Some words just have a nice ring to them – and "gallivanting" is one of my favourites. It means to travel, roam, or move about for pleasure and I have been more intentional in my quest to gallivant around!
My roaming has certainly not been purposeless, but rather as part of my desire to see and learn more about places and topics I am not familiar with.
There is in every human being’s heart the lure of wonder. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.
Samuel Ullman
A recent trip to the Dundee Botanic Garden proved an unexpected bonus. Not only was I able to travel to Dundee but I also discovered the Botanic Garden which turned out to be a wonderful combination of the botanics and the arts.
Part of the University of Dundee, the Botanic Garden has a wide range of plants, with collections of conifers and broad-leaved trees and shrubs, tropical and temperate glasshouses, water garden and herb garden.
Located in 9.5 hectares of south-facing, gently sloping land near the banks of the River Tay, the Garden features many species of indigenous British plants as well as representative collections of important plants from all the continents of the world. It is a wonderful place to meander around and soak up the relaxing ambience botanical gardens seem to inspire.
I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.
Pablo Picasso
A pleasant feature is their range of art installations. I find art in nature particularly enjoyable – to me there is something much more meaningful to savouring art in natural surroundings as opposed to a museum. A couple of striking examples were the Garden of Evolution and some commemorative metal trees.
As I wandered around, I noticed a few empty plinths, obviously readying for another installation. A reason to return, I thought.
Never be afraid to sit awhile and think.
Lorraine Hansbury
Quite coincidentally a week later I went off to see another garden, this time on the west coast. It was a fundraiser for Help for Heroes. A warm sunny afternoon with cream teas made for the very definition of chilled! But this garden visit also held a bonus – a glass artist who had some of her work on display.
Cass Peters, based in Dumbarton – does amazing things with glass. Indeed, I added one of her pieces to our conservatory!
There is a boundary to men's passions when they act from feelings; but none when they are under the influence of imagination.
Edmund Burke
Be the light or reflect it. If you can’t be a sun, generating your own light, be a moon, reflecting it.
Anon
Taking the opportunity to chat to the artist I discovered that she is currently working on some major installations for...Dundee Botanic Garden. This solved the mystery of the currently empty plinths.
So now I have two reasons to return to Dundee.
Art can do many things for us, but there is something special about just being able to enjoy the beauty of a piece of work.
Follow the grain in your own wood. Ask yourself what makes you come alive.
Howard Thurman
Lead well
Graham