![Priorwood Garden, Melrose](/images/attractions/editor3/Priorwood-Garden-9969.jpg)
The orchard is one of the most important features at Priorwood, and several historical varieties of apples survive here. The orchard area may have been originally part of a kitchen garden for the monks of Melrose Abbey. Over 7 varieties of heritage apples at grown in the orchard.
The gardens cover 2 acres, including a special area for growing plants suited to drying. This area provides the dried flower arrangements made on the site and offered for sale in the shop.
![Summer flowers in full bloom](/images/attractions/editor3/Priorwood-Garden-9968.jpg)
The gardens are separated into three areas; a dried flower workshop, where you can also learn about the garden's history. Then there is the orchard, with its varieties of historic apples. Beyond this is a woodland garden, which adds a lovely touch of informality to the more formal areas close to the visitor entrance.
OUR VISIT
It is rare to see two historic gardens so close together - the other in this case is another National Trust for Scotland property, Harmony Garden, just down the street. Though a sudden shower tried to dampen our visit, the pretty and very colourful plantings at Priorwood wouldn't let it - this is a very enjoyable garden, particularly if you enjoy fruit trees.
Priorwood is a wonderful garden for colours and scent, but its main focus is on dried flower cultivation and arrangements. Visitors can even choose their own custom combination of dried flowers to purchase.