Jun 07
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June in the Garden

By | Garden

What a startling difference the beginning of June this year to that of 2018. The rain seems to be making up for lost droplets. In June 2018 we were facing the very real danger of a summer of drought. In 2019 we appear to be resorting back to old ways, the lawns could almost be cut twice a week at this rate. However, the cool evenings and high moisture has encouraged a great number of flowers to linger on. Our Rhododendrons continue to look fresh and have done for a month or so and we still have a few bluebells showing through the ever thickening wild grasses and flowers in Millennium Woods.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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The Walled Garden continues to develop and the newly planted borders are beginning to really show their true intentions. It is quite startling to see bright reds and oranges in the garden where before we limited plant choice to cool pastel blues and pinks. Lewis’ long border design sets out bold blocks of colour, six in total; Yellow, Orange and Red blocks on the western side of the garden and Purple, Pink and Blue on the eastern side. Iris ‘Feu du Ciel’ is a welcome newcomer; bright orange and voluptuous. I am a lover of Irises and this one really justifies that. In front of this we have Geum ‘Prinses Juliana’ again vibrantly orange.

What a contrast then to the purple block where the ever delightful Thalictrum delavayi and Salvia x superba are neighboured by Geranium x ‘Johnson’s Blue‘, Nepeta x faassenii ‘Walker’s Low’ and Cirsium rivulare ‘Trevor’s Blue Wonder’.

The Paeonias are just about to open, holding onto their petals tightly awaiting sunnier weather no doubt, but Paeonia ‘Black Panther’ is a tree peony and has to have what I can only describe and the most indulgent dark – almost bloody – silky petals and has been in flower for around a week.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Throughout the garden many plants are in full bloom and none are more spectacular than the Meconopsis which grow incredibly well at Teasses. Meconopsis  betonicifolia are happiest when in cool, rich, deep woodland soils, happy roots lead to stunning azure blue flowers or in the case of M. paniculata primrose yellow. 

Davidia involucrata var. Vilmoriniana is a stunning tree, with branches covered in what looks like paper tissues. This tree has spectacular autumn foliage colour but every third year at Teasses we are treated to what appears like hundreds of white papery bracts hanging from the tree.  Ours is underplanted with Primula japonica ‘Miller’s Crimson’, what a combination.

In Sir Fraser’s garden, which occupies a hollow in a conifer plantation the clotted cream flower buds of Magnolia wilsonii are just beginning to burst open. They are ideally suited to this cool semi-shaded space in the garden and planted on a steep slope allowing visitors to gaze up from below at the interior of the flower which cannot be missed.

May 17
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May in the Garden

By | Garden
 
 
 
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The garden is always the best place to be in the month of May, the sun usually is beaming down and the vibrant fleshy shoots of new growth are glowing in the garden. So too are the birds abundant in May, with a veritable cacophony welcoming the dawn of a bright day.

Bulbs are just going over with the last few of our tulips bowing out. This year’s success has been Tulipa ‘World of Friendship’ not only remaining proud in the garden for weeks but also holding itself well in a vase. The flower is a joyful, cheery, primrose yellow single tulip standing around 50cm tall. We ordinarily try to avoid yellow coloured flowers which is almost unforgivable at this time of year but T. ‘World of Friendship’ is the perfect vehicle by which to extend the ‘primrose’ toned season. I should also mention at this stage the wonderful Tree Paeony, Paeonia ‘Anna Marie’ which is just cautiously unfurling her tender petals in the Walled Garden.

Tulipa ‘World of Friendship’

The gardens are beginning to brim with colour and just as we teeter on the edge of floral splendour in the form of Paeonia I am reminded that this season has really  gone to pot. We’ve had such an extended period of fine weather you forget that we are only into the fifth month and while I impatiently wait to put out our summer bedding plants I have to bear in mind that old phrase; ‘Ne’er cast a cloot, til the month of May is oot’.

 
 
 
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May 17
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Recipe: Wild Garlic Pesto

By | Teasses Recipes

The woods here at Teasses are abundant in Wild Garlic which rears its pungent head in March and continues to the end of the April. As the plant matures the strength of the flavour reduces so if you don’t want a fiery strong garlic taste then hold off until the second half of April. In this recipe I use the leaves of the plant but the flowers are edible too and can be used in salads or as. garnish on top of  soups such as Sorrel or Pea. Unlike its namesake Wild Garlic doesn’t produce a bulb so you need to use it when it’s available.

