Inspirations
Jungle gardeners usually need little inspiration but here are some photographs that may provide some ideas for your own exotic space.
Places to visit for jungle inspiration in the UK
Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
This lovely Dorset garden provides an extensive jungle experience with many exotics on display.
Eden Project
The great domes in a Cornish china clay pit, however, there is much more to it now. The grove of cordylines is atmospheric so don't just stay under cover.
Kew Gardens
London's great botanic garden and Alan's first inspiration, it is truly a wonder. The palm house and the Princess of Wales glasshouse are essential but there are lots of other things to see for the jungle fanatic.
Logan Botanic Garden
Benefiting from the warmth of the Gulf Stream at the tip of Dumfries & Galloway, this fascinating collection of plants that 'should not grow here' is well worth a visit. It is part of Edinburgh Botanic Gardens which should also be seen if you are in that area.
Mount Stewart
The Italian and Spanish gardens are full of interesting exotics in this mild environment beside Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland.
Penjerrick
A rather neglected garden full of interesting shrubs, trees and tree ferns. Its wildness means this is probably the most jungle like garden you will find in the UK. Close to Trebah (see below) so you could do both in a day.
Trebah
This is an extensive garden in a sheltered valley in southern Cornwall. Lots of tree ferns and hydrangeas. The Gunnera is difficult to beat as you can walk under it!
Tresco Abbey Gardens
Probably the most subtropical UK garden, this is a marvel to enjoy. Not large but packed with palms, cordylines and other jungle stuff. Not easy to get to on the Scilly Island of the same name.
... and if you need more inspiration
Other science books written or edited by Alan -
Green Plants Their Origin and Diversity
A technical botanical textbook documenting the diversity of natural plant life with an evolutionary slant.
The Evolution of Plant Architecture
A collection of papers describing the forms and structures found in both living and fossil plants.
The Evolution of Plant Physiology
The Evolution of Plant Physiology
A further collection of papers describing the diverse physiological processes exhibited by both living and fossil plants.
End of Season September Sale!
We seem to have rather more stock than we can cope with for the winter so to free up some space, we are offering almost everything at 10% off online and 20% off of purchases at the nursery (we'd love to do 20% online too but postage costs limit us). Our sale runs from today through to the end of the month (Sunday 27th for nursery visitors). Do pop in and see us when we are open in the remaining weeks of the season and while we might be able to do even better reductions on our larger plants. We are open Thursday afternoons (2-5), Saturdays (11-5) and Sundays (10-4).