Yorkshire Revisited

Almost five years ago we wrote about friends garden in Yorkshire. Well last weekend we went "up North" for a visit and although the garden is only just waking up in April it was a delight to revisit this gem.

An old beach tree that was removed due to disease lives on as these characters

As you enter the garden a greenhouse that most of us would be very proud of greats you. full of tempting exotics tucked away for winter periods. Bananas were just starting to wake up. Unfortunately I go carried away in talking about the plants to actually remember to take a photo inside.

 

The stone cottage would typically be surrounded by cottage style plantings, however a backbone of hardy yuccas and tetrapanax and an understory of far more interesting plants provide a much more interesting feel.

A brave cat surveys her territory

The garden has a great addition with a valley style portion to the side of the house, with a covering of large deciduous natives, the exotics give a Cornish feel to this garden. Something we remarked on in our previous blog.
 

 

 The dappled spring sunlight filtering through a stand of bamboo.

 

One of the other garden kitties "helping out" by stripping the bark

 

 

Once again we were delighted to visit our friends garden, and we promise not to leave it quite so long for a follow up.

Gaz

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Tropicalismo!

 

Not usually into posting about the plantings on hotel grounds and resorts (bar exceptional ones like those found in Madeiran and Cornish hotels) as they tend to be formulaic and regimented. But going through our photos on our recent trip to Vietnam I couldn't help but long to be transported back to where we stayed, especially seeing once again the lush tropical planting they had there.

View from our balcony

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Will Giles Exotic Garden Norwich

Anyone with even a passing interest in growing exotic plants will be aware of Will Giles, gardener, author, tv personality who has over the last 30 odd years created The Exotic Garden in the centre of Norwich. The garden is a blend of very tender plants and hardy plants with an exotic feel, and does transport you to another place. The garden to us has a very Caribbean feel, with extremely bright colours combined with lush large leaves.

Hard to believe this photo is taken in the centre of Norwich. The house, which appears to be a fairly traditional looking British home, has a balcony and verandah added to the front, which when festooned with jungly climbers and curios transforms the feel of the home.

Tetrapanax 'Rex'

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The Tropical Dream

Given the opportunity, would you want to live in the tropics? Not just for a few weeks or months but actually move, take residence, and live there permanently.

Would you?

Where it's warm and humid all year round with no winter to contend with. Where you can potentially garden all year round.

Has the tropical dream ever crossed your mind?

Had a wonderful holiday in a tropical location before and would love to live there or somewhere similar one day?

Southeast Asia, Central and Southern America, Africa, India, Northern Australia, The Pacific Islands. The Caribbean....

Having an exotic and tropical inspired garden, we get asked this all the time, especially me, if we want to or would move eventually to the tropics. It's a question that I personally find tricky to answer but before I even start to answer often I would hear the one who asked me say first...

Wouldn't it be nice to live in the tropics?

I would love to live in the tropics one day. 

I would move to the tropics if it was easy/possible (and variations thereof...)

Really? 

Now I'm curious, given the chance and practicalities aside, if it were to be easy, would you want to live in the tropics?

Mark :-)

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Cornwall Up North

A couple of weekends ago we paid our good friend a long overdue visit to spend some time and see his garden. We've always had hints that he has a beautiful garden but he has been elusive in sharing photos of them before. Despite knowing him for several years now and having been visiting some nurseries and plant fairs together, we were none the wiser on how his garden actually looked so our visit was that extra exciting as we'll finally get to see what his garden looked like in the flesh.

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A Fiery Twist

Our garden blog has just taken a very unexpected twist....

Last Friday at around 2pm I received a phone call saying that the fire brigade are in our garden putting out a fire that started in one of our neighbours garden. Rushing back home, what I found, of what were once very lush and leafy parts of our garden, with a well built outbuilding and a jungle veranda, were these....

The fire started from one of the neighbours, quickly spreading to adjacent properties including ours

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The Other Blue Yucca

Whenever you mention the words 'Blue Yucca' within the exotic gardening circle, everyone immediately thinks about Yucca rostrata. Rightfully so, it is a very blue leafed yucca and a specimen grown well is a spectacular sight to behold with its inherently architectural habit and form. Most especially once it has developed a perfectly spherical head, with leaves gracefully billowing with even the slightest of breeze, on top of a trunk of which the taller it is the better, commanding more presence within its surroundings. Mind you, even young specimens without a visible trunk already looks good, and as it slowly develops one you know you have something good to look forward to.

