Growing a REAL Urban Jungle - Dr Simon Olpin's Sheffield Garden Paradise
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ก.ค. 2024
- An evergreen jungle garden hidden in Sheffield, England - today's garden tour is a visit to Dr Simon Olpin's plant paradise filled with giant bamboo, rare exotic Schefflera umbrella plants, huge Trachycarpus windmill palm trees, towering Eucalyptus trees and countless evergreen exotics - a REAL urban jungle garden in a UK city! Walking around the garden, Simon gives a tour of his jungle garden's journey from 1988 and evolution into an established tropical paradise with plant ideas, care tips, garden regrets and what he'd do and grow if he started it all again... Not shying away from invasive running bamboo with huge canes, the fastest growing Eucalyptus trees and packing in countless Trachycarpus palm trees, the overall effect is stunning and Simon's enthusiasm for growing the unusual is contagious. He reveals his top tips for mulching to create a rich & healthy forest soil structure, providing food and the perfect growing conditions for his Asian and Himalayan garden plants as well as how he maintains, prunes and cultivates his evergreen urban jungle. An amazing garden transformation and inspiration for those of us wanting to create a rainforest, bamboo or palm garden in colder climates. You may be wondering what happens when you go FULL jungle in a garden for over 30 years, well, I think you'll enjoy exploring round it with me!
0:00 Intro
1:44 Dr Simon Olpin's Sheffield Jungle Garden - A 30 Year Transformation!
2:23 Huge Trachycarpus palm trees - UK tropical garden growth rate after 30 years
4:35 Phyllostachys nigra black bamboo & Semiarundinaria fastuosa screening hedge
5:35 Growing Trachycarpus fortunei fan palms in clumps for tropical jungle effect
6:47 Camellias, Rhododendron singogrande & Schefflera delavayi evergreen exotics
7:41 The importance of soil and mulching for healthy plants & low maintenance garden growth
12:37 Schefflera macrophylla, Rhododendron macabeanum - creating a year-round tropical effect
15:04 Rare blue hardy clumping bamboo - Borinda papyrifera KR3698 (CS1046 alternative)
16:59 Exotic underplanting with Camellias, Hydrangea aspera, Schefflera & Trochodendron aralioides
19:50 Hardy exotic Fascicularia bicolor epiphytic bromeliad flowers in palm tree
21:39 Garden failures, plant hardiness, the evolution of a jungle garden & Jubaea chilensis palm
23:59 Blechnum chilense evergreen fern perfect for UK tropical & jungle gardens
24:29 Naturalising / self-sowing Trachycarpus fortunei windmill palm seedlings
26:09 Huge Schefflera rhododendrifolia & impressa hardy, evergreen umbrella plant trees
29:09 Giant golden bamboo Phyllostachys vivax 'Aureocaulis' in UK jungle garden
31:30 Walking stick bamboo Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda & invasive running varieties
33:45 Combing large leaves, lush bamboos & Trachycarpus palms for a tropical garden effect
35:48 Using evergreen bamboo plants & hardy palms for winter interest in UK exotic gardens
38:34 The most invasive running bamboo? Growing Bashania fargesii panda food!
42:03 Borinda KR 5600 rare giant bamboo in lush UK jungle garden grove
45:17 Exotic evergreen shrubs, Fatsia varieties, tree ferns & huge Schefflera in shady jungle garden
49:10 A HUGE Eucalyptus snow gum tree, grown from seed in 1989 - extremely fast growth rate!
50:41 Dicksonia antartica tree fern thriving in high-humidity and moisture in shady UK jungle garden
51:39 Growing Phyllostachys dulcis, a tall running timber bamboo with big culms / canes
52:26 Invasive running bamboo to avoid, controlling with rhizome barrier & clumping bamboo ideas
56:38 Eucalyptus glaucescens tree growing problems, starting small & planting tips for long term tree success
58:13 Camellias & growing a UK exotic garden with seasonal interest in spring & autumn
59:03 Jungle garden design tips, mistakes, lessons and plant recommendations
1:03:48 3 Jungle Garden tips for gardeners wanting to grow a UK tropical paradise!
I'd love to continue making the best videos I can featuring garden tours, plant growing tips and documenting the progress of our North Lincolnshire jungle garden, if you enjoy my videos then it would be amazing if you're able to spare a few pounds and help support my channel here: ko-fi.com/georgesjunglegarden
Thanks,
George - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
This is the benchmark for a UK Jungle. Just Awesome!
