High summer at the Exotic Garden…
Posted on | July 7, 2009 | 14 Comments
Greetings fellow gardeners. I hope you are all enjoying your summer so far, here or abroad. I mention abroad as just short of 100 visitors to the garden site over the last month came from the US, and most of these were from California – greetings to the sunshine state and all other visitors from around the world.
Unfortunately I haven’t had any comments from the followers of my old blog, though I see that quite a few of you have come over to its new home on the Exotic Garden website. Please do leave your comments, as it is so good to get feedback from you all.
Here, at my home – the Exotic Garden in Norwich on the east coast of England, the summer has been kind so far with really warm temperatures up until a few days ago, when the mercury reached the dizzying heights of 29C – a bit cooler than London as we are nearer the coast. Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Royal Norfolk Show in my current position as the President of the Norfolk and Norwich Horticultural society. As you can imagine, this was a rather hot event, though one not to be missed as the standards in the flower show marquee are always excellent.
I love hot weather for lounging around – drinking tea (earl grey), and generally relaxing, but not physical work – it was far too hot for that. After 20 minutes mowing the lawn last week, I was as soggy as a sponge! Today though, it is a pleasant 19C, perfect for physical work, although typing isn’t exactly physical.
On the subject of writing – I am using my laptop today as my xxxxxxx computer has thrown a wobbly, showing me a blank grey screen! I have a love hate relationship with computers, I love them when they work and etc… Three of my cats are sitting beside me as I write, hoping that I will suddenly get the urge to feed them, but they can wait as writing this comes first and it is hours away from feeding time!
Most of the plants bedded out in late May are really moving now, with plants like the purple Abyssinian banana Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ sending up thrusting new leaves in many shades from dark green to richest purple thorough to almost black. They look especially spectacular when the low evening sun shines through turning them into temporary stained glass windows. The Cannas, especially Durban and Pretoria also become glowing masterpieces in the evening light at this time of year. Unfortunately I have had to replace my stock of Cannas as last winter, being particularly cold, saw of most of my established clumps, many having been in the ground for over a decade. This year I will definitely dig them all up and store them frost free. Doing this will probably guarantee that we have a really mild winter – well I do hope so!
For those readers that live in Norfolk – I write a column in the EDP Eastern Daily Press in the Saturday edition. In the next week this summer’s EDP articles (hopefully) will be launched regularly on the same page as this blog. Most of last year’s articles are now available to read – if you have the patience! The garden is also on Face book. You will find a link on the homepage of the Exotic Garden website www.exoticgarden.com
Below is a selection of pictures of the garden taken yesterday between 8and 9pm – enjoy…
Phormium tenax flowers
Comments
14 Responses to “High summer at the Exotic Garden…”
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July 7th, 2009 @ 6:10 pm
Your garden is magnificent. I have a vegetable garden here, but the rest of the yard is a big blank slate and I think in my zone 7, I can plant some of what you have!
July 7th, 2009 @ 7:41 pm
You have a very beautiful garden. While my Cannas survived the winter in the ground my Dicksonia didn’t. Serves me right for expecting another mild winter.
July 7th, 2009 @ 8:46 pm
I am literally green with envy – the garden looks simply stunning – can’t wait to visit again in September for some more filming in the jungle!
July 7th, 2009 @ 10:26 pm
Your garden looks scrumptious as always Mr Giles. And don’t you worry about your computer…I shall sacrifice a chocolate to the techno-gods for you.
July 8th, 2009 @ 2:22 pm
The garden’s looking fantastic. Sorry not to have commented before now on the new blog, but when I rerouted, I picked up all your old posts and this is the first new post I’ve picked up on. It was a bit like being buried in bananas!
July 9th, 2009 @ 12:03 pm
Thank you all for the glowing comments – it is really good to get feedback.
Islandgardener – good luck with your venture into exotics, at least you can grow quite a few tropicals during the summer months in zone 7.
Easygardener – let’s hope this winter is kinder to us than the last one – I think that was just a blip on the way to warmer winters.
Debbie – I hear Chris is setting you up a blog in Word Press – looking forward to seeing it. Yes, the Jungle here is getting thicker by the day; I will soon need a machete to get to the front door!
The Vaughn – As Chris will tell you, the operating system on my computer died – I just hope most of my database can be saved. Aghhh..
Victoria – good to hear from you, I thought I had been abandoned by all my blog followers. Sorry to hear that you were buried under a sea of bananas! The new blogs should always be on top of the old ones. Do let me know if there are any problems so I can get them rectified.
July 9th, 2009 @ 7:30 pm
Hi Will – fret not I’m still here, diverted from the old blog. Just waiting for a topic on which to comment on…
How is your Schefflera macrophylla settling in?
July 9th, 2009 @ 8:27 pm
Hi Rob – good to hear from you. Are you still coming over later this summer? The Sheflera macrofila is doing ludicrously well,with masses of new growth. I will write a post with you in mind soon about it.
July 9th, 2009 @ 10:46 pm
A visit to your garden is long overdue, so yes, I’ll try my best to make it over to you. I’ll see if I can bring some of my cronies along with me too.
July 11th, 2009 @ 12:13 am
Willsers!!!!!! The new website looks terrific and I easily get to the new blog by clicking on it from the website. As always, your garden is a thing of wonder. I think back about the first time I saw it in about 1995 – it was amazing but now it’s amazing-er. By the by, I emailed you re my begonia luxurians which has decided to shoot up to about 8 feet and look pretty scrawny. Any advice would be soooooo appreciated. Maybe cut it back, move it into more sun…
I amazed you can find time to blog in high garden season but please don’t quit – I love reading what’s up with you. Coco sends his love. We miss you!
Bakey
July 12th, 2009 @ 5:53 am
Hi Will,
I have made a list of my Aeoniums (22). I shall come to Kent next week. How can I do for giving you some plants ? First you choose what you want. Where I can send you the list ? Have you an occasion to go to Kent ?
All the best.
JPierre
July 15th, 2009 @ 2:16 am
Are you sure you are in the UK? LOL You have such beautiful plants and a beautiful garden. I still can’t believe that you are in the UK LOL!
July 17th, 2009 @ 4:05 pm
Panier JPierre
Thanks for getting back to me regarding your offer of Aoniums – please send the list to will@exoticgarden.com – I look forward to reading it. Unfortunately it is very difficult to leave the garden at this time of year; hence I will not be able to get down to Kent to see you. Would it be possible to send some by post, alternately, if you could make it up to Norfolk it would be a pleasure to show you around the garden.
My dear Baker
I am so pleased that the Begonia luxurians grew so exceedingly well for you – the cutting I had from your plant is still only 18ins tall but beautiful never-the-less. 8 feet tall is pretty big, though I am not surprised seeing as you live in California! It would have been a much bushier plant had you pinched out the tip at around 2-3 feet tall. Do pinch the tip out now before it goes through the roof! You could always try air-layering it half way up…
islandgal246
Thank you for the lovely comment – it’s amazing what you can get away with in the good old UK – if you have a warm microclimate – at least I think that is where I live! I jst had a look at your blog – I was in Barbados last spring – next time I’m over I must give you a visit…
August 4th, 2009 @ 12:32 am
The blog is great and I shall be checking in regularly. I did not see the old one so its all new to me. I visited for the first time in about 8 or so years and its more lovely now than it was before. BTW I have fallen for one of your cats, sorry. He (or she, I did not notice) sat upon the lap whilst taking tea and I became quite attached. I have renewed gardening vigour now as last year left me wondering why I bothered. Thankyou.