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Logan
Botanic Gardens - a plantman's paradise
Logan
Botanic Garden is one of the National Botanic Gardens of Scotland
and is without doubt Scotland's Most Exotic Garden.
It has been in the care of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
since 1969.
Situated in the extreme South West of Scotland in the Rhins
of Galloway, the garden benefits from the warming influence
of the Gulf Stream and winters are considerably milder than
other parts of the country. This allows an extensive range
of rare and exotic plants from the Southern Hemisphere, and
other temperate regions of the world, to flourish out of doors.
During the earlier part of the season the spring bulbs, Camellias,
Magnolias and sweetly scented tender Rhododendrons provide
colour and interest for visitors. Throughout the summer season
the well-manicured Walled Garden is a showcase for what is
probably the best collection of half-hardy perennials to be
found anywhere in Scotland.
 These
include large collections of Fuchsia, Salvia, Osteospermum,
Diascia, Argyranthemum, Verbena, Gazania and many more. In
addition there are bizarre Echiums from the Canaries and Madeira.
There is a countless variety of rare and unusual trees, shrubs,
climbers and herbaceous perennials from the world over. These
include the majestic 150 year- old Tree Ferns, from Australia
and 100 year old "champion" Cabbage Palms from New
Zealand as well as plants with the most amazing bark you will
ever see.
The large formal pond, with water lilies and fish, is surrounded
by colourful and interesting plantings. The historically important
"Peat Walls" are home to species of dwarf Rhododendron,
Meconopsis, (Himalayan blue poppies), Trillium,Primula and
many other low - growing acid loving plants.
 In
the Woodland Garden there are representations of species which
have been planted in natural geographic locations. At the
highest point of the Garden, the viewpoint shelter, on a clear
day, visitors can enjoy views over the Garden to Luce Bay
and the distant Galloway hills. Most of the plant material
growing here has been recently collected, from the wild in
Chile, by members of staff from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
and Benmore Botanic Garden. Some of these plantings are new
to cultivation and have not been tried here before.
The lower
reaches of the Woodland Garden are portrayed as an "Australasian
Woodland," where many plants from that part of the world
are growing side by side as they would in nature. Visitors
walk through groves of mature Eucalyptus with an under-storey
of both Australian and New Zealand Tree Ferns, species of
Olearia, Leptospermum, Callistemon, Hebe, Pittosporum, Fuchsia,
and many more too numerous to mention. Large numbers of the
plants growing here were collected during recent field trips
to New Zealand and Tasmania by staff from Logan Botanic Garden.
The Woodland pond is surrounded by appropriate colourful species
- of Iris, Ligularia, Dierama, Hosta and Primula. Nearby is
the country's largest "Gunnera Bog." This amazing
rhubarb like plant is native to Southern Brazil and in one
growing season produces leaves up to 1.5 metres across held
on tall stalks of over 3 metres.
The Discovery
Centre offers displays on the work of the Garden and the other
National Botanic Gardens of Scotland. A short multimedia introduction
to Logan, microscopes to study specimens, an appropriate reference
collection of literature; information about the local natural
history and other local visitor attractions is also available.
Uniquely, visitors can also explore the whole of the RBGE
database of plants.
Visitors
can take advantage of the fully flexible self-guided audio
tour (£1.00 additional charge) which gives lively, yet
detailed information on the 100 or so locations highlighted
throughout the Garden.
The Salad
Bar offers a variety of home made refreshments throughout
the day.
The Botanics Shop has a wide range of unusual and tasteful
gifts and local crafts for sale.
There is also a plant sales area with an excellent selection
of interesting material on offer.
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