Janet Baraclough ranted:

Garbage. If you were ever here, you never looked at a map.
Stephen has already demonstrated that he doesn't actually know the
location of the gardens he says he visited. He went to great lengths to
pretend they are not beside the sea. Anyone interested can look up those
gardens, and their detailed location maps, and see for themselves.
The Botanic Gardens is about 500 yards from the sea.

You are very vague about what you call near the sea, and very inaccurate
in your estimates. To be more precise:

RBG of Edinburgh, 1.5 miles from the firth of Forth, not very close.
Glendoick Gardens, 1.8 miles from the firth of Tay, even further.
Branklyn Garden, 3 miles from the firth of Tay, much further.
Invereww Gardens, 100 meters from Loch Ewe, close.
Arduaine Gardens, borders the Sound of Jura at one point, but no rhodies
there, very close.
Younger Botanic Garden (Benmore), 2 miles from Holy Loch, not the least
bit close.
Crarae Gardens, 1000 feet from Loch Fyne, not very close.
Brodick Castle & Gardens runs down to about 100 meters from the firth of
Clyde, quite close.

None of these gardens is "on
a high hilltop", and I have not claimed they are. The opposite is the
case. Inverewe, Arduaine, Edinburgh, Benmore and Brodick are all at sea
level.Stephen repeatedly claimed they are "not beside the sea" and
actually lied about the location of Arduaine which he claims is at
Inverary.

None are at sea level or they would disappear at the highest tides.
Inverewe Gardens is the most exposed to the sea.
Arduaine Gardens in on a 239 ft. high slope of An Cnap overlooking the
Sound of Jura seimi-sheltered to the west by the 300 ft. tall Luing and
Garvellachs.
The RBGE has an elevation of 134 meters.
Younter Botanic Garden at Benmore features a 450 foot high view point.
Brodick Castle & Gardens is situated on a sheltered plateau above the
firth of Clyde, but the gardens extend down near the highway along the
shore.

And Arduaine Gardens is not very near any place, but it is 16 mi. west
of Inveraray (43 mi. by road) & 20 mi. south of Oban, so Inveraray is
closest to Inveraray (not Inverary) if you look at a map.

West Scotland's salt-laden coast is famous for its
rhododendron gardens .

How can areas with 60 to 90 inches of annual rainfall be salt laden?!?!?!

Inverewe Gardens, main rainfall 64 in.
Arduaine Gardens, mean rainfall 60 in.
Younger Botanic Gardens at Benmore, mean rainfall 90 in.
Crarae Gardens, mean rainfall 60 in.
Brodick Castle & Gardens, mean rainfall 80 in.

We're not talking "salt breezes". Scotland is a narrow patch of land
beside 3000 miles of ocean; winds are ferocious here especially in the
west. 70 mph is commonplace and 100 mph not exceptional.

Every one of these gardens has some protection from the prevailing
westerly winds:

The RBGE is 1.5 miles inland and 134 m. high and nestled amongst large
trees.
Glendoick Gardens is 1.8 miles inland and nestled amongst large trees.
Branklyn Garden is 3 miles inland and nestled amongst large trees.
Inverewe Gardens (NT) the rhododendrons and azaleas are grown amongst
large trees in areas naturally sheltered behind "wind- and
salt-barriers" of Griselinia littoralis and other plants about 100 m
from the Southern tip of Loch Ewe where it is nestled.
Arduaine Gardens is nestled amongst large trees near the Sound of Jura
but is elevated and slightly shelterd from the westerly winds by the 300
ft tall Luing and Garvellachs.
Younger Botanic Gardens at Benmore is 2 miles from the sea and nestled
amongst large trees. It is elevated and has much protection to the west.
Crarae Gardens is protected from the westerly winds on the east side of
a hillside nestled amongst large trees and is situated about 1000 feet
from Loch Fyne.
Brodick Castle & Gardens is protected from the westerly winds by the
3,866 foot tall Goatfell.

Stephen repeatedly claimed they are "not beside the sea" and
actually lied about the location of Arduaine which he claims is at
Inverary.

Wow, such an unfriendly accusation.

PS It is Inveraray that is in Argyll.
--
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