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Introducing Neil Porteus | Article

We speak to Neil Porteus ahead of our new tour 'The Irish Collection: Spring Gardens of County Antrim and County Down'

We are delighted to announce that Neil Porteous joins Boxwood Tours as a Tour Host on our April 2025 tour to Gardens of County Antrim and County Down, where the mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea. With an exceptional knowledge of plants, Neil has explored numerous species in their natural habitats, travelling to China, North and South Africa, Australia, and the Himalayas. His passion for history and love for researching the stories behind historic gardens led to an MA in Garden History and a BSc. Hons in Landscape Management & Horticulture. Neil frequently

appears on local radio, sharing his expertise and insights. Offering over a dozen different talks and tours, he relishes public speaking and garden guiding, enjoying the opportunity to meet and learn from other gardeners. Currently, Neil works as an independent garden consultant, advising private clients, Mount Stewart in Co. Down, and the Office of Public Works at Annes Grove and Doneraile Court in Co. Cork. Additionally, he is researching the histories of the gardens at Mount Stewart and Brook Hall in Co. Londonderry.

We caught up with Neil to learn a little bit more about him and what we can expect from our special tour.

What first sparked your interest in gardening and horticulture?

I was born and spent my first five years in Kolkata in India. I loved playing in the garden in the shade of beautiful trees and in the monsoon, we went up to Sikkim, to Darjeeling, in the foothills of the Himalaya. On our return to the north of Scotland, on a visit to my grandparents, my grandfather showed me how to raise vegetables and when it rained, we brewed up in an old Anderson shelter and he taught me chess.

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What is your personal philosophy or approach to garden design and maintenance?

I think good design is usually simple – letting the garden speak to you – res ipsa loquitur! Garden maintenance is an art involving timing, forward planning and an opportunistic approach.

Are there any particular plants or garden styles that you are especially passionate about?

I really like naturalistic planting where a plant from China is growing next to one from Chile, looking natural, as though a supernatural flora of some enchanted island.

Can you share a memorable experience or anecdote from your work in any of the gardens?

Mount Stewart has the most depth and complexity of any garden I know, combining Gaelic and Classical mythology with personal commemoration. It is a magical place. One day, early in the morning, I was walking round the lake and was beneath Tir n’an Og, when a small typhoon settled on the lake, raising the water up 40’ for several minutes – observed only by me and a nesting swan! I have a photograph.

What do you enjoy most about leading garden tours and sharing your expertise with others?

Well, we all learn from each other, and a tour is an interaction rather than a monologue, so I take the time to speak with people.

What is unique about the gardens in this area of Northern Ireland?

The presence of the Gulf Stream allows us to grow a surprising range of plants from around the world so far north – we have an equivalent latitude to Hudson Bay but have an unusually benign climate.

The tour visits several gardens maintained by passionate horticulturists. Can you elaborate on what makes these locations special in terms of horticultural knowledge and plant collections?

Because of the possibilities in terms of plants which can be grown in Ireland, Irish gardeners tend to be incredibly knowledgeable about the plants in their care and often have great insights on how to get the best from them.

Among all the gardens and locations on the itinerary, do you have a personal favourite or a particular highlight that participants shouldn't miss?

For me, Mount Stewart is the epitome of both design and planting, but all the gardens are unique and eccentric.

The tour includes special private invitations, such as a visit to Ballywalter Park with Lord and Lady Dunleath. How do these personal touches enhance the overall experience for participants?

All gardens are a complex combination of imagination and what can be grown in a particular climate. Speaking to the garden’s inspiration first hand, really gives valuable insights into how a particular garden has evolved.

Join Neil on his Boxwood Garden Tour through Ireland in 2025 now!

- The Irish Collection: Spring Gardens of Country Antrim and County Down | 28 April - 2 May 2025

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