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Galloway House Gardens are now open to the public every year from March to October, and the arboretum and woodland walk with species rhododendron and azaleas burst with colour between April and June. Weeping beech and monkey puzzle stand alongside palm, eucalyptus and gingko biloba, and the elderly handkerchief tree (Davidia) still draws the visitors with its his and hers handkerchief flowers.

The cottage backs onto a pear house growing pears of up to a pound in weight and figs. Galloway House Gardens still grow Scottish variety apples in the old orchard along with raspberries and other soft fruit. But more recently a small family of Tamworth pigs have been rooting around in the old nursery and rare and minority breeds have taken residence.

Sometimes in the summer a tea tent is erected in the paddock of the former gardener's cottage, where visitors can enjoy a cream tea at weekends and watch the animals graze. Here too they can buy fresh free range eggs, garden produce and plants.

This corner of Scotland has a real sense of history, with stone circles and burial mounds and early Christian settlements. Back to back farms ensure a lush scenery, and the village of Garlieston is a conservation area with a crescent shaped terrace flanking Garlieston beach. There is a strong community spirit in the area, which is undergoing regeneration following foot and mouth and the decline in the fishing industry. Garlieston Harbour is still a working harbour and fresh fish and lobster is brought in by two local fishermen.

Visitors to Pavilion Cottage and Galloway House Gardens can enjoy watching the deer-like rare breed Castlemilk Moorit sheep and lambs grazing alongside miniature Dexter cattle, Indian runners ducks, hens and guinea fowl. Lambing takes place between March and May and calves are usually born in June. Various hatchings of ducklings, chick and guinea keets take place any time during the spring and summer. You can often see the offspring following a parent in crocodile style around the gardens.