Logan Botanical Gardens

Logan Botanic Gardens is one of the regional gardens of the Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens. It's near Stranraer which is still quite far from Dumfries but we finally decided that we had to visit. After a long but lovely drive through beautiful scenery we arrived at the gardens. Due to its warm climate (caused by its proximity to the Gulf Stream) Logan specialises in tropical plants and the glorious sunshine set them all off perfectly.

The garden also specialises in plants from Australia and Tasmania, including this eucalyptus, with it's wonderful bark

and this amazing prehistoric Wollemi pine tree, which dates back 90 million years. It was discovered in 1994 and there are only a few left in the wild, in the Wollemi National Park in New South Wales, Australia.

also lots of ferns around 

there were lots of hoverflies around, I think theseare Parasyrphus punctulatus (I'm trying to learn hoverfly identification, but a lot of them are very tricky)

It was great to see the garden has made some nice bug hotels for the hoverflies and other invertebrates

Birds also live in the gardens of course. Pheasants seemed to be everywhere

and we sat by the pond for a while, watching a blue tit as it flew into and out of one of these palm trees  carrying food for its young

The pond unfortunately wasn't looking at its best as it's sprung a major leak and the gardens are looking for £30k to repair it.

The gardens have a lovely cafe with an outdoor seating area. Defintely recommended!

And finally this beautiful slate vase