Note that if you intend to cook with the pesto – for example roasted Mediterranean vegetables coated in pesto – that the flavour becomes less powerful when cooked. I like to add another couple of tablespoons of the pesto once the vegetables come out of the oven, it also helps with the colour. Also, a delicious pairing with this is fresh lamb so try to keep some for when the Scottish lamb season abounds.

Recipe:

This will easily make one large jar.

You’ll need;

  • a bunch of fresh, washed and roughly torn wild garlic – enough to almost fill a mixing bowl.
  • 200g organic pine nuts – the more you add the thicker the pesto and less pungent the garlic.
  • 500 ml organic olive oil
  • 100g organic parmesan – or other hard cheese
  • 1 organic lemon
  • water
  • salt and pepper

Step One: Gently heat a dry shallow pan, when almost too hot to touch throw in your pine nuts and lightly toast.

Step Two: In a food processor put the roughly torn wild garlic leaves with the lightly toasted pine nuts, cheese, a pinch of salt and the juice from the lemon and a little oil.

Step Three: While blitzing the contents of the food processor drizzle in the remaining oil.

Step Four: Continue to blitz until you are happy with the consistency. If it is too thick add some water. The best pesto is slightly chunky. Add more salt and some pepper to taste.

If you want truly authentic pesto remove the food processor and pound the ingredients in a mortar and pestle.

Once sealed in a clean glass jar this pesto lasts approximately one month when refrigerated or three months if frozen.

Apr 11
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SGS Fife Trail 2019 – Visit Teasses

By | Garden

Scotland’s Garden Scheme Fife  Spring Trail 2019 kicks of next week, running from 16th April to the 3rd of May. The Trail is the prefect opportunity to visit seven privately owned gardens in the county, each abundant in spring blooms. Don’t miss the chance to visit Teasses on each Friday of the the Trail, that is 19th & 26th April and 3rd May. Entry to individual gardens is £5 or buy a Trail ticket from SGS.

We look forward to seeing you at Teasses, make sure to have plenty of spool left in your camera!

 
 
 
 
 
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Apr 02
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Spring Blooms in the Woodland Gardens

By | Garden
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Spring is blooming in the gardens at Teasses and no where is more colourful than the Millennium Woodlands. The gardens are filling with the sweet scents of Primula vulgaris and Narcissus ‘Jack Snipe’.

Spring is a great time to visit the gardens at Teasses and with Scotland’s Garden Scheme Fife Spring Trail kicking off in two weeks, there is plenty to enjoy Teasses.

Mar 11
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First Spring Calves of the year at Teasses

By | Farm

At last winter seems to be coming to an end and although we’ve taken another dip into mini temperatures here at Teasses, you can’t disagree that spring is just around the corner. Nothing says that more loudly than the arrival of our new calves at the farm. First five down and another 135 expectant mothers to go.

Mar 04
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Winter Tidy Up.

By | Farm
Teasses; Farm: Estate; Organic

On the farm it is an important job to get underway after the cattle have overwintered in the sheds. Clipping the cattle to prepare them for market tidies their coats and emphasises their condition to the auctioneer and potential buyers. These organic cows are the latest batch to be sent to market and command a good price on the day, despite the mucky work to get them there.

Also picture in the relative splendour of the Bull shed, are two of our larger specimens. Both have been bred in the Teasses herd and along with their four other male companions make up the paternal lineage of our high quality, closed breeding stock.

 
 
 
 
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Jan 30
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SGS Fife Trail 2019

By | Garden
 
 
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Now that we are thoroughly embedded in the cold chill of winter, it is the ideal time to look ahead to the bright, vibrant days of spring. The Scotland’s Garden Scheme Fife Trail kicks off on the 16th April and gives you the opportunity to visit six unique gardens each with its own particular springtime highlight.

Find out more about SGS Fife Trail 2019 and where to buy tickets on the Scotland’s Garden Scheme website by clicking on the link below.

