0:00:02 > 0:00:04Behind Northern Ireland's streets and fences
0:00:04 > 0:00:06lie some amazing hidden gardens.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10Private spaces with passionate owners, open just a few days a year.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13Now two top gardening experts,
0:00:13 > 0:00:16Diarmuid Gavin and Helen Dillon,
0:00:16 > 0:00:18are going to be searching for the best.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21They'll be looking for great design...
0:00:21 > 0:00:22Look at that!
0:00:22 > 0:00:24It's an instant paradise.
0:00:24 > 0:00:25..beautiful planting...
0:00:25 > 0:00:29You've no right to call it a weed, but this is my favourite weed.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31..and great gardening practice...
0:00:31 > 0:00:32Do you know what I think the answer is?
0:00:32 > 0:00:34- A hacksaw.- Yeah.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37..as the nervous owners wait inside for the verdict.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39I look forward to hearing what they say about it.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42Wouldn't it be lovely to know what someone like Diarmuid Gavin
0:00:42 > 0:00:44would do with this place?
0:00:44 > 0:00:48This time, three gardens from Counties Antrim and Londonderry.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Which one will be best?
0:00:55 > 0:00:58The first garden is in the suburbs of Derry,
0:00:58 > 0:01:01set in the grounds of a magnificent Georgian villa.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05Over the best part of half a century, restaurant owner Liam Green
0:01:05 > 0:01:08has created a multi-layered wonderland.
0:01:08 > 0:01:14When we bought the property in 1979, there was no garden.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17I knew it was going to take a long time but I was young
0:01:17 > 0:01:19and full of energy.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22There are three distinct areas,
0:01:22 > 0:01:26starting with a front garden that's straight out of Pride And Prejudice.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28Then there's the formal Italian garden,
0:01:28 > 0:01:31though he's been having difficulty keeping his four
0:01:31 > 0:01:34Italian cypress trees on the straight and narrow.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36Being Northern Ireland and the North West,
0:01:36 > 0:01:39we get more wind than they get in Italy.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43And as they got taller, some of them took a lean.
0:01:43 > 0:01:48So I'm trying to correct that with steel cabling. I hope it works.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51He has however worked wonders with two more common
0:01:51 > 0:01:53Castlewellan Gold Leylandii.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55They've worked well.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58And over the years, I've continued to clip them
0:01:58 > 0:02:00and they are quite impressive now.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03And there's also a Japanese garden
0:02:03 > 0:02:06based around a bonsai-like laburnum tree.
0:02:06 > 0:02:13It's not a true Japanese garden but it's Japanese inspired.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17So is Liam looking forward to a visit from our experts?
0:02:17 > 0:02:20- We are in for a treat. - I think we are.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24Diarmuid Gavin is one of the UK and Ireland's top garden designers
0:02:24 > 0:02:25and has won gold at Chelsea.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28Top gardening author Helen Dillon
0:02:28 > 0:02:30owns Ireland's most famous private garden.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34Together they will argue over the garden as Liam waits inside.
0:02:34 > 0:02:39I'm prepared to listen very intently to what they might suggest to me.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41And if they are very happy with it...
0:02:42 > 0:02:44..I'd be even more delighted.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50I love the balance of the whole thing, the house and the yews
0:02:50 > 0:02:54and the path, it's all wonderfully Georgian.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57Absolutely, it's straight out of a Jane Austen novel.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00There is something relaxed, formal, simple,
0:03:00 > 0:03:02and a little extra space to breathe.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07The front pathway is lined with fine examples of Irish yew.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11It's a plant we are very proud of in this country, aren't we?
0:03:11 > 0:03:16We are because it's the true Irish yew, which is very sticky-uppy.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20But the only problem with them is that they are inclined to get fat.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23As we all do as we get older. They go fatter and fatter and fatter.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26The instinct of the gardener is immediately to take off the outside.