The Blue Bed enjoying some summer sun

But it has its own set backs: it is slow growing, unrooted trunked specimens can be finicky to re-root and re-establish, the roots are so delicate and brittle that a well rooted specimen in a pot is prone to being damaged upon transplantation, and flowering sets it back and can ruin its 'perfect head' for quite a reasonable amount of time (although flowering triggers it to split its head, resulting in a multi headed specimen which can make it look even more architectural than it is already).

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Fine Disarray 3

Spring preparation of the garden is definitely now in full swing starting this weekend, the first weekend in a very long time that felt truly warm (well relatively speaking, considering the British norm) and spring like.

A type of weekend and weather that has been overdue, long overdue. I'm grateful that spring seems to have finally arrived but the effects of its late arrival are definitely there and still feels a bit strange (more on that later...).

So this is the view of the garden for most of the weekend, coming out from the back door and into the top patio nearest to the house. I have featured this view a couple of times (One and Two) before hence the title being number three already.

Some plants are now out, so are the tools...

There's always an element of theatrics to any garden especially during the growing season, from spring till early autumn and there is lots of preparation in the run up to it (and ongoing during that period although usually not as intense). If I had a magic wand I could just have waved it and everything would be tidied up and look ready for the warmer months but alas such a thing doesn't exist.

Old fronds of ground ferns have all been removed, ready for their fresh and new ones to make this area lush again.

But would gardening be as enjoyable if maintenance and preparation could be done so instantly? I don't think so, and with that thought I'm glad that magic wand doesn't exist (actually it does, it's called 'hiring a gardener'). A huge part of the appreciation for gardening is the enjoyment of its continuing process.

Even the ducks have been enjoying the water and sun earlier today!

So with that in mind, bits and pieces are scattered here and there temporarily. Some areas are tidy already whilst others still needs some attention. And whilst you do more, you spot more that needs extra attention you didn't anticipate before and the 'to do' list gets even longer...

Pots of bananas, Musa basjoo and Musa sikkimensis acclimatising to life outside. We need to decide whereto place them this year.

But we'll get there. we always do. Most gardeners do.

And whilst pottering this weekend three thoughts stood out in mind on why spring this year feels a bit strange.

First, it's almost the middle of April and a lot of deciduous trees, shrubs, and perennials are still dormant. Or at least just in bud. Usually they are in leaf or have sprouted by now but no not this time. So despite what the calendar says it feels like we're gardening in the middle of March rather April.

A curious sight in the garden, Rheum palmatum leafing out.

Second, decision making regarding planting schemes and the fate of some plants (those that were damaged by the winter) has to be delayed longer than usual.

Third, we haven't visited any nursery or plant fair since February. Usually we've visited two to three by now but not this year (actually we did visit Crews Hill Gardening Club last Easter weekend but it's not really a nursery as such, more like a garden centre). 

Blame it all on the weather.

This fern one is raring to escape the pot and into the ground (Sphenomeris chinensis)

But the warm-ish weather has finally arrived and spring is going to explode. With everything delayed here, spring burst of life is going to be compressed in a short period of time rather than in a  succession like in most years. Is it going to be a dramatic spectacle to behold, or a manic and rushed event that you are likely to miss some of them in a blink of an eye?

We'll have to wait and see, it may happen any moment now. It can even happen this coming week (whilst we're at work, oops!).

Mark :-)

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The Prequel Pond

Prequels seems to be the trend nowadays when it comes to films, TV shows, books, and lots of other things. There are beginnings to virtually everything so no wonder there is a current trend to look back, to see how things began and what series of events happened that led to the development of how things are now (and in some cases, have been). But more often, the reason for a prequel is that sometimes it's just nice to look back.

Heck, even our big pond construction has a prequel to it!

Blast from the past, year 2008 - before the build of the big koi pond, there was the build 
of this pond, the 'Prequel pond'. The pond that started it all...

