Right beside the Sambucus seedling is Euonymus lucidus with its gorgeous reddish new growth.

Coprosma ‘Beatson’s Gold’ clipped into a ball.

Is this Ilex Ilex dimorphophylla or, perhaps, a form of Ilex crenata convexa? Might even be Ilex nothofagifolia?

One forgets how remarkable the flowers on Pittosporum tenuifolium can be.

Trevor Edwards, Thomas Methuen Campbell, and the two gardeners.

A large mutlistemmed tree had suffered recent storm damage. On a broken twig there are a few flowers. Is this Pittosporum bicolor? I think so but originally a huge 20-30 feet tall cluster.

The original Sambucus nigra ‘Guincho Purple’. A very elderly and propped up shrub.

Another fully mature Pseudopanax crassifolius. Indeed a Record UK Tree.

Abundent flowers on Pittosporum eugenioides ‘Variegatum’.

A large recently pollarded willow.

A fine Lagarostrobos franklinii (was Dacrydium franklinii).

Griselinia littoralis seeding everywhere in the valley.

The group standing under Azara lanceolata.

A fine plant of Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum.

Cotoneaster salicifolius ‘Repens’ in a large flat bed by the front door.

We then arrive at Mahee Island whchi was treeless until Paddy Mackie created this 35 acres island garden at Strangford Lough. Paddy is well into his 90’s but still came with us on the 2½ hour tour on a buggy. Remarkable for the creator of a garden to live to see it growing into its best. He started in 1959 and the rhododendrons now thrive beneath the (largely pine) tree canopy which he planted first.

Rhododendron ‘Pintail’ – a dwarf variety bred by Glendoick.

Rhododendron ‘Ptarmigan’ also Ken Cox variety is not as I remember it. Ptarmigan was white I thought?

Rhododendron ‘Grace Seabrook’ – a very fine red hybrid.

Eucryphia cordifolia with huge leaves. Much larger leaves than on the Caerhays plants.

Rhododendron ‘Etta Burrows’.

Metrosideros excelsa growing away happily outside. Supplied by Burncoose in 2016. Who would have thought you could grow this outside in Northern Ireland?

Rhododendron ‘Loders White’ isn’t completely white.

The best clump of Rhododendron arizelum that I have ever seen.

Rhododendron arizelum ‘Ardkinglas’.

Rhododendron ‘Horizon’ Monarch’ just coming out.

Rhododendron watsonii which is not a species which I knew.

Rhododendron wilsonii (Rhododendron latoucheae) – a rare find in a superb garden.

Camellia japonica ‘Willamina’ was still full of flower and the best camellia which we saw today.

Rhododendron ‘Mrs G.W.Leak’.

Rhododendron ‘Phyllis Korn’.

This Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ and very pretty too.

One of the great finds of the way was Drimys andina which grew as a small shrub at Burncoose below the Tennis Court before it died years ago. Here, in full sun, was a huge 12-15 feet tall clump in full flower.

Rhododendron niveum.

The party in front of Drimys andina.

Huge big leaf seedlings in full flower touching the edge of the loch.

It is so mild that many rhododendrons have leaves covered in sooty mould as here.

Views across the loch.

Rhododendron arboreum.

Another (to me) unknown Drimys. This was labelled Drimys laurifolia x malehide. (Not listed in Hilliers).

The A.J. Waley medal presented to Paddy Mackie this year.