BORDERING ON THE SUBLIME

T HE creation of the colourful gardens in Mount Stewart has been a real family affair. Alexander Stewart bought the estate in 1744 and started a tradition of each generation adding its own touch to the 92- acre site.

The gardens are steeped in the history of the Stewart family. Alexander's son Robert, who became the first Marquess of Londonderry, created the Temple of the Winds, a beautiful banqueting house which overlooks Strangford Lough.

The imposing main house has been home to generations of Stewarts and the gardens received a face-lift from Lady Londonderry in 1921.

She employed 21 ex-servicemen to look after the gardens after the First World War.

The gardens combine formal terraces and informal glades, mixing pavillions, topiary and dovecotes.

The first garden to be revamped by Lady Londonderry was the Sunken Garden. In Spring it is a blaze of orange, yellow and blue herbaceous plants and bulbs.

Purple clematis climb above the tree heaths. Climbing roses and honeysuckle also trail through the pergola along the raised walk.

A flight of steps leads the visitor out to one of Mount Stewart's unusual features, the Shamrock Garden which is designed in the shape of Ireland's emblem.

The garden features the Red Hand of Ulster blazing in scarlet begonias and a topiary Irish harp.

The Italian Garden is based partly on villas near Florence and Lady Londonderry's mother's home in Dunrobin, Scotland.

A magnificent display of roses and herbaceous plants is laid out in symmetrical beds on the terrace. Local stonemason Thomas Beattie cast two smiling monkeys which squat on stone pillars overlooking the gardens.

The Spanish Garden contains delicate, foaming hydrangea in a soft, peachy colour. The Mairi Garden is designed in the shape of the Tudor rose in white and blue.

A huge cabbage tree dominates one side of the garden which was created in the theme of the rhyme Mary, Mary Quite Contrary. There is a dovecote, a little fountain, pretty maids and silver bells in the form of campanulas.

A spokesman for the National Trust said: "The gardens have a fortunate climate, so we are able to grow rare plants and shrubs from across the world."

"The natural wild areas contrast with the garden's formal terraces. The Lily Wood and Peace Garden contain a perfect mix of herbaceous plants and shrubs with exotic and native trees.

"But the lake is one of the most beautiful places in Mount Stewart. The turrets rise among the trees from Tir Nan Og - the land of the ever young - which is the Londonderrys' private burial ground.

"The plants around the lake look natural but they have been carefully contrived to add a sweep of autumn colour along the water's edge.

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