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A Glimpse of New Caledonia

One of the benefits of visiting botanical glasshouses is that you get a glimpse of far flung places via their flora.

As the third and final feature on our recent visit to the glasshouses of Jardin des Plantes in Paris,we now take a look at the Glasshouse of the flora of New Caledonia.

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Tropical Rainforest Greenhouse - Jardin des Plantes

In one of our earlier blog posts I mentioned that we always make it a point to check out if there are any nearby botanical gardens we can visit whenever we go on a city break. And on our long weekend break to Paris just recently it was no exception as this time we made sure to check out the huge Jardin des Plantes, the main botanical garden of France which is also conveniently located in central Paris and can be reached via several metro stations (or on foot if your hotel is just nearby).

A taste of the exotic in central Paris!

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David Nash at Kew

Kew Gardens are currently hosting an exhibition from David Nash, an artist who is well known for creating works with trees (both living and as timber). I have always quite enjoyed this style of art, where organic forms meet sculpture so have been waiting for a suitable time to visit. 

With the garden and pond taking up a lot of our time this year we have not been to Kew Gardens as often as  we have done in prior years. So although this exhibition has been on since July today was this first chance we got. This was something of a quick visit to Kew so we didn't look at all the sculptures in the garden but here are a selection of what we did see (mostly in the Temperate house and in the grounds).

We have spent many hours over the years in the Temperate house, and normally the plants take centre stage, but today the plants were very much part of the backdrop.

Crag and Cave 2007, Yew

These two pieces resemble large driftwood statues, something similar would add an interesting contrast to a garden even on a domestic scale. Perhaps a large piece of dead wood or drift wood standing on end would give a similar focal point at home.

Seed, 2007 Bronze

Plateau, 2011 Bronze

I'm less keen on this type of sculpture, for me Plateau doesn't really add anything to the plants, perhaps in a different setting I may have been more enamored by it.

Furrowed Oak, 1994, Oak

Throne, 1994, Beech

Mizunara Bowl, 1994 Oak

Overlap, 1994 Elm

Overlap was probably my personal favourite, I could imagine this fitting into our garden, although sadly i suspect it may be a little out of our price bracket!

Red Frame, 2008 Sequoia 

The Red Frame is another I really like and again I could see this in our own garden. I may play with the concept of creating viewing gaps in a solid wood wall, possibly as part of the divide between the pond area and the working area beyond.

Red and Black Dome, 2006 Yew

Pyramid, 2010 Bronze

Two Sliced Cedars, 2010 Cedar (and Mark 2012)

These two I really love (perhaps that should have read these three!). the black charred wood against the autumn leaves gives a nice contrast. They make me think of a forest after a fire has gone through, perhaps an Australian Eucalptus forest, when you see the jagged trunks jutting up into the air.

Cork Dome, 2012, Cork Oak

I wanted to play with the Cork Dome, to rearrange the pieces and make new shapes. Fortunately I resisted the temptation.

I guess they are worried the art work would be damaged, but it looks like they should have
asked people not to climb on the sign too!

Nash described the Temperate House as a curious place, and I have to agree it always has been, the exhibits currently in place may not be to everyone's taste but they are curious and I do generally enjoy them.

So what do you think, any that you like?

Gaz

David Nash at Kew

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A Tour of the Glasshouse at Wisley

We blogged recently about visiting the Gardens at RHS Wisley, and that post concentrated on exploring the grounds. However as well as having fabulous landscaped gardens, Wisley is also home to a large glasshouse that was only opened in the summer of 2007 by her majesty the Queen. As we mentioned on that last blog we normally visit Wisley in the winter, usually to spend time in the tropical heat and humidity under cover rather than explore the grounds themselves. Don't get me wrong the grounds are lovely even in the depths of winter, but usually by then a little heat is just what's needed to escape the cold outside.

On that recent trip we spent a lot of time outside but also explored the glasshouse too, well it would be rude not too wouldn't it!

On approaching the entrance they have planted large beds of exotics, just a tempting preview of what's inside.

Ensetes and other exotics outside

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Late September in the Garden

This year has been a funny old year for the weather in the UK, we had an very dry start to the year over the last winter, which gave rise to a hose pipe ban, and then once the ban was in place it didn't stop raining! Now we are in late September and it kind of feels like we never really had summer, we sort of just had a year of spring.