I completely agree! Whatever your personal tastes and plant interests, it really is fantastic to see what Simon has created. The fact that it’s not in a mild Cornwall valley with ponds and streams but high up in an exposed Sheffield location makes it even more impressive! I love that first entrance to the garden, the way that all the plants mesh together and rise up in front of you - it definitely creates an effect that even much bigger exotic gardens don’t pull off. I really enjoyed it as you could probably tell from my enthusiastic ramblings 😂
WOW and WOW ... that is amazing, such a great video George as always, and thankyou to Simon for letting us take a look around... if only I had the space for something like that :)
Hahah, that is the appropriate reaction, it really is incredible! I thoroughly enjoyed seeing it and it's a pleasure sharing Simon's incredible creation, inspirational ideas and knowledge on here.
Brilliant George . I loved the whole vid ,thankyou Simon for taking the time to share your knowledge and fabulous garden with us all. I especially liked that you added the section talking about the soil structure being the key to healthy vigorous growth, which is often neglected by so many .
Thank you very much Shane and I appreciate you putting me in touch with Simon and all your efforts! Simon was an incredibly knowledgable, friendly and enthusiastic host and I was also very pleased he prioritised speaking about the soil structure. Too often it's seen as an afterthought but Simon's garden really is a fantastic example of what plants can persist and thrive when you make it a regular focus. I really enjoyed the visit and Simon made it an interesting and inspirational video too for which I'm very grateful.
Over an hour of ecstasy for my eyes and ears. I have seen a number of videos of the Doctors garden and they are all outstanding. There are so many take aways from this video alone. But for me the ones are soil preparation and indeed continued leaf litter. A evergreen back bone and although many of these plants are hardy and fast growers, give it time. There are so many more things I could add. But the video speaks for itself.
Thank you very much, I’m really pleased you enjoyed it and you’re completely right, Simon has so many take aways and experiences he’s happy to articulately share. We didn’t have a plan for what we were going to talk about beyond a rough tour and which plants should probably feature but I really am pleased he focused on the soil and leaf litter early on. There’s no better garden to literally show the results of it! As you say, there’s so many practical tips and lessons you could take from the garden but above all that, even if it gives just a few people an idea of what’s really possible, the effect you can create with time and how majestic these plants are as they grow I’d be very happy 😃
wow, I would actually pay to have a holiday in his garden, spectacular paradise.
It really is sensational isn't it! Get a tent and stay somewhere in the bamboo grove - nobody will see you in there!
Really enjoyed that George. Nice to see Simons doing well. The dulcis is looking fantastic. Great to see everything looking so lush and huge! A compete contrast to so many exotic gardens in terms of size and age.
Thanks Kris, you’re completely right and I can see how you appreciated your visits, it really is inspirational. The dulcis is great, even with the shade and heavy root competition it’s still an impressive size. As you warned me in advance, it really is incredibly dark in the middle of the garden and it doesn’t really come across in the vid - incredibly atmospheric but not ideal for filming!
Thanks Kris the video of those palms in your garden is really inspiring!! Kindest wishes.
Stunning amazing and wonderful! Thanks for sharing, George and thank you Simon for letting us see your amazing creation! 🌱🍄🌳🌴🌲🌴
Thank you very much, I'm really pleased you enjoyed seeing Simon's beautiful garden!
Wow! This had it all. An amazing garden, great photography and an incredible amount of knowledge. Thanks to both you and Simon for a thoroughly enjoyable class production.👏👏👏
Thank you Peter, that's very kind of you and I'm pleased you enjoyed seeing it! I did the best I could with the time I had there but with such an amazing garden and Simon's knowledgeable input it was always going to make an interesting vid!
epic! loved every minute 👌
Thanks, I’m pleased you enjoyed seeing round, it really is incredible 😃
Wow Kev Spence and Simon Olpin's gardens all in one week on YT. Who's next the springyfeller? Thanks and great job George.
Haha yes, I didn’t know about Kris’ vid but they definitely make an interesting contrast, both established and full of incredible exotics but with an entirely different atmosphere and aesthetic. That would be amazing, I love his garden but it’s getting to the point where I need to spend some time in mine now before it gets cold. I do enjoy the garden visits and look forward to doing more and improving the format going forwards 😃
just makes you want to run to the garden centre and get out in the garden and start planting hundreds of tropicals then you look at the bank balance !! dohhhh!!
Haha tell me about it, it really does doesn't it! I want to head out and buy another 10 Trachycarpus and get them in the ground!
A REAL shock visiting this REAL Jungle with you Dr Olpin and George. Sure, F.Ford Coppola and Oliver Stone could
have easily film there... We all are at loss for words. Everything is beautiful and impressive, like these huge tree ferns, monumental Eucalyptus, and of course all these fascinating bamboos (Borinda sp, Chimonobambusa sp and...all of
them!). I love the amazing Trachycarpus sp @19:15, the so dark and shining leaves of Trochodendron aralioides...
