A Love Story – The Walled Garden

Sir David Lindsay of Scotland married Isobel Forbes. The same year that their daughter Margaret was born, Sir David’s dearest treasure, his wife Isobel, died.

The year was 1598.

Perhaps it was because of his so great a love, and because of his so great a loss, that Sir David built in the years following a walled garden outside the forbidding Edzell Castle.

The garden was a retreat from the six-foot-thick walls, complete with gun holes and parapets.

Sir David would swoop baby Margaret up in his arms and together they’d go to the garden.

Though Mary, Queen of Scots, would herself visit Edzell Castle, no personage was more distinguished to Sir David than little Margaret.

As the years went by, Margaret would at first place her chubby hand in that of her father, and she and Sir David would go for a walk down the path to the garden.

Later, her hands occupied with carrying their picnic lunch, she’d skip on ahead, Sir David smiling at her as he trailed behind.

And into the walled garden they’d go, find their favorite bench, and enjoy one another’s company among the shrubs and flowers.

There were memories there.

And peace.

And love.

The walled garden is Edzell Castle’s most unusual feature. Not only is the garden notable, but it is also a rare survivor to this very day of a wall, and a garden, that love built.

And in that garden that love built, the shrubs are so planted to spell out the words, “Dum Spiro, Spero.”

“While I breathe, I hope.”

Oh, to love and be loved like that!