0:03:26 > 0:03:27You don't do that.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30What you do is, you leave the middle whatever you do.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32Because you want something to tie the outside to.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35And then you take off every second outside branch.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38So you'd take that one off and then leave the next one.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40And then you take that one off. And you would leave the next one.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43And then you take that one off. Then you've left the middle
0:03:43 > 0:03:46and you can tie the remains to the middle
0:03:46 > 0:03:48to keep your lovely conical effect and not too fat.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50I do love it.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54Liam's Japanese garden is an enchanting sanctuary of
0:03:54 > 0:03:57exotic-looking plants,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00dominated by a mature laburnum on a most unusual carpet.
0:04:03 > 0:04:08I've never seen a plant that so many people detest used so brilliantly.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12It looks absolutely dreamy. A beautiful green carpet.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15How could you argue with that? I call it helxine,
0:04:15 > 0:04:16what do you call it?
0:04:16 > 0:04:18- Mind-your-own-business. - You are absolutely right.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20That's the proper English name for it.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22You just wanted an excuse to say, "Mind your own business."
0:04:22 > 0:04:25- Mind-your-own-business. - Mind your own business to you.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29You know what it reminds me of here?
0:04:29 > 0:04:33The froth on top of a pint of porter.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36- You know the way it begins to pour down the edge of the glass.- Yes.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40- It just spills over.- Spills over. And here, it's spilling over.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42And melting those stones in.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46They look as if they are aged and have been here forever.
0:04:46 > 0:04:51Often, it will grow where lawns won't grow or don't want to be.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54But if you just want something that is lush and green...
0:04:54 > 0:04:58Lush and green and behaves itself. And you never need to mow.
0:04:58 > 0:04:59Brilliant.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06Around the other side of the house is Liam's formal Italian garden
0:05:06 > 0:05:09but it's easy to spot the leaning cypress.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12- What a shame.- What a shame.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16They are Italian cypress trees that just do not like the damp.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18There is not enough drainage here.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21They want to be in a hot hillside garden.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23They will never be happy in this country.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27Occasionally in places they'll grow OK but they are freaks rather than...
0:05:27 > 0:05:30They're very good when they're young because they look adorable.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32- They look just what you want. - And they are so cheap.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34This is what they do when they get old
0:05:34 > 0:05:37and I'm afraid it has to be bye-bye.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41Some of the conifers are great. The box is fantastic.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44And then you have this ugly thing. And so much paving.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47- Do you know what I think the answer is?- What?
0:05:47 > 0:05:49- A hacksaw.- Yeah.
0:05:49 > 0:05:54- Yeah, yes.- And just saw it off. - For this and for that.- Yep.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56- Yeah.- You might actually fall down there and break your neck,
0:05:56 > 0:05:59but at least you've fallen down in a beautiful place.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04And looking down into the sunken garden, things are looking up.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06Down here is pure delight.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09You have two of those Castlewellan Gold pretending to
0:06:09 > 0:06:13- be Italian.- And doing it perfectly! Getting it right.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15And the ironic thing is, I actually hate that plant.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17It's usually too yellow and too brash.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20But it looks absolutely stunning there. It's beautifully pruned.
0:06:20 > 0:06:21It's perfect there.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24It's terrific compared with those miseries up there.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26They need to be whipped out.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32So, Diarmuid, who do we think lives here? What sort of person?
0:06:32 > 0:06:36It's Jane Austen and Darcy. Don't you think?
0:06:36 > 0:06:39I thought it was Lady Chatterley actually.
0:06:39 > 0:06:44Well, no, because I think whoever lives here also gardens here.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47I'm not sure. I think this is a personal passion.
0:06:47 > 0:06:53It may be quite nice and posh, it has a house I'd love to live in, but
0:06:53 > 0:06:57whoever lives here understands every square inch and has built this...
0:06:57 > 0:06:59And has put every thought you could possibly put into it.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01Has thought about all the colours,
0:07:01 > 0:07:05thought about where everything is, and got it 99% perfect.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10Time, at last, to meet the proud owner.
