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Gulf Stream sees to that) but susceptible to ferocious winds. Fortunately, many years ago a far-sighted fellow planted a thick shelter belt of trees around the gardens, which saves them from the worst winds.The gardens were laid out in the early 1930s

).All these aspects considered, if I was only allowed to grow one hosta then I would have to choose Hosta sieboldiana 'Elegans'. It has big glaucous blue leaves and a chandelier of white flowers, looks magnificent in a pot and wonderful in a damp corner amongst ferns

saw vast elephantine bananas, slightly creepy cycads, cavorting ferns, tall cacti, bombastic bamboos and exotic orchids.It was a great afternoon and the sun was shining, too — a bit of a result on the east coast of Scotland. The only thing that would

is the fiddlehead - these are the emerging fronds of ferns such as Osmunda regalis or Matteucia struthiopteris. Popular in America, slightly toxic if undercooked and, according to my wife (whose taste I trust absolutely), absolutely disgusting.The mange tout gets a

sheltered area, then there are a couple of exotic trees that are truly spectacular. The silk tree (Albizia julibrissin f. rosea) has large pinnate leaves and flowers like pink starbursts.Also, Weinmannia trichosperma, which is a Chilean evergreen with fern

winter.Actaea 'James Compton' - these used to be called cimicifugas. Tall and very, very elegant. 'James Compton' has dark purplish leaves as well.Zauschenaria californica - any plant whose name begins with Z has a special spot in my heart. A great edging