Jan 29
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A review of the Teasses Shoot

By | Game
 
 
 
 
 
 
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The Season at Teasses now comes to an end and all the hard work of the previous months can be reflected on. It has been a tough year for raising game birds on the estate. First we had tremendous amounts of snow and wind in the early months which took us into what turned out to be a very dry summer, counting three days of rain from May to August – a very rare thing for Scotland. The drought across the summer decimated the insect population on the estate which in turn meant that our game birds were under some pressure. However the population of pheasants, partridge, woodcock and duck have proven once again to be fit and healthy. Raised on the organic estate the difficulties facing our game birds were soon forgotten as the rain clouds finally broke in late August. As soon as the wildflowers and grasses started to grow again, the insect population was quickly restored. The organic approach on Teasses supports the entire ecosystem of the one-thousand acres, not only the farm livestock but the native and natural inhabitants too. With a restored invertebrate population our birds soon fattened-up in time for the Season to begin.

The Shoot at Teasses this Season was particularly successful with guests visiting from all over the planet. We’d like to thank everyone who attended shoots at Teasses and we do hope you’ll quickly book up days for a repeat performance in the forthcoming Season. We’d also like to thank the dedicated gamekeeping team; Kenny, Jordan, all of the beaters and dog handlers. The days certainly wouldn’t have been such a success without your contribution.

We are pleased to share with you some insights from a regular guest and friend of the estate, James Field, who has shot at Teasses annually for the last ten years. The excerpts are taken from an article James wrote about a days shoot at Teasses.

…Teasses Estate in Ceres, which is situated in the rolling hills above Cupar is owned by Sir Fraser and Lady Morrison…and their home is a typical Scottish stone-built grand house, complete with turrets. The adjoining gardens are well worth a visit in the Spring and Summer months but this cold, late Autumn day was perfect for the pheasants, red-legged partridge, ducks and woodcock which abound and which are testament to the Head Keeper’s expertise in effectively developing the 1,000 acres of the estate laid out for shooting in 1996. Each time we have visited, we have experienced some of the best-presented birds I have known. Kenny Horne is the long time Head Keeper who together with his devoted team are very well organised and work like a well-oiled machine, with notably less of the loud whistling, yelling and hooting from the beaters than is found on some estates, and which often seems to intrude a bit too much into the peace of a beautiful country environment as the Guns stand quietly awaiting the first birds. 

…We have been instructed to ‘show no mercy’ on this drive, called ‘Ruin Strip’, as it joins a neighbouring property, towards which the birds are driven, and sure enough, after a brief wait the birds start trickling towards us off the hill in such numbers that [the Guns] are often reloading. A lone woodcock crosses the line but all are reticent to address it. During a lull, a lone roe doe bounds across the line and gracefully leaps a fence. Some cracking high straight and crossing pheasants fall to my gun and everyone gets a good workout.

…Into the vehicles and on to the next drive ‘Lochan’; we drive our 4×4’s to the bottom of the estate and are advised to move into position quietly as we are to wait for some mallard to be driven off the lochan. Kenny firmly instructs the guns not to shoot any pheasants we might see until the first duck is addressed. Clever birds these ducks. We listen to them quacking and grumbling to themselves unseen, until with a dull roar they take off as one, climbing almost vertically and immediately gain height.

…We have an American guest with us; Joe, from the Southern US state of Georgia…he seems bemused but impressed by the structure behind Kenny’s presentation of the birds… He says he has never seen birds presented so skilfully in his own country. Joe is an avid shooter and a significant collector of firearms.

We arrive at the third of the twenty-two possible drives on this modestly sized estate…This too is one of my three favourites; known as ‘Pooch’, it is right in the middle of the estate and requires a walk, or more accurately, a stumble across a muddy field full of bog grass to the end of one of the more recently planted conifer woods from which the birds will be driven towards the Guns. There is a distinct air of anticipation. Again, some duck are expected but it is principally a pheasant drive, where they curl around and over the narrow wood from which they are driven. Before there is any evidence of the approaching beaters, the first birds suddenly appear and catch unwary Guns napping. I take a right and left as soon as the shooting starts and birds then arrive at a steady rate from a number of directions to test our reflexes. The horn blows. The morning’s shooting is over all too soon.

… Roll on next time!