re not sure about growing trees, we have a fabulous offer now on:
There are a lot of full loyalty cards out there, so if you’d like to redeem a full one, you can enjoy £5 off any tree of £32.99 or more (including fruit and ornamental trees) when you hand over a full loyalty card.
One card per item please. Not to be used with any other voucher scheme. (excludes pre-ordered or pre-reserved items) Offer valid from 22nd June until the end of July 2019.
Loyalty Card Offer
There is just a week to go on our loyalty card holder offer
I know that there are lots of full loyalty cards now in circulation after a busy spring buying plants! Up until 17th June, we are offering 10% OFF all bedding and vegetable plants when you hand in a full loyalty card ( 1 card per transaction).
Let us know at the beginning of the transaction that you will be redeeming a full card, so that we can process your discount.
Wildlife and Wellbeing Garden needs your help
Our registered charity – the Woodside Garden for Wildlife and Wellbeing (WGWW) – would appreciate some help.
Moving stones
Our major project for the year is the building of a drystane seating area in the wildlife garden, suitable for wheelchair users to access. On Thursday 6th June we are having some stone delivered, and we would like some help to shift it! It’s expected to arrive at about 11am, and will probably take around an hour to move. If you’d like to help, please turn up with sturdy shoes and gloves.
Publicity/social media assistant
We are also looking for someone to assist the Board members with publicity. You don’t need to become a member of the Board (although we would be delighted to have new members) and you don’t need to commit to regular times. All you need is an enthusiasm for using social media, such as Facebook, and the willingness to learn how to update the charity’s website. If this interests you, either come in and see me (Emma) or, better still, drop in at one of the Wednesday Weeding Workout sessions to meet other volunteers.
You can see more of charity’s work on the facebook page