0:07:10 > 0:07:11Welcome to Derry.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14It's lovely to be here and lovely to meet you.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16From the moment we went through that gate
0:07:16 > 0:07:20at the bottom of the garden, we walked up the path of the Irish yews
0:07:20 > 0:07:22on either side, it was just perfect.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24We walked back into the 19th century.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27We'd straightaway gone back 100 or 200 years.
0:07:27 > 0:07:32- There is a few things that slightly jarred in there.- OK, tell me.
0:07:32 > 0:07:37First of all, those Italian cypress trees. You've battled with them.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41You wanted them to do, you wanted them to be straight, erect,
0:07:41 > 0:07:42pointing towards heaven.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45- Yeah.- And it's just, they don't like it here, do they?
0:07:45 > 0:07:48- They don't.- Helen has a suggestion. - I'm listening.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51I'm afraid it's very simple. It's off with his head!
0:07:51 > 0:07:53- Yeah, OK. - And the quicker, the better.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57Look, I accept...I accept everything.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00And there was one other tiny suggestion.
0:08:00 > 0:08:06When you are using the angle grinder to cut off the cypress trees,
0:08:06 > 0:08:08take the railings out too.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10- Would paint help?- No.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13It would help. That's... It would help.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15Matte black might help.
0:08:15 > 0:08:20The railings are a copy of the railing in the house.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22There had to be a reason.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24- So you didn't just do any old railing?- No.
0:08:24 > 0:08:30I think it's maybe the material that is slightly offensive. It's cold.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33They were put in ten years ago.
0:08:33 > 0:08:38- Yeah.- Galvanised steel was in.- Yes.
0:08:38 > 0:08:44- Everywhere. Maybe you used it. - He's blaming me.- Yes.
0:08:44 > 0:08:45And you're quite right.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48Everywhere we look, you have picked beautiful stuff.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51You've made wonderful choices in terms of planting.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54We love what you've done with the Castlewellan Golds.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58That was a real... That was just an experiment.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01That is a horticultural triumph, that. That's a triumph.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05The only thing, for me, wrong with them is they are too close together.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07- No, they're not.- No?- No.- OK!
0:09:07 > 0:09:12No. I think you are right. They are fun. They are fun.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16They are not pretentious, they are fun. Liam, it's been a pure delight.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19You have created something here that's very, very special.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22- Well done and thank you. - Thank you very, very much.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27Not far from Ballymena in County Antrim
0:09:27 > 0:09:31is a large five-acre garden that has been developed from farmland
0:09:31 > 0:09:34over 23 years by Hilary and Jim Rafferty.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38We work together as a team and it works very successfully.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41- Two head gardeners. - Two head gardeners.
0:09:41 > 0:09:46The couple used an old mill race to make two huge ponds
0:09:46 > 0:09:48as centrepieces for the garden,
0:09:48 > 0:09:52with seating areas where they can enjoy the fruits of their labour.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56It's very nice to sit there with a cup of tea. Or a glass of wine.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Over the years, they've thrown everything at the garden
0:10:01 > 0:10:02to see what sticks.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05"We've got a plant. Where will it go?"
0:10:05 > 0:10:08So far, I think it's working. If it doesn't work, we move it.
0:10:08 > 0:10:09It's as simple as that.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15Both Hilary and Jim are very excited about the imminent visit.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18- Absolutely fantastic. - Thrilled skinny.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21We used to say, "Wouldn't it be lovely to know what
0:10:21 > 0:10:24"somebody like Diarmuid Gavin would do with this place?"
0:10:24 > 0:10:26- So we maybe will here.- Yeah.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28Look at that!
0:10:28 > 0:10:29Oh, what fun!
0:10:33 > 0:10:38Lording it over the lake is a comical wooden throne.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40Do I make a good queen?
0:10:40 > 0:10:42You make a perfect queen.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46I like this. This is very playful.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49It makes you smile. And it makes you want to explore.
0:10:50 > 0:10:55The feeling here is just one of happiness.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58The lake is surrounded by raised walkways
0:10:58 > 0:11:01bordered by a chaotic mix of flowers.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03It's a riot of colour.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11I like everything I'm seeing here.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14It's just, you know, a rockery circa 1965.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17But if you're going to do a rockery, go for it.
