Fassfern Lets No Roses Grown Beneath its Feat
Fassfern follows Borrodale for a Residency. Next year Kinlochmoidart?
It’s one of life’s mysteries. How could the Prince have picked a white rose on John Cameron's estate in 1745 if the variety at Fassfern today is the same. Quite simply late August was way past blooming time .... but whilst we stayed new buds and blooms appeared as roses sometimes do …
click on all photographs to enlarge
Killjoy is the only word for such comment. And it's most churlish bearing in mind what an absolutely wondrous rural house Fassfern is today as it rents out to holiday parties of 10 or more, supervised for Lord Dulverton on whose estates it lies by Maria Kadas. It was the self same Maria who had welcomed the Trustees exploratory party just over 11 months previously and most kindly sent a photograph of the rose bush in full bloom to artist Andrew Crummy for inclusion on the panel - # 28 - embroidered by Simone Cunningham.
Your webmaster found himself and family staying at Fassfern for a week as a base for excursions in support of the Tapestry Parade through the Highlands at Dalilea Pier, Glenuig, Glenfinnan, Stirling, Blair Castle and Perth. [Plus a fascinating side trip to Glenelg to take lunch at its excellent inn where our Poet Laureate’s son Kiernan is Head Chef. And there, blooming beautifully at Glenelg, at the start of September was the perfect white rose – as pictured!] Not to be missed either was Invergarry Castle, embroidered by Avril Wills as panel # 30 - seen below with her family visiting today's ruins.[ ... and finally, a mural is it not close by the ferry at Malaig!]
Published Date: September 8th 2010
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