Rhododrendrons and Camelias must have a gorgeous look at the flower season. Big up Doctor Olpin and also George
for these great footage.💚
That's REALly kind of you Bernard and once again I appreciate your keen eye for the highlights! Monumental is certainly a fitting word for the Eucalyptus and that Trochodendron really is special. It must be a treat to see in spring for sure (hoping the frosts stay away!) and Simon's garden really shows the value in growing so many of the more exotic looking evergreens rather than just focusing on more 'tropical' plants. Thanks for your kind words as always and all the best!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden My pleasure George, and thank you for your detailed and kind comment. (i agree with the evergreen option).Tc
No problem! Yes, even before Simon mentioned it, I was thinking it would be a lovely garden to enjoy in winter as the low sunlight cuts through. A proper evergreen paradise!
Great garden! Mature, lush, natural and owner is great too, so many right ideas, deep understanding of soil ecology importance. Indeed, main teacher ia an invironment. You are right - the garden does not try to play in tropics, that is mountain subtropics of eastern Asia region. I think many people who starts from tropical look with time coming to subtropics. Thank you for cool video!
Thank you very much - Simon certainly has an incredible garden and it was really a struggle balancing out his fantastic information with showing you all the amazing planting and not making a video that was over an hour long! Soil is certainly key and yes, I think you're right with your assessment of the styles. 'Tropical' is definitely quick, colourful and great for a summer display but can be higher maintenance whereas creating a subtropical effect can be significantly easier with a lot of the tougher and hardier exotics you see in Simon's garden (and is the natural evolution anyway as bamboos and shrubs get bigger). I'm really pleased you enjoyed it and all the best.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Many thanks for you and Simon, you have many cool videos and that one was especially great. I also started from tropical look, but now I prefer more subtropical style, I am working with project of modern insulation technique allowing to grow subtropical plants in zones 4-5 with NO heating!!! You can see it here in my garden. th-cam.com/video/nK4O8A8N6i0/w-d-xo.html
Apologies for the delayed reply and that sounds interesting - I'll check it out in a bit!
Love watching this video. Ive watched it a few times. Inspirational for my project 👍🌴🌳
Simon is the nicest of men,thank you George
No worries and he is indeed! A true gent, hugely knowledgable and very generous with his time and advice.
Fabulous garden! And a great camera work. Thank you, George and Simon, for sharing this amazing jungle with us. The only things missing are 🐼 and exotic 🐦 🐦⬛ 🦃 😉😊
Thank you so much, I'm really pleased you enjoyed it! Yes, it's only short of a few exotic animals and it would be the authentic jungle experience - pretty crazy in a Sheffield back garden!
I’m astonished and impressed he remembers the year he planted each plant! 😂
I know! To do that whilst being recorded as well, the man's enthusiasm and plant knowledge know no bounds!
Great Video George and truly a fantastic example of what's possible from Simon.
Thank you very much Lee, I'm pleased you enjoyed it and it really is a stunning example of what you can do here, if you go full jungle!
Kee it up George...so helpful and you do it well,you ask the right questions and explain things simply..Iv just started my escape(jungle) this year.. tree fern musa in the ground im at the starting line😂...thanks Mekong
Thank you very much and I'm happy to help. I do try to make sure vids are helpful for newer growers and it sounds like you've made a great start on your escape so far! Good luck with it all!
Thank you both very much for the tour. Wonderful garden!
Thank you very much, I'm pleased you enjoyed seeing it and it really is a spectacular example of the jungle style isn't it!
Got the first like in.....now id better watch the video hahahah
😂 Haha yes, you win! Yeah, you better watch the whole vid to find out what you’re publicly recommending to make sure there’s no surprises…
What a great watch, so good to see those mature plants that have survived and thrived .
After watching this video ive just had to go out and get another schefflera tiwaniana.
Just the one?! Haha, great choice though!
Hi George. WOW!!!! You boys up North certainly know how to create the jungle look! Its amazing how you can do that with the northern climate. What a fantastic garden ! Hope some of my plants turn out like the ones youve shown us. The down side is i will be102 years old when they get to that size!!!! 😂. Brilliant video George as usual . Well done you northeners. All the best. Steve.👍🌴
Hi Steve and thanks, I can't take any of the credit for Simon's masterpiece, he was the inspiration behind many of the more recent jungle gardens in our parts and his garden really is a testament to following your passion and letting a garden evolve. I too would also be happy if any of my plants get to be a fraction of what his are! Just imagine the day when you're sheltering under the canopy of Schefflera and towering Trachyarpus for your 102nd birthday, what a treat! All the best to you too Steve.
Fantastic interview.
Loved the conversation back and forth. Great questions and comments.
Really appreciate the time you took to record, edit and share. That is a whole lot of work. 🌴👌🙏👍🙏🌴
Thank you very much, that's really kind of you! I'm pleased you enjoyed it, it was certainly an inspiring visit to a garden I've wanted to see for ages! It does take a lot of work but I enjoy the vast majority of it, great to know it's appreciated though so thanks. All the best!
