Jack's jungle garden

just photos of 'Jack's Jungle Garden'.  It is quite an extraordinary moment as you leave the ordinary lawned garden and descend the steps into the quarry.  Forty years it has taken to develop from the place where once the farmer threw his scrap farm machinery into this combe and then it became this darkness of gigantic ferns and plants.  It was started by Jack as a challenge, to grow something in a different environment, the sides of the quarry and trees surrounding it made it possible, a convivial ecosystem.

Jack is a biochemist so perhaps such things come easy.  But all these plants prospered and now tall ferns and spiky sharp leaves tower above your head.  Welsh poppies, evening primrose, nasturtiums self seed around.  At the top of the path walk Californian poppies and dahlias toast in the sun, and lower down the Asiatic primulas grace a watery edge. 

I found one Barnhaven auricula, but this little group had somehow disappeared I think because of a soil slide.

Seeing that there were the Asiatic primulas or candelabra primroses, I asked if he had grown the blue poppy, acid loving, it is the most beautiful sky blue flower grown.  Of course he had, the whole garden was about challenge after all.  But they had been a failure and he only managed one plant.

The council have surrounded the quarry with a playing field and allotments and of course as Nicki and Jack get older there must be some sort of safeguard on this unique site.  What will happen I don't know.  But what a success.  I also have a video which, if I can get it off my phone, or at least find it in my cloud will publish.