0:11:17 > 0:11:18And they've certainly gone for it.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22Look through this gap here.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25You can see this meandering pathway that's lifted up
0:11:25 > 0:11:27and offers towards you a great vista.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29Of the lovely candelabra primulas.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34The pond is home to many water lilies that have been
0:11:34 > 0:11:35carefully kept in check.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42Beautifully planted ponds. Ponds are complicated for people.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46If you have a water feature and you want to grow marginal or
0:11:46 > 0:11:48aquatic plants, you have to get the balance right.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50But the balance is just right today.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53From a human point of view, you've got a beautiful sheet of water
0:11:53 > 0:11:54and the water lilies.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57But if you look the other way for a moment,
0:11:57 > 0:11:59you end up with all water lilies or all water.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01Not, sort of, balance.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05To see a different aspect of the garden, Diarmuid has a plan.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07Have you seen Titanic?
0:12:07 > 0:12:08Do you trust me?
0:12:08 > 0:12:11HE CHUCKLES
0:12:13 > 0:12:15- It's the inky black.- Isn't it?
0:12:15 > 0:12:19- And we can't see the bottom. - That's it.- We'll just try the bottom.
0:12:19 > 0:12:20Hang on a second.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24Ooh. Ah, Diarmuid. Eeek!
0:12:27 > 0:12:29THEY LAUGH
0:12:29 > 0:12:31- Now you don't feel safe. - I think it's a 20-footer!
0:12:33 > 0:12:39It's so rare to come to a water garden that has lilies in flower.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41And then to ride over them.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44THEY LAUGH
0:12:44 > 0:12:49One side of the lake is dominated by a huge Leyland cypress hedge.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53I just feel that hedge is so out of place.
0:12:53 > 0:12:58- It may be keeping the wind off. - Off what?- But it's so alien.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01It's so alien to the beech trees, to the birch trees,
0:13:01 > 0:13:03to this beautiful planting here.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05It's all so charming and so adorable.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08And then we have this alien thug sitting here.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15Beyond the top lake is a smaller lower lake
0:13:15 > 0:13:17surrounded by young birch trees.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22It's less developed here
0:13:22 > 0:13:26with a few quirky artefacts to capture your attention.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28Look at this guy here. Green Man.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31Look at this, "The Green Man or Jack O'Green, is one of the oldest
0:13:31 > 0:13:35"and most pagan symbols to be found in Christian churches.
0:13:35 > 0:13:40"The Celts worshipped the head, believing it contained a human soul.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43"And frequently depicted it surrounded by foliage."
0:13:43 > 0:13:47- This is their little altar, I suppose. It's very sweet.- Isn't it?
0:13:47 > 0:13:48It's a good place.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52A river walkway runs down from the mill
0:13:52 > 0:13:54with even more colourful plants.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59What I love about this pink geranium, Diarmuid -
0:13:59 > 0:14:02I know you're not quite so keen on this pink geranium -
0:14:02 > 0:14:04if you have any problem in the garden,
0:14:04 > 0:14:06just plant Geranium endressii.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09This is Geranium endressii. You could stick this under a tree,
0:14:09 > 0:14:12you could stick this under a bush, you could stick it anywhere.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15And instead of having nettles, like you've got over there,
0:14:15 > 0:14:18this side you could have lovely pink Geranium endressii.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20I'm sorry, my customer's just walked off. He wouldn't listen.
0:14:22 > 0:14:27Helen, how do you sum up a garden like this in a couple of words?
0:14:27 > 0:14:29- Sublime.- That's one word.
0:14:29 > 0:14:30That's one word.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34But what I especially love is it's not a bit showy-offy.
0:14:34 > 0:14:39People have planted lovely plants in huge variety, in a charming,
0:14:39 > 0:14:43meandering, triple-level path that goes right round this water.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45And it's an absolute delight.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48We can argue individually about one plant or another plant but this
0:14:48 > 0:14:51is just what someone absolutely adores and they've done it.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54Who do we think...what do you think about who lives here?
