Small Items |
When I began growing tropical-looking plants, and even more so when I first conceived the idea some years earlier, it was almost unheard of to grow these plants in the open in Britain other than in a very few sheltered warm spots in the mild south-west of the country. The combination of occasional mentions of this style in television gardening programmes and the impact of global warming have raised its profile to some extent, but I find my plants still cause surprise to many visitors. This banana produces leaves 8 feet long on top of a 7 foot high stem, while an arum near it produces flowers up to 32 inches high on a four foot high plant - and both plants survive the winter in the open.
The main discussion of the topic has its own set of pages found by clicking on this link.
 | In addition to my attempt to defy the climate by growing apparently sub-tropical plants, I also aim to have plenty of flowers in the open garden in mid-winter, despite the ice and snow. Again the method is basically choice of plants, and it is surprising how many are available. The photo on the left is of full-size daffodils in my garden on 2nd February 2003. The evergreen shrub on the right is at its best in November and December - reliable flowers at Christmas! You can find a fuller discussion of this topic, including varieties used, on my winter flowers page. |  |
Small Items |