I have visited a few flower shops recently with the intent of scouting the market before buying…read moresome as a surprise gift for my girlfriend. This may seem romantic, but I'm well out of my depth and have yet to pluck up the courage to actually do so. Yet my plight has fallen on the ears of various florists in and around Edinburgh. One such is Flowers By Lindsey located in Penicuik, just south of Edinburgh. One thing that always strikes me about florists is the smell. It always brings me back to summer days spent in the garden at home and Lindsey's did not disappoint. Upon entering I was warmly welcomed by a member of staff and she explained to me the vast range of products available. They advertise that they provide "flowers for every occasion" and this certainly seems to be the case. They provide for weddings, funerals, banquets as well as personal gifts and a delivery service. They also stock various ornamental gifts to accompany the bouquets. The pricing seemed similar to other florists around this area so rest assured of value for money. Perhaps once I overcome my fear of failure, I shall return here to resume my quest for a gift that will be well received.

Unsure of type of plant my Mother had asked for for mother's day and due to lockdown and at short…read morenotice phoned Flowers by Lindsey who picked the right type of plant Plus delivered. well presented gift at affordable price and mum loves the gift . totally recommended this business and certainly will use again

Have used this shop over the years they are fantastic. Bought Mothers day, Birthdays and funeral…read moreflowers and on every occasion they have done a marvellous job. The ladies you deal with are friendly and welcoming and very very helpful. Just ordered flowers for my mothers funeral and couldn't decide what I wanted with the lillies, they took me into their workshop to show me what I could choose which was brilliant. It made me think that I really put some thought into the flowers for my mum. Visit this shop you won't regret it.

Perfect experience. One words: SAMPLES! We tried so many amazing things - the sushi was my…read morefavorite. Big store with lots of good prices.

I love Costco and love checking out what all the different locations have in stock. For me, that…read moretypically means other states in the U.S. But this was my first time shopping in a Costco located outside of the U.S.! When we first got there, since we have an American membership all we needed to do was present our membership card and the gentleman at the door wrote our information down on a clipboard. This location seems like any other until you take a closer look at the products - many of which are quintessentially British or Scottish: Victoria Sandwich Cake, Haggis Pakora, Clotted Cream, Nando's Peri Peri Sauce, local beer and candy, and much more! I loved everything about it! And while the food court looks very similar to those in the U.S. (a hot dog and soda for £1.50, slices of pizza, etc.), they have a few different items, too (jacket potatoes, cottage pie, gelato). We were able to get a bunch of things to set up our son in his flat and that was the main purpose for our visit. Also- we found the staff very friendly and welcoming!

One of the hidden attractions just outside Edinburgh is the labour of love run by Liberty and…read moreHamish Martin called The Secret Herb Garden. This idyllic venture lies 6 miles south of the city centre and allows the owners to share their enjoyment of herbs along with home produced food and drink, vintage furniture and candles made from the wax produced by the on-site apiary. Entry to the garden is free of charge, however, it is difficult not to spend money with a huge array of herbs for sale - I never realised how many types of mint existed until they were lined up, each with their own particular fragrance or taste. You'll also find it hard to resist spending some time in the cafe with a selection of cakes and scones as well as a very enjoyable lunch dish of Sweet Corn Quiche and Hand Picked Flower Salad. When you have finished lunch head beyond the glass-house and take a look at the apiary where you can see inside a working bee-hive; the medicinal garden and some innovative plant pots, including a Volkswagen Beetle that has herbs growing from its boot and bonnet. If you are looking for something a little different in easy travelling distance from Scotland's capital city then The Secret Herb Garden is a great choice.

The Secret Herb Garden is exactly what the name suggests; a hidden wonderland of herby goodness. If…read moreyou're a foodie looking for that special all-natural flavour or looking for a particular medicinal herb, then I've no doubt that SHG is just what you're after. I liked that all the herb labels shared a suggested use or some properties of the plant. For example, certain plants would make for a nourishing bath soak, and others, just perfect for an edible cake decoration. Secret Herb Garden, I do appreciate your passion for plant power! We were welcomed by a HUGE pregnant pig bathing in the hot spring sun. Aside from wanting to be that glorious pig, I thought it was just really nice that there's a big-ass pig just chilling up front. We said hello with a friendly stroke behind the ear, before heading into herby heaven. Boy, oh, boy! - There's so much. To express, just how much, I'll tell you that I was completely overwhelmed by all the variants of mint. You'd be a fool, like I was, to think that mint, as a herb, was constrained to the pepper and spear varieties. No, no, no! Just go have a gander at the impressive mint selection at the Secret Herb Garden. It's seriously impressive. - Mint! There's greenhouses adorned with herb after herb, with the occasional couch perched in amongst the madness of plants. There's also a café and a little shop selling beeswax, foraging books and other quirky goodies. You can sign up for meditation classes too. It's twee, and special in its very own way. Service is casual, and tables are dotted around the place, so your order may take a tad longer to find its way to you. Our table was a teeny bit rickety but we were grateful to have found a spot out front where our pooch could chill with us. (Dogs out front only!) I got a latte. Of course, it had a little heart in the foam. - A smile-inducer if every there was one. We waved goodbye to Secret Herb Garden, and to the pregnant pig. I'll be back to see the piglets, and to try the cakes, and, most importantly, for the wonderful herbs.

This is quite close proximatey to where I live, so it's quite easy to get to by car and buses go…read morepast the entrance road to it. I always seem to walk out of the with something green leafed! It has a fab selection of plants and garden equipment. The restaurant always has something nice to offer and is always busy at lunch times. Anytime I need advice the staff are really helpful and offer to help you to your car with your goods (usually compost with me!!). It's won awards in the past as of that you can rely on quality. Not only that they are independant and local.

My first Pentland Plants stop only extends to the cafe and gift shop this time round but, boy, was…read morethe huge bowl of broccoli and courgette soup just what I needed. The gift shop is just the kind of cute I'm all in for. They stock Ness accessories and really adorable handcrafted brooches and similar goodies. Its also really varied in its stock and you'll find food and homeware produce too. It was a quick stop with lunch in mind but just the kind to tempt me back if I'm nearby. Although, probably not at peak lunch hours as the cafe does get extremely busy. Just a heads up: the cafe gets warm, since you're technically in one big greenhouse. If it's a warm day, it will be even warmer inside.