0:14:54 > 0:14:57I'm really looking forward to meeting them
0:14:57 > 0:15:00because it's a place full of joy, happiness, of creativity,
0:15:00 > 0:15:02they've gone for it, they are adventurous.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04I think we will like them.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08- Hello.- Hi.- Hello. - Lovely to meet you.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11- Delighted to meet you two. - The pleasure is mine. It really is.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13We are very happy here.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15There is lots of plants.
0:15:15 > 0:15:20There is rockeries mixed in with rows, there's all sorts of jarring,
0:15:20 > 0:15:23clashing colours. It doesn't seem to matter here.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26You don't go with any style, you make your own style.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29- You do what you want and what feels right.- Yes.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33- My wife calls it a Jackson Pollock. - It is a Jackson Pollock.
0:15:33 > 0:15:39- I really like Jackson Pollock.- Does the pond take a lot of maintenance?
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Water lilies and pond weed can be a...
0:15:42 > 0:15:44Marginal planting can be very vigorous.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48They can be. But then, the pond's so deep they only go so far.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50- So it's not just so bad. - That's so interesting.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52- You've got that lovely expanse of plain water.- Yes.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55I wonder how you managed to control it. Thought it was so clever.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58- The depth, yes.- Did you know before you did it because...?
0:15:58 > 0:16:00Yes, that it was the depth that would control...
0:16:00 > 0:16:02- That they'd have to behave themselves?- Yes.
0:16:02 > 0:16:0415ft deep at its deepest.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07We did put the oar down but it never got to the bottom.
0:16:07 > 0:16:08THEY LAUGH
0:16:08 > 0:16:10Were the both of you in the boat then?
0:16:10 > 0:16:11- Yeah.- Oh, dear.
0:16:11 > 0:16:16Meandering through the garden, we came across the guard of the garden.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19- The Green Man.- The Green Man. - Tell me about him.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22We've had the Green Man 30 years, at least.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26We bought it in England. I came across that lump of granite.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28I had the large stone planted there.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30And I put the granite in front of it.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34Then I decided to build a fernery, because of what it is.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38Explain the spirit of the garden. What does that mean to you?
0:16:38 > 0:16:42Peaceful, tranquil. Um, beautiful.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45- Druid-like.- Druid-like, yes.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48I have been known to drift around in a kaftan but...
0:16:48 > 0:16:50THEY LAUGH
0:16:50 > 0:16:53There's only one element of the garden that jarred with us.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55Just one thing.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58- The hedge.- Ah, yes. - Well, we couldn't be without it.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00Without that, we couldn't have a garden.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04I thought the winds were so bad until the trees grew up,
0:17:04 > 0:17:06we might lose those rhododendrons.
0:17:06 > 0:17:11I have to say, we have just revelled in our chance...
0:17:11 > 0:17:13From you, that is great.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16You've created a very special, very happy place.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20And one that we are so glad that you shared with us.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22- Thank you again.- I'm glad. - Thank you very much.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24- Now, can I ask one thing of you before you go?- Yes.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27I have two of your books and one of yours. Could you sign them?
0:17:27 > 0:17:29THEY LAUGH
0:17:29 > 0:17:31I'm glad the balance is right.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33- THEY LAUGH - Oh, you cheeky fella!
0:17:33 > 0:17:34THEY LAUGH
0:17:34 > 0:17:35Of course.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41Portstewart, on the windswept north coast of Antrim,
0:17:41 > 0:17:44is a tricky place to build a great garden.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48But it hasn't stopped retired engineer James Logan.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51His amazing Islamic-style garden was inspired after visiting
0:17:51 > 0:17:53the Alhambra in Spain.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55I had one of these sort of eureka moments.
0:17:55 > 0:18:00I thought, "God, this garden, the shape of it, the orientation of it,
0:18:00 > 0:18:03"I could maybe do something like the garden in the Alhambra
0:18:03 > 0:18:06"that I really love so much."
