Tree collections are interesting to visit at any time of year, but especially at the end of October, when autumn colour is at its peak, with a sufficient carpet of multicoloured damp leaves underfoot, but before wind and frost have stripped the branches. This is the time to appraise long-wished-for beauties, especially among the big shrubs, such as the Japanese maples, for their seasonal beauty, not least as backdrops. Each year, the range and intensity are different, depending on the preceding summer conditions, but this is a fleeting annual feast that should be celebrated. It will soon be gone.
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'True waterfront homes are finite... miss one and it could be years before you see another like it again': Why the best waterfront property always hits the spotThere’s no denying the appeal of waterfront property, which now sells for some 51% more than its inland equivalent, finds Knight Frank. Annabel Dixon explores the shore.
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Beyond Royal Portrush: Castles, country houses and ancient towers in the other dimension of golf in IrelandRory McIlroy's history-making exploits and The Open arriving at Royal Portrush have made 2025 a banner year for Irish golf — but there's far more to golf on the island of Ireland than those headline-grabbers, as Toby Keel finds out.
