Dawyck Visitor Centre officially opened

Dawyck’s new state-of-the-art visitor centre was officially opened on 14 May by Scottish Government Cabinet Minister for the Environment Richard Lochhead. Launched during the 30th anniversary year of Dawyck coming into the care of RBGE, it is the first bespoke facility of this nature within RBGE’s four Gardens.

Dawyck Botanic Garden, Nr Peebles, Scottish Borders
Open daily 10am - 6pm

Late night opening on Midsummer’s Eve

Sat 21 June, open until 11pm

There’s no better way to celebrate midsummer than an evening at the Botanics. Enjoy a special programme of live music, storytelling, guided walks and the Garden’s annual plant auction. Free admission.

Find out more on our website.

Botanical Images Scotia

Mon 2 - Thurs 12 June

See a showcase of top contemporary botanical art from home and abroad in an innovative collaboration between RBGE and the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society.

See exhibition details on our website.

Book signing with Aileen Paterson

Sat 7 June, 2pm-4pm

Don’t miss the chance to hear author Aileen Paterson reading from Maisie and the Botanic Garden Mystery and showing some of the puzzles from the new Maisie’s Botanics Activity Book.

Aileen will also be signing copies of the books.

See event details on our website.

An Oriental Odyssey in the Botanics

Sat 7 June, 2.30pm

This special tour will explore the wealth of plants and trees that originate from China and now thrive in the Botanics’ collection.

Tickets £4. See event details on our website. 

Sunday Science – Mini Expedition

Sun 8 June

Travel in the footsteps of plant hunter George Forrest on a mini-expedition of Chinese plants. Use the latest technology to make your own recordings of well known plants introduced by Forrest.

See event details on our website.
 

Dialogues of Wind and Bamboo

Sat 14 — Sun 29 June

Don’t miss this special ‘soundscape’, made largely from bamboo, which aims to explore how nature creates music with plants. Created by artists Ziggy Campbell and Susie Brown and composer Kimho Ip.

See event details on our website.

The Secret Life of Lichens

14 June - 6 July

Come and get an intriguing insight into the secret life of lichens. Take a closer look through microscopes and discover the many uses of lichens in your daily life.

See exhibition details on our website.

Nature Study: Louise Bourgeois & John Hutton Balfour (1808-1884)

Until 6 July

Don’t miss this world exclusive exhibition by artist Louise Bourgeois, whose retrospective at the Tate Modern thrilled audiences last year. See her new drawings accompanied by a remarkable collection of 19th century botanical teaching diagrams, celebrating one of RBGE’s most significant Regius Keepers, John Hutton Balfour.

Find out more on our website.

New Adult & Professional Education Prospectus

The new Adult Education & Professional Course Prospectus 2008/09 will be available online from Sunday 1 June. Booking lines for courses open on Monday 16 June, with advance booking for Members from Wednesday 11 June.

Summer courses and workshops

We still have places on some of our summer courses and workshops:

Art and Craft Workshops

Nuno Felting 
Sat 7 June  £45/£40.50

Watercolour and Art at Dawyck 
Sat 14 June £35/£31.50

Fern Identification
Sat 14 June £35/£31.50

Native Plants for Scottish Gardens
Sat 21 June £35/£31.50

Wildflower Identification
Sat 28 June £35/£31.50

Summer School Courses

Introduction to Botanical Art 
Mon 30 Jun – Fri 4 Jul  £175/£157.50

Paper Sculpture and Watercolour 
Sat 5 – Sun 6 Jul £75/£67.50

Expressive Colour - Mixing for the Watercolour Landscape 
Mon 7 Jul  – Fri 11 Jul £150/£135

Introduction to Horticulture 
Mon 14 – 18 Jul £150/£135

Chinese Ink Painting
Mon 14 – Fri 18 Jul  £160/£144

Chinese Dyeing: Tie Dye and Batik 
Mon 28 – Thur 31 Jul £130/£117

The Simple Art of Meditation 
Sat 16 Aug £45/£40.50

Benmore Plant Sale and Craft Fair

Sun 1 June, 12 noon-5pm

The Benmore Plant Sale and Craft Fair is an event not to be missed. There will be an extensive range of perennial plants, trees and shrubs including some rare varieties. There will also be a cake and candy stall plus a range of local craft work. Free admission.

Money raised for this event will go towards the restoration of the Benmore Fernery.

Benmore Botanic Garden, Dunoon, Argyll

Flaming June at Logan

Tues 3 June, 10.30am

Enjoy a tour with the Curator and see summer sensations blooming in 'Scotland’s most exotic garden'. See spectacular displays of Crinodendron, Embothrium, Lobelia tupa and the early blooming half-hardy perennials kickstarting the summer flowering season.

Tickets £4. See event details on our website.

Logan Botanic Garden, Nr Stranraer, Dumfries & Galloway