If the headlines are to be believed, gardening is the new rock 'n' roll. You can't turn on the TV without Alan Titchmarsh grinning back at you, and garden centres are thronged at the weekends.
If you have been infected by the gardening bug, you could do worse than a day-trip to Threave Garden and Logan Botanic Garden in the southwest of Scotland. Trips to both of these leafy establishments are run each Tuesday during the summer from Belfast on the Stena HSS ferry - although rock 'n' roll is not the most appropriate description for the clientele they attract.
The Garden Lovers' Tour attracts mainly middle-aged couples in stout shoes and sunhats, cooing enviously over riotously coloured rhododendrons and herbaceous borders. Even those who deem themselves a failure in their own weed-filled backyard can find inspiration at Threave Garden, a mile outside Castle Douglas. Run by Scotland's National Trust, the garden, an hour by coach from the ferry port at Stranraer, is so immaculately laid out that the visitor would not be surprised to bump into Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy of Pride and Prejudice taking a gentle stroll around the exquisite rose garden.
Other highlights include the lush "how-do-they-do-that?" lawns and expertly designed walled garden where head gardener Paul Jackson has placed handy gardening tips on the explanatory notices that are dotted around. Rows of lettuces and Jerusalem artichokes stand in neat rows near the huge thistle plants - this is Scotland after all.
The final stop is the Logan Botanic Garden in the extreme south-west of the country. Its geographical position, warmed by the Gulf Stream, allows for an abundance of plants and flowers that would normally thrive only in a greenhouse. Around 14 miles from Stranraer, it enjoys an almost subtropical climate, although south-westerly gales from the sea a mile away can cause some damage.
It is a truly incredible garden, with palm trees soaring towards the blue sky and endless examples of exotic plants. And don't worry if all those Latin names seem confusing. Handheld, state-of-art interpretative audio technology is available for hire to guide you around the gravelled paths.
A short climb up the hill at Logan brings visitors to a viewing post overlooking the Galloway hills and Dumfries where the view is as spectacular as the foliage. There is plenty of time to relax and revel in the solitude, reclining on the benches beside the fishpond or indulging in afternoon tea.
Most of the passengers come back to the bus laden with colourful plants and foliage bought at the garden. "This coach could be a greenhouse the amount of stuff we've brought in here," commented one elderly gentleman. It certainly made for a fragrant journey back to Stranraer.
The Garden Lovers' Tour runs on Tuesdays until the end of August from Belfast. Price in sterling is £19 for adults, £17 for senior citizens and £15 for children inclusive of entry to both gardens. For reservations, tel: Belfast 90747747