0:18:06 > 0:18:09The garden is dominated by dense rose beds.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13If you go into the history of the Islamic gardens, roses were
0:18:13 > 0:18:18the key plant that was actually growing in gardens like this.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22Basically, all I have to do with it
0:18:22 > 0:18:25is prune the roses in the wintertime.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27These sort of roses, which are shrub roses,
0:18:27 > 0:18:29don't require precise pruning.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32You can literally almost go through them with hedge clippers.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36So it doesn't require much maintenance.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40The central flowing rill of water is very important to James.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45The water in this garden, it's gentle. It's quiet.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49It's not like some of these water features you sometimes see
0:18:49 > 0:18:53in garden shows which sound like a cow having a pee.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56It's quite a meditative sort of environment.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00Though meditation is not a concept his grandchildren find easy.
0:19:00 > 0:19:05I've had children paddling in the rill, floating boats up
0:19:05 > 0:19:09and down, and trying to get me to buy goldfish. You know. So...
0:19:09 > 0:19:11No way.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14So is James looking forward to the visit?
0:19:14 > 0:19:17Having Diarmuid and Helen here, absolutely, it's a great privilege.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19I look forward to meeting them.
0:19:19 > 0:19:20I'm a great fan of Helen
0:19:20 > 0:19:23and her forthright manner in gardening matters.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26And I look forward to hearing what they say about it.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28Before they even get to James' garden,
0:19:28 > 0:19:33Diarmuid and Helen have to pass by rose bushes in the back public lane.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36These rugosa roses are fantastically good.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39I don't find this white one so good, cos when it gets too wet,
0:19:39 > 0:19:41it turns into a big sog.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44Whereas this pink one here will take dogs' abuse.
0:19:44 > 0:19:45It's a fantastic plant
0:19:45 > 0:19:48because it comes from the seaside in Japan,
0:19:48 > 0:19:51where it's covered in salt spray, covered in awful wind.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54And look what it does. It's fantastic.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57And even in the seaside in Ulster, this is a fantastic place.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01- It's an absolutely fool-proof rose. - It's quite peony-like, isn't it?
0:20:01 > 0:20:06And almost peony scented. This is so underused, this wonderful plant.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08- Some weeding needs doing. - This is my favourite weed.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10And you've no right to call it a weed.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13The seeds of this teasel are the most attractive things
0:20:13 > 0:20:16if you want to get goldfinches into your garden.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18This is the first thing they land on when it's got seed.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21The second interesting thing about it is, this is
0:20:21 > 0:20:24the plant that the man who invented Velcro got the idea from.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27Because it's got these extraordinary backward prickles all over it.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30And by getting one bit and noticing it's always clinging to the
0:20:30 > 0:20:33other bit, he thought of Velcro and became a mega-millionaire.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36So that's an interesting thing about this plant.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38My husband hates it and I particularly like it.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40So we have the teasel row every year in which he says,
0:20:40 > 0:20:42"Take them out," and I say, "Leave them in."
0:20:42 > 0:20:44- Is he a bit of a TEASE-el?- He is.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48But also, he doesn't realise what a wonderful statuesque
0:20:48 > 0:20:50seed head it is in winter.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52When you've got a whole group of them.
0:20:52 > 0:20:53Quite a long wall.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57The lane finally leads to the main event.
0:20:57 > 0:20:58Christmas!
0:20:58 > 0:21:00- Look at this!- Oh, look at this!
0:21:00 > 0:21:04- Gosh!- It's a garden of earthly delights. That's what they call it.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06It's an instant paradise.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10It's a Moroccan fantasy based on the Alhambra.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13Filled with sweet-smelling roses.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15It's an Islamic-style garden.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18And you are creating a garden that would represent the afterlife.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20So if you'd lived a good life,
0:21:20 > 0:21:23you ended up in a place like this after you passed away.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25And not only would you end up in a place like this,
0:21:25 > 0:21:27you've got about 500 virgins thrown in.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30I believe. No, seriously. I'm serious.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36The rill stretches some 20 metres from the pavilion
0:21:36 > 0:21:39to a more functional area for sitting and entertaining.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43When you step outside of the house,
0:21:43 > 0:21:47all of a sudden you're on this big, wide, practical terrace or patio.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50It's not cluttered. It has pots and containers.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54It has the barbecue. A place to sit. And these two gigantic urns,
0:21:54 > 0:21:58which are planted with petunias and nicely edged.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01I presume they've given it a good old slap with the yoghurt.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03And if that didn't work, give it another go.
