Having discovered Olive Grove Nursery at the recent Cottesbrooke Hall Plant Finders Fair we felt we really ought to visit the nursery and have a look round, so with the poor weather forecast stopping work on the pond we took a trip to Olive Grove. The owners Tim and Jackie were not there on our visit as they were at another plant fair.
Olive Grove have a large selection of big exotics, in particular a number of large olive trees and Trachycarpus. The nursery is immaculate, and well laid out in the style of an Italian Nursery, although they do not stock many of the more unusual or rare plants. However the sheer volume, size and prices of the plants on offer made up for that. Hopefully as the nursery gets more established they will stock a larger range and include a few more speciality and unusual plants.
In one of the two large polytunnels on site there is a demonstration garden, something that more nurseries should do in my opinion, as its always good to see plants on display in relation to other plants.
As well as the plants, Olive Grove have a number of objects, carvings and furniture. We loved the carved tree stumps, and simple wooden benches. The benches have given me an idea and I may try and make something similar in our garden.
The garden accessories are superb, large metal sculptures, carved snakes and spiders, these were grand items with suitably grand prices. We have some similar (but smaller) sculptures in our own garden, which will no doubt be the focus of a blog post at some point in the future.
We couldn't visit such a garden centre without buying a plant or two, so we came home with another Trachycarpus fortuneii and a large Cycas revoluta reduced down to £50.
Gaz
http://www.olivegrovenurseries.co.uk/
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
The advantage of living in a more populated (generally wealthier) area. We have plenty of native plants growing where nature planted them, but we are really lacking in interesting nurseries. Sculpture and accessories are all the same and similar to Lowes and Home Depot. So sad. We are close to the Glass House Works with which you may be familiar if you are into exotics. If you don't know them, look them up. Huge supplier of exotic plants world wide.
ReplyDeletenellie
What a great nursery! You guys really seem to be blessed with a number of fantastic specialty nurseries, and I bet you didn't have to drive as far as we would have to here in California :-).
ReplyDeleteHOw much is 50pounds in dollars or peso? It seems that is so expensive. When i was in Sweden and saw the prices of plants which are very expensive there but very cheap and ordinary here, i thought 'if only i can bring our plants here i will be very rich', haha. BTW, you said it is difficult to grow cycas in your area, i think so too, but that is a very hardy plant. That's why they are already so old transcending conditions since the dinosaurs. You should visit one very old cycas in Kew Gardens, it is posted in Plantchaser's post. thanks for your visit in mine too.
ReplyDeleteI'm not usually a garden sculpture person but these seem at home where they are. If I had the right kind of garden (and right kind of purse) I'd take the gorilla and the giraffe home with me.
ReplyDeleteLucy
You certainly have a lovely selection of nurseries and plant places near you!! I like the lion!
ReplyDeleteNellie & Gerhard, we are fortunate that there are a number of nurseries and garden centres within quite a short distance of home. I'll check out the Glass House Works - thanks Nellie!
ReplyDeleteAndrea, £50 is about $80USD, in the UK thats a very good price for a Cycad that size, it will have been grown abroad, possibly in Spain before being brought here. We dont really have the climate to grow these outside, not without a lot of protection, so ours will be pot grown and brought under cover for the coldest part of winter. We have visited Kew a number of times, and have seen their cycads, all of which are grown in glass houses. They have one thats has been in a large pot for over 200 years.
Lucy and Libby, the metal scuptures are great, the very big ones need a big purse to take those home (and a big car too!!! haha). But they did have smaller birds that were more affordable!!
Gaz
You can try doing what they do in Japan. In the gardens we toured, the Cycas revoluta were planted outside. Of course their winter doesn't get as cold as yours does but the winter protection they gave to the plants might help you.
ReplyDeleteNot to promote my blog, feel free to edit this comment. Sorry, but you'll have to scroll down, it's 5th to the last picture.
http://www.plantchaser.com/main/2011/1/31/turning-japanese-part-ii-the-imperial-capitals.html
I love the sculptured tree stumps, they look awesome and very creative!
ReplyDeleteHi Bom, thanks for the link, I love the way they protect them. We know of other gardeners in the UK that have gone to great lengths to successfully overwinter cycads in areas that get as cold as us so it can be done. In milder coastal locations then they dont need that protection here.
ReplyDeletep3chandan, we loved the carved tree stumps too, they had a price tag to match, but maybe one day!
What a great nursery - and I agree that more nurseries should make room for demonstration beds, I'm sure the extra work would be rewarded with extra sales. Look forward to seeing your bench! Some of those wood carvings remind me of the chainsawt sculpture competition they host at Westonbirt each year. I can never afford the results, but always lust after them. Don't think I'd like a gorilla lurking in my garden though.
ReplyDeleteHi Janet, they had several wood carving and I think they look great, especially with the fine details. I wish we could make one ourselves, cuts back on the cost, lol :) The gorilla looks fab in person but I prefer the metal one, will make less damage to the plants!
ReplyDeleteMark and Gaz, you don't half get around, great nurseries you show us. Here in Aberdeen the summer has completely left us for the time being temp is 12c with the chill factor it feels more like 8c, just have to get stuck in and get up to date with all the blogs which I visit.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alistair! It's looking much better now, weather wise. Hopefully it will last this time and also have a very summery, sunny August for all of us :)
ReplyDelete