Once you get into early October you really start to notice the evenings drawing in, as well as cooler day time temperatures. We have started to think about winter, by getting one of the greenhouses insulated, the other is still ok from last year. Then there are the leaves, which are all starting to turn, some of which are falling. At the moment it's not too bad, with only a few trees/shrubs dropping their leaves, most notably the Paulonia that Mark mentioned recently and a Chardonnay grape vine.
But other parts of the garden are still looking great, with plants putting on the final finale before frosts come. Although hopefully it will still be some time before we do get the first frost, keeping the garden looking good for longer, and also allowing us to keep the potted plants out, rather than putting the more tender ones back into greenhouses for winter.
At the Jungle end of the garden the growth has been great this year, plenty of rain and a fairly warm sunny summer has meant many of the plants got carried away. When you consider what this area looked like after the fire last year its really like nothing happened at all.
The new red pergola is also looking as it should now, surrounded by lush growth, in particular from the Schefflera rhododendrifolia to the right hand side.
We have been fairly quiet on another project that is well under way at the moment, the koi quarantine pond and shed. Most of the construction is now complete, although we still need to glaze the windows and complete the insides, but that will feature on a post soon! As part of the construction we are adding a power supply, to power the filters, lights and a small heater. Which will be used to keep the shed above freezing in winter rather than particularly hot, even so we are looking to save energy with more efficient lower wattage heaters, and packing in the insulation into the walls of the shed to minimise heat loss. The filtration set up will ensure we minimise water changes, thus reducing our costs by saving water.
The new quarantine pond, and jungle hut will be revealed soon!
Gaz
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| Rhus typhina putting on a show |
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| Twinkles inspecting the Jungle Hut - we will finally reveal the finished new building soon :) |
At the Jungle end of the garden the growth has been great this year, plenty of rain and a fairly warm sunny summer has meant many of the plants got carried away. When you consider what this area looked like after the fire last year its really like nothing happened at all.
The middle patio area has also done well with the new plants filling the space superbly. We are amazed how well the Amicia zygomeris has done, responding well to extra light this year.
The new red pergola is also looking as it should now, surrounded by lush growth, in particular from the Schefflera rhododendrifolia to the right hand side.
We have been fairly quiet on another project that is well under way at the moment, the koi quarantine pond and shed. Most of the construction is now complete, although we still need to glaze the windows and complete the insides, but that will feature on a post soon! As part of the construction we are adding a power supply, to power the filters, lights and a small heater. Which will be used to keep the shed above freezing in winter rather than particularly hot, even so we are looking to save energy with more efficient lower wattage heaters, and packing in the insulation into the walls of the shed to minimise heat loss. The filtration set up will ensure we minimise water changes, thus reducing our costs by saving water.
The new quarantine pond, and jungle hut will be revealed soon!
Gaz
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.
It looks so good, and so lush. I love the jungle walk with the tree ferns and bamboo. And that Schefflera.. wow! It's getting chilly down here, 3C last night.
ReplyDeleteChilly here too Jessica especially this morning. But still hoping we have many more weeks to go before the winter mode begins.
DeleteHi Gaz, these are some wonderful photos from your garden! It is truly remarkable how the garden has recovered from the fire. As you said: as if nothing has ever happened! And that is a really good thing. Wishing you guys some more warm autumn days!
ReplyDeleteChristina
Than you Christina and you too!
DeleteWowswers, it looks so good! Gorgeous gardens, and Twinkles the kitty is so sweet :)
ReplyDeleteBless Twinkles, she's a fabulous company in the garden Tamara!
DeleteI love your jungle and the red pergola. I am really looking forward to the Jungle Hut reveal!
ReplyDeleteComing up soon Debs, just sorting out the photos :)
DeleteBusy, busy, busy. Your jungle looks great - I'm glad it recovered so well and so quickly!
ReplyDeleteWe're glad too Kris, like nothing happened :)
DeleteSuch a splendid re-creation of a tropic garden, and this time of year really shows it off well, with a summer full of growth under it's belt.Looking forward the the winter koi-barn reveal !
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathy! That one will be awhile, still lots to do with it.
DeleteHi Gaz, I noticed your irrigation pipes. Is that the Hozelock system? It's just that I've used them and haven't been impressed at all. Two self timers (one brand new) have failed this year and I am going to switch next year. Dave
ReplyDeleteHi David, it's just a usual hosepipe in the pic but yes its Hozelock. It served us fine for years but needs replacing soon as it's already leaking in places.
DeleteIt's definitely still summer in your garden, Gaz; don't you just love this time of year - everything looks so lush before sloping off for a winter rest. Rhus typhina is just so spectacular at this time of year - do you collect the sumach for kitchen use? It was always too high in the Capel gardens for me to reach! (Might have been a bit obvious taking a ladder to college with me :-O ) You guys are always busy with a project on the go - looking forward to the big reveal! C x
ReplyDeleteThanks Caro! I haven't though about collecting the sumac before but seems a good idea to do this year. It's a lovely spice :)
DeleteSuch a lush last hurrah! I'm amazed at how much growth the jungle area has put on, I know you used some quite large specimens, but even so so, fire? What fire?! Love the red pergola too, the Schefflera rhododendrifolia looks stunning against it, how old is that one? Its a lovely bushy shape.
ReplyDeleteWe're pleased that the jungle area is looking lush again despite what happened last year. The fire seems a distant memory now Janet. I think that Schefflera is now 6-7 years on the ground already.
DeleteI am so pleased that the area that was devastated by the fire last year is now looking so good! We here in the PNW were all just so shocked at your pictures. I love that punch of brightness from your red arbor. I've been thinking of adding a colored arbor somewhere in my garden. That is an impressive Schefflera, I wonder if the day will ever come when either of my two (S. delavayi and S. brevipedunculata) get that big.
ReplyDeleteA coloured arbor sounds like a great idea for your garden Alison, will complement your fun new garden ornaments too :) those two scheffleras seems slow to size up first but planted out for a few season plus your warmer summers they will eventually rocket away I can imagine,
DeleteOh, you do like to keep us in suspense. That red pergola peeping out through the foliage will do me for now.
ReplyDeleteNever did get to finish that pergola this year afterall but what's there will do for now Ricki :)
DeleteYour jungle looks fabulous! Of course you've been covertly working on more projects! I don't think you gents ever sit still! Looking forward to the reveals!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the jungle...
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a teenager in Sydney, my mother had to grow anything she thought was pretty with no sense of design creating her own jungle.Your guys' garden obviously doesn't fit that mold. I have a bit of an Australian jungle in my latest post.