The days are now drawing in and there is a noticeable nip in the air first thing in the morning. We haven't yet had a frost but know a few other gardeners have (some even mentioned frost in late August!)

Anyway, at this time of the year, just before the first frosts is often when the garden looks at its best, so with a nice dry day we took quite a few photos of how the gardens looking now. With it being the end of the month I thought it was a good time for a garden update blog.

Aloe polyphylla, this plant has had a great year after being planted out

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Tropical Soul

One of the things I tend to do in the autumn and most winter is to plan ahead for the next growing season. This year has been quite an exception though as I have been planning for next year since last summer, much earlier than usual. Perhaps because it was so wet that we had much less time to spend tending to the plants, and because of the pond project too which took up most of our spare time this year. Either way I just regard it as a long build up of excitement for next year's potential.

In pursuit of that tropical feel again....

The long road to next year - words I've muttered to myself several times recently. But this year's summer wasn't a write off at all, far from it. Let's just say, it was unique.

Somehow this year I also felt that I have slightly lost touch with what look I want to achieve with the existing garden (the new garden is more modern and hard landscaping heavy, to say the least). Maybe because we have seen so many formal and 'English' style gardens recently and such styles are starting to rub off on me? Again, maybe because we spent most of our time building the pond? But now that the latter is almost done, I find myself with the prospect of having more time again to spend with the rest of the garden. And I need some inspiration for next year. I need to remember what it was all about anyway, why we have what we have now.

Beautiful, but is neither exotic nor tropical. I love it though, but not for our garden.

I need to rediscover our tropical soul. It's still there although semi-dormant and I need to poke and prod it with inspiration to rouse and revive it, ready for next year.

A contrived tropical garden. That's what it was all about, that's how it began and that's how it should be. To create an illusion of a garden that is from the tropics; of far flung, exotic places full of exotic and unusual plants. Perhaps to remind you of a cherished holiday abroad, or as a way of everyday escapism to make you feel you are anywhere else but here.

And yes it can be done, to create that illusion via creativity and substitution.

Of which I need to remember. I need to remind myself.

So how do I go about remembering it again? The first port of call are books. New books to remind myself and be inspired again.

A quick search online bought about several books about the subject matter 'tropical gardening', but I narrowed the selection down and recently acquired three to add to my existing collection of exotic and tropical gardening books:

Landscaping with Tropical Plants by Monica Moran Brandies

Tropical Garden Design by Made Wijaya (of which I've seen before, it's just I've never actually owned it and as it's a new edition, I might as well own one now)

and Tropical Gardens of the Philippines by Lily Gamboa O'Boyle and Luca Invernizzi Tettoni

All three are superb and inspirational. Lots of ideas to pick from the beautiful photography. But I have to single out the last one, for that book blew me away...

Funny enough, I went through those three books in that order so when I got to the last one, I was, well, gobsmacked ('totally surprised' for those who are not aware of this British colloquial word). Wow!

Stunning photography of stunning gardens with stunning plants. Have I said the word 'stunning' enough already? 

After going through this book several times and settling down after the initial astonishment of visual delights found in every page, one other thing that struck me is that most of the gardens featured are private residences, rather than large parks and public spaces. Which makes the photos more 'reachable', attainable, and aspects of it applicable to ones own space. Even in parts of the world that are far from tropical, like where we are.

Illusion and creative substitution are the operative words.

I would hasten to add though that this book is not for those seeking botanical knowledge. It's probably not even for garden designers, for there are no rules stated there. It is however, for anyone seeking visual inspiration, for anyone wanting to create a beautiful exotic garden. It is a book of pure visual beauty. And sometimes that's all you need. It's up to the reader to apply to ones own space the beauty they have seen if they so wish.

Bearing in mind that the tropics do not have four seasons, and that there is a state of year round constancy with regards to the appearance of plants growing there, it takes a bit of faith and flair to adapt that look in a cold temperate climate. But this extra challenge makes exotic gardening even more fun.

So has these books revived our tropical soul? Yes I think so. A flick through them every so often is probably needed. So we'll remember...

And it will happen.

Mark :-)

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