The Jungle Garden; Caroline Mardon's photos It is set behind a semi-detached house and a suburban small garden. Then walk up the sloping path behind and you are suddenly into dinosaur land, tall ferns, exotic plants, enormous Gunnera leaves. The walk starts at the top of the garden past the Prosecco terrace as it is called. Which overlooks a crowded Euphorbia stage, their bright yellow heads at their best in spring with the little Welsh poppies running around at their feet, orange flowers, Californian poppies have started opening, this is the hot spot of the quarry garden.
Then the path winds zig-zag down past the plants and it gets deeper and darker and large plants start to dwarf you. There is a bank of sedums growing on a steep slope, they are growing in compacted sand, which looks at first like clay but the sun has baked the sand hard, plants can only be put in when it has rained.
I did not have much luck with my camera - I should have read the next paragraph down! Video was completely washed out, actually to be truthful my phone would have been better but I find difficulty in taking things off it to the computer.
The following photos were of the Asian primulas, or Candelabra primula. I have always wanted to grow them but they truly need the right ecosystem to grow them in. I saw them many years ago at an Abbey in Devon, also the blue Himalayan poppy-Meconopsis which is the most glorious blue out. But like the rhododendrons and azaleas we saw on Sunday at the Ramster Gardens they seem to like a more acid soil. Here in Surrey they have taken off this year, running like ribbons down the bottom of the quarry, hybridising into all the shades of pinkness and red.
Jack's Jungle on Gardener's World
The weather was gorgeous. I went and sat on the terrace Sunday morning and Jack came down and we spent an hour identifying the birds with a new app called 'Cornell Merlin app'. My daughter had a kingfisher on her phone, which was different but chaffinches dominated, dunnocks, collared doves and the robin of course. Also, I heard the cuckoo in the distance but the app did not catch it.
What a stunning garden. I am super impressed by the ferns.
ReplyDeleteYes the new growth on the ferns are beautiful, especially when the sun shines on them Andrew.
DeleteGorgeous! Imagine the work and expense that goes into maintaining such a beautiful place. It's nice you had a chance to enjoy it. My little pots and plants look pretty pitiful compared to that! ;)
ReplyDeleteAlthough there is some paid work, it is mostly volunteers and a nearby agricultural college helps Ellen.
DeleteWhat a wonderful lush garden . So many interesting things
ReplyDeleteThe lushness is because of the damp environment Sue, and all the jungly plants grow tall to the light.
ReplyDeleteLove the Prosecco terrace Thelma. I would love to visit Jack’s garden. Sounds like you had a fabulous time and managed to dodge the showers and blustery winds of today? Today the wind is whistling down the chimney and I’m tempted to light a fire. The Merlin App is brilliant. It ‘hears’ birds in my garden that I would never otherwise know about. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah, it has turned cold, back to jumpers. We came home in the rain last night and it was cold, the railway journey was long but the three trains we had to catch were very near to each other in time. xxx
DeleteThat Merlin app is great. I have actually learned the calls of birds I can't even see.
ReplyDeleteThat is the problem with birds we hear, but we cannot see. We did hear a goldcrest though.
DeleteI can't see any Sunderland supporters in those pictures. I hope you enjoyed your successful trip to Wembley.
ReplyDeleteThe plant growth in that garden is joyous.
The supporters nearest to us were very good and discussed the closing of the mines with a teacher in the opposite corner, it was quite an interesting history lesson all told. It is a rather special garden.
DeleteI don't think I've encountered Candelabra primulas. The planning that goes into such a display and the cost of plants would seem over whelming. I hope the paths weren't thronged with too many people. I would want to stand still for a few moments just to absorb a particular area.
ReplyDeleteThey need a damp environment Sharon, slightly shaded. Jack grows his own plants in a large greenhouse. He was going to set up a nursery in the village and bought some land but the parish council refused his request.
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