Hi! My name is Natalie Roell, I am a junior at the University of Arkansas studying Environmental, Water and Soil Sciences and Horticulture through the Dale Bumpers College of
Agricultural, Food, and Life Sciences. I went on a University of Arkansas faculty-led trip called “Great Gardens and Horticulture of Scotland and England”. This took place during the academic May intersession of 2025, lasting 16 days with 1 week in Edinburgh, Scotland and 1 week in London, England. I first heard about this trip being in the making during my Introduction to Horticulture class with Mrs. Wisdom, whom I immediately loved and felt inspired by to change my Horticulture minor to another major my freshman year. She talked of Scotland consistently, which only made me more intrigued and interested in visiting. That is when she mentioned studying at SRUC, Scotland’s Rural College, and a little light bulb went off in my head. I knew
then and there that I wanted to go to SRUC and study horticulture at some point during an
undergraduate semester or for a master’s program. This idea spiraled into wanting to study
abroad in Scotland and do research for my honors thesis project, which gave me inspiration for
the topic of my thesis: The Ethnobotany of Salix Species Practiced by the Celts of Scotland. My
initial interest in ethnobotany and Scotland came from a favorite show of mine and my mom’s,
Outlander. I became obsessed with the main character, Claire, her intelligence, strength, and
specifically her knowledge of medicine and healing. Even though she was a character in a show,
I looked up to her and her passion for helping others. A lot of the show was based in 1700s
Scotland during the Jacobite rebellion and the Battle of Culloden, sparking my interest in
Scotland’s history. Not only that but the filming locations were beautiful, and I imagined it
would only be more beautiful in person. Aside from personal reasons, I had many academic
reasons for wanting to study abroad in Scotland. Ms. Wisdom and Dr. Rom, who organized,
executed and led this trip are two of my favorite professors and mentors, even more so by the
end of our adventures. I wanted to grow a closer relationship with them outside of the classroom
because I was hoping they would join my committee for my thesis and be willing to work with
me for a couple years on it. They both agreed and have already been incredibly helpful. I knew
the trip would consist of a smaller group of students likely from Horticulture classes or Bumpers
classes in general, so we would already have a lot in common. I also wanted to gain closer
relationships with my peers since I tend to be somewhat shy in classroom settings. To say all 12
of us “got close” is an understatement, we all became like best friends and what Dr. Rom called
“a big family”. Most of us already knew each other from classes but had the opportunity to
connect in many other ways while abroad. Entering Edinburgh on that first day was unreal, I was
finally in the place I’ve dreamed of being for so long. Tired but in awe, we toured the important
historic spots in the city and learned of its rich and dark past. The next day we had a special
presentation and tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh, where many of us were
thrilled and taking tons of notes. For the course, we had to keep a journal with us throughout the
trip as a part of a grade as well as lead the excursions and group for one selected day. RBGE was
special because we got to see parts of the glasshouses and gardens not typically open to the
public. It was so wonderful that we all wanted to stay and work at the gardens by the end of the
day. Traveling to Branklyn gardens, Perth and Drummond Castle, where a part of Outlander was
filmed, was one of my favorite days. The weather was so perfect, and the countryside was even
more so. I had never seen such a beautiful place in my life. Visiting SRUC was very exciting
because it is where I plan to take courses while doing research for a semester. We sat through a
couple meaningful and educational lectures, saw all the technology, glasshouses, and research
going on in the college. Both college trips to Reading University and SRUC were incredible and
inspiring to see the other brilliant agricultural research going on in this world. In London, I was
most excited for Kew Gardens and seeing the Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre,
which was a breathtaking and emotional experience. We didn’t even have the chance to explore
all of Kew because of how vast the gardens are, but what we did see was phenomenal. Chelsea
Flower Show surprised me with how much fun I had; there were small vendors, creative
landscapes, live music and food, floral displays and garden designs, and lots of beautiful art. I
marveled in the thousands of possible career options horticulture provides and felt thankful to be
a part of that. I loved the town of Salisbury where we stopped for lunch and light shopping
before heading to Stonehenge. When standing in front of Stonehenge, I couldn’t help but feel
emotional. I was grateful for all the decisions I’ve made in my life for me to be there in that
moment. I realized how following my heart and my passions will always take me where I am
meant to be. I could see my younger self looking up at me so proud of who I am today and how I
got here. I want to thank my professors, my parents and everyone else who made this life altering
trip possible for me.