0:22:03 > 0:22:07What happens there? You smear yoghurt over terracotta or concrete.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09And that will bring algae
0:22:09 > 0:22:12- and lichens and moss. - Nice things that want to live there.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14And nice things that want to live there.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18And make the place feel lived in. Create an aged aura, I suppose.
0:22:22 > 0:22:23Do you know what I also like?
0:22:23 > 0:22:28From here on in, there's nothing practical about this garden.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32It is style over form and function. And so it should be.
0:22:32 > 0:22:33That isn't a wide path.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36You have to be very delicate and careful as you wander your way round.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39- You have to be careful not to fall in, absolutely.- You do.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42What I like about it is it completely works.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45It's a brilliant example of what you could do with a very small
0:22:45 > 0:22:48garden to make a magnificent and magic effect.
0:22:48 > 0:22:52In effect, you've got an oasis from the outside world.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56I think we're to assume that this garden is inspired
0:22:56 > 0:22:58directly by the Alhambra.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01And in that garden, whoever created those palaces,
0:23:01 > 0:23:03water would have been central.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06They would have needed water for the palace, for the aristocrats.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10They would have needed water for the garden, for food, for agriculture.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13But they also used water in most magical way.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16And they showed their prowess at engineering by having all
0:23:16 > 0:23:20these fountains, all these pipes. But it was an extraordinary...
0:23:20 > 0:23:22You're talking 600-700 years ago.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26An extraordinary feat of engineering to get those fountains
0:23:26 > 0:23:29bubbling away, all the lines with water coming out there.
0:23:29 > 0:23:30But even these days,
0:23:30 > 0:23:33I still can't decide which way this water's actually flowing.
0:23:33 > 0:23:34I mean, it's lovely and fresh everywhere.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36But which way is it actually flowing?
0:23:36 > 0:23:38You see, the gardener here has been very...
0:23:38 > 0:23:40He's thought about it for a long time.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43What do you think of the background colour that's been used?
0:23:43 > 0:23:44I don't mind it.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47It's sort of terracotta and it's sort of Mediterranean.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50But it's quite soft. It's not arguing with Northern Ireland.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54If we'd had the amazing sunshine that we've been lucky enough to get
0:23:54 > 0:23:57part of this summer, this garden would dance.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00In the dullish light, not so successful.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02But what other colour would you use?
0:24:05 > 0:24:08What sort of person do you think created this garden?
0:24:08 > 0:24:11I don't think this is a person who dithered around and tried
0:24:11 > 0:24:13a bit of this, a bit of that, and a bit of the other.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15I think they probably saw the whole picture together.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17And I think they got it right.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20And I think, considering it's a very small space and we're
0:24:20 > 0:24:23in Northern Ireland rather than sunny Spain, I think it's terrific.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26- Hello.- Hi.- Hello, Diarmuid. Hello, Helen.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29- Very pleased to meet you. - Very pleased to meet you too.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31Very pleased to meet you. Welcome to Portstewart.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35It's just a delight to be sitting in your garden.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37- It really is.- Well, that's what it was really designed for.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39It was designed to be sat in.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42- Good.- Certainly, I think when I put this garden together...
0:24:42 > 0:24:45I didn't want to be sitting down and thinking,
0:24:45 > 0:24:48"There's some grass to edge or some weeds to pull up."
0:24:48 > 0:24:53It was a place to be in harmony with the whole unity of the garden.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56Were there difficult decisions or did you decide, right,
0:24:56 > 0:25:01I'm going to make a garden that pays homage to the Alhambra,
0:25:01 > 0:25:04but I'm going to do it with Northern Irish sensibility?
