Subtropical Gardens

YOU DON'T NEED A BIODOME

To grow ginger (Hedechium), giant geraniums and echiums, palm trees in profusion, bamboos in great drifts, yams (Collocasia & Alocasia), several types of Banana and of course a variety of tree ferns and camellias galore, as well as Arum & Canna Lilies.

Just wander through the winding paths and jungle glades and soak up the glorious greens of the leaves and feel the better for it.

THE SEASONS
Each Season brings its own particular speciality...

SUMMER sees the end of the rhododendrons, the flourishing of the Handkerchief Tree (Davidia Involucrata) with the emergence of the Hebes, Fuchsias, lilies, and early  Agapanthas  the brilliant blue, pink white and some undecided Hydrangeas, the Drymis Winterii, Crinodendron Hookerianums,Clethera (Lily of the Valley Tree),and early Cyclamen, Arum Lilies, Hedechiums, Arbutilons and Crinums are flowering. Now is the time when the foliage of the various Tree Ferns, drifts of Bamboos, Palms and Banana trees are at their most luxuriant and vigorous best. If it is a good summer the Brugmansias and Bromeliads enchant.

AUTUMN sees swathes of cyclamen and the Hydrangeas in all their colours continue right on through to Christmas Arbutilons in variety, Fatsias, autumn Flowerig Camellias the Jersey Lily (Amarillis Belladona) and slightly later the Guernsey Lily (Nerine Sarniensis) occasionally makes an appearance. Autumn is the time for the dramatically veined leaves of the Arum Italicum Pictum of which there some interesting varieties. All the different Fuchsias seem to just go on and on, Ginger lilies in variety, and the onrush of early Camellias.

WINTER, the Winter glory of the Arum Italicum Pictum  is swiftly over shadowed by the different Snow Drops, early Narcisus, and early Spring drifts of Cyclamen, more Camellias (over 100). One keeps going into August and in 2010 right into September. Actually this oddity is just out side the estate office. Helebores followed by Blue Bells (in blue, pink and white).

SPRING, this is the time when the Blue Bells as well as the pink and white ones hold sway till they are in turn overshadowed by all the different daffodils claiming their slot before the leaves of the giant Hostas cover their stems. The Treeferns show they have not really been dormant and the Early Bamboos start to show their growth, there are around 40 types from dwarfs 20"(50cms) tall to towering giants of 30'(10m) with green, black yellow , golden, and variegated stems, some gleamingly smooth and others soft and furry.  The Gunnera unfurl their unrealistic 5' leaves, the Tree Fuchsias Excortica (25', 8m tall ) reveal their tiny inky blue/green gems of flowers, astonishingly growing straight from their cinnamon coloured branches. Azaleas early Rhododendrons , The astonishingly fast growing Giant Echium (Echium Peninana) starts its headlong spurt of growth of 6-10'(2-3.5m) of growth in little over a month