Author Archives: Gus the Estate Head Gardener

About Gus the Estate Head Gardener

I'm the person responsible for both the grounds and the livestock which are raised here. I live with Bree (my wife) in one of the cottages that has been here for centuries. I actually enjoy Winters here as my work load is considerably reduced as I let the younger staff members handle the needed work which leaves me time for reading, ice skating and skiing, not to mention just being with my wife. Bliss!

A Kinrowan Estate story: I’m the Estate Gardener

Posted on 23rd May 2021 by Gus the Estate Head Gardener

Though I’m called the Estate Gardener, my job covers far more than that, as it’s been enlarged many times over the centuries. So let me detail what I do. Of course I’m responsible for both the edible gardening and the … Continue reading →

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A Kinrowan Estate story: Riddles (A Letter to Elizabeth)

Posted on 9th May 2021 by Gus the Estate Head Gardener

Dear Elizabeth, You asked me about the power of rhymes as I mentioned they’re common in Swedish children’s songs, and indeed there is power in the old rhymes, spells that they be, which even most hedgewitches forget, but not our … Continue reading →

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A Kinrowan Estate story: Foxes

Posted on 25th April 2021 by Gus the Estate Head Gardener

Though fox hunting by the gentry was common in Scotland for centuries, this Estate never allowed them to be hunted here, so the Estate foxes have thrived. Even when we had a Gameskeeper here, before we abolished that position and … Continue reading →

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A Kinrowan Estate story: A Contradance in The Round Barn

Posted on 28th February 2021 by Gus the Estate Head Gardener

Ahh, you noticed the poster for tonight’s event — let me pour you a Banish Misfortune stout while I tell you about it … We’ve got a new contradance band here on the Estate. Drink Down The Moon is the … Continue reading →

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A Kinrowan Estate story: Bonfires

Posted on 3rd January 2021 by Gus the Estate Head Gardener

Nothing warms my heart and body as much as a bonfire does. Oh I know that I could be inside with my wife Bree enjoying the warmth of the fireplaces in our Cottage , but I love, particularly as Autumn gives way to Winter, … Continue reading →

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A Kinrowan Estate story: Designing Trolls

Posted on 22nd November 2020 by Gus the Estate Head Gardener

Dear Anna, Imagine an old forest witch, a crone with a cackle and gnarled hands. Well Justina did one of those when she was here the first time. Alas the Troll proved more elusive in design. Much more elusive. And … Continue reading →

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A Kinrowan Estate story: All Hallows’ Eve

Posted on 25th October 2020 by Gus the Estate Head Gardener

Gus, here. All Hallow’s Eve is less than a week away, and the Staff is deep in preparations. Mind you, a lot of those are just fun and games: putting up decorations and scurrying around with secret costume plans. Some of … Continue reading →

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A Kinrowan Estate story: Gingerbread

Posted on 3rd September 2020 by Gus the Estate Head Gardener

I hope you’re enjoying the still-hot-from-the-oven gingerbread with a scoop of Madagascar vanilla ice cream on it. Bet you another piece that you don’t know the history of this culinary treat, do you? Thought so. So do take another piece … Continue reading →

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A Kinrowan Estate story: The Wood Between The Worlds

Posted on 2nd August 2020 by Gus the Estate Head Gardener

Gutmansdottir, our resident expert on The Wild Wood that forms an impossibly large region of this Scottish Estate, has a new theory on what is and why it contains literally multitudes of very queer things from Herne the God of … Continue reading →

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A Kinrowan Estate story: Rebekah And the matter of Jewish baked goodies

Posted on 28th June 2020 by Gus the Estate Head Gardener

If we’ve left the impression in these posts about the Kinrowan Estate that the Several Annies, the Library Apprentices here, are the ones that are the learners and we who teach them are just the teachers, then we’ve given you … Continue reading →

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