0:25:04 > 0:25:06That's absolutely right.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10I mean, you can look at some of the brickwork in the wall here.
0:25:10 > 0:25:15This sort of comes from, you know, a concrete fabrication company.
0:25:15 > 0:25:20Absolutely. But it works. It's absolutely perfect.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22And the colour you've got it is perfect. It works. It's brilliant.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25Again, the same thing with all the tiling in the garden.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27How about the planting when it comes?
0:25:27 > 0:25:32Because you're demonstrating a knowledge of...a good planting
0:25:32 > 0:25:35knowledge, a good aspect knowledge, as well as the overall design.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39You look around the immediate landscape here. There's no trees.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42As I said, the North Atlantic is over that wall.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45So it's not easy gardening. It's not leafy suburbs. This is tricky.
0:25:45 > 0:25:50Helen was reminding me that one of the essences of the Islamic
0:25:50 > 0:25:54- garden is you're representing the afterlife in a way.- Mm-hmm.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58And she thought about 500 virgins that you got for good behaviour...
0:25:58 > 0:26:00HE LAUGHS
0:26:01 > 0:26:05I'm actually showing this is a piece of heaven here on earth.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07And I can assure you,
0:26:07 > 0:26:09there's never been 500 virgins in this garden, you know.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11HE LAUGHS
0:26:11 > 0:26:15So three fantastic gardens that anyone would be proud of -
0:26:15 > 0:26:18but which one will Diarmuid and Helen decide is the best?
0:26:18 > 0:26:21Using classic judging criteria of design,
0:26:21 > 0:26:23planting and good gardening practice,
0:26:23 > 0:26:25they will try to come up with a winner.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29First, they consider Liam Green's Jane Austen garden
0:26:29 > 0:26:31with dashes of Italy and Japan.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33I thought it was perfect.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Except for those very annoying conifers which didn't behave
0:26:36 > 0:26:38and went wobbly at the top.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41I couldn't fault it. I thought it was really, really good.
0:26:41 > 0:26:47I just loved the fact that every decision was a considered one.
0:26:47 > 0:26:52I especially adored the green carpet of the very bad weed,
0:26:52 > 0:26:57the helxine, used underneath the laburnum in the Japanese garden.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59I thought it was brilliance itself.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03I knew this was the work of one person. One hand. One mind.
0:27:03 > 0:27:04He knew everything.
0:27:05 > 0:27:10Next, Hilary and Jim's waterways with splashes of Jackson Pollock.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15I thought the lake was so strong and so successful,
0:27:15 > 0:27:18it didn't awfully matter what the rest of it was.
0:27:18 > 0:27:19It kind of worked.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22I was utterly charmed by this garden.
0:27:22 > 0:27:27It made me smile from the moment I discovered a throne on the lake.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32The hedge was problematic. But then, I think the wind was problematic.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37And what about James Logan's recreation of the Alhambra
0:27:37 > 0:27:39in weather-beaten Portstewart?
0:27:41 > 0:27:44I absolutely loved the surprise of going in
0:27:44 > 0:27:49through that side entrance and seeing these billowing roses.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51I must say, I thought it worked really well.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54I mean, we were standing looking at it for, what, two hours?
0:27:54 > 0:27:56And there wasn't a bad moment in it.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59I mean, I don't think it was incredibly technical gardening.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02That garden was more about decorating with plants.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05But I don't think he put a foot wrong in the design of it.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09And he put fairly easy plants, which he was looking after well.
0:28:09 > 0:28:10And it worked.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12So which one did they like best?
0:28:13 > 0:28:17A very difficult decision but we have a result.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19- Liam.- Liam it is.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22Delighted to hear it. Although I loved all the others.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25So congratulations then to Liam Green,
0:28:25 > 0:28:28edging it against some very high-quality competition.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33A worthy winner. Well, we've enjoyed our garden visiting.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35See you next time.
0:28:35 > 0:28:36- Bye.- Goodbye.