Another great video Thank yo George.
Thank you Cindy, I'm really pleased you enjoyed it!
This is superb, and so is this this channel. It's great that finally we are seeing people who are actually "growing on the edge". I used to get really annoyed by people posting pictures on certain forums of their 'garden' with pics of a couple of palms, a musa, a yucca, a few ferns and a cordyline and think people would give a flying f*ck. Thank god times have changed.
Thank you very much and Simon is very much growing on the edge and I imagine could easily talk for another hour on the plants he’s lost over the years! I try to cover a range of planting styles and whilst I applaud anyone fully committing to pushing the boundaries with their planting, I do also have a lot of time for those starting out with some of the exotics we might see as more common and mundane - which can often prove to make a more attractive garden in colder areas especially. The other area I find really exciting is when people combine exotics with other styles of gardening, and I hope to share more videos of those this year along with other individuals growing some rare and crazy plants!
What a lovely show of brilliant and vibrant colourful plants, well done George
Amazing!!❤🥇🤘🙌
It certainly is, an impressive and beautiful jungle garden!
Nice garden! 🎉❤
It certainly is Karl, Simon's definitely gone 100% in on the jungle theme!
George i'm in paradise looking at this lovely man's garden,i have 8 or 9 types of bamboo and need to plant them in the ground, many thanks mate,very inspiring
I'm pleased you enjoyed Simon's tour of his spectacular garden! I love the variety and height of bamboo and there's certainly some great inspiration in here. As long as you plant them responsibly and give them space, I'm sure you'll have an amazing garden in years to come!
Very thankful for your efforts putting in all the markers with latin names. It's very helpful for those of us who are really interested in the specific plants. Thanks so much, great video.
Thank you very much and I'm pleased the effort is appreciated! I find it's certainly worthwhile in gardens like this where there's so many unusual and incredible plants that I'm sure a lot of other gardeners will want to hunt down!
what an amazing man and garden !! how has he got everything so lush in sheffield !! thats 1 of my best gardens on your vids george.. well done mate your channel is coming on really well buddy ..
Thanks, I'm pleased you enjoyed my vid but even more pleased you appreciated seeing round Simon's incredible garden. It really is a spectacular and atmospheric jungle garden!
Amazing
Thanks, it really is an incredible garden and I’m pleased you enjoyed seeing it 😃
What a beauty, stunning garden
It certainly is, definitely close to a real jungle isn’t it 😃
Brilliant video thanks for this,beautiful gardens 😊
Thank you very much, it really is and it was a pleasure visiting Simon and getting to share the garden on here!
Wow what an amazing mature jungle 👌
It certainly is! It's amazing to see so many of the huge Schefflera and Trachyarpus isn't it!
Fantastic video George 👍🏻 epic mature plants, great tour 😃
Thanks Paul, I'm pleased you enjoyed it and it really was a treat getting to see all those huge plants - the Schefflera especially really were beauties!
Outdone yourself with this video. Simply awesome! Loved hearing this guy talk and share so much great information. I’ll definitely be watching this one several more times
Thank you very much! Yes, Simon is incredibly knowledgeable and full of tips for others - this video could have easily been a few hours long if we'd had the time to film! There were a few moments where I tried to hurry it up so we'd have chance to share the whole garden before I had to leave but it would be great to return one day and share some more of Simon's wisdom.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden that would be great if you could go back and cover more of his wisdom. You can’t get this kind of knowledge anywhere else but from guys like this
Thanks, I'll certainly try to! You're completely right, having 30+ years of growing these plants in the same garden gives a huge amount of insight and experiences, especially when paired with somebody as naturally inquisitive and passionate as Simon.
This is a brilliant garden and fantastic video. It does make me wish i had started my garden when i was 15 though!
Thank you very much Nick, I'm pleased you enjoyed seeing it! Yes, I know the feeling haha! As the proverb goes though, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
Those garden tours that you are doing is like watching a high end documentary from the old BBC! It's amazing how well this video has been processed! Despite the fact that I live in a more sunny and warmer climate here in North Greece I am jealous how you brits tend to have such marvellous exotic gardens ! This jungle like garden is utterly amazing!
If I could give you an idea for your videos is to create some with natural noises of such gardens ! No human interaction, just tropical leaves battered by the strong northern winds of the island while rain makes a mess and nothing more! It could be amazing to watch!
Hi and thank you so much, that's high praise indeed and I do try my best to keep improving the vids over the time and show the gardens as well as I can. I'm pleased you enjoyed seeing round Simon's incredible jungle, it really is an amazing garden. Thanks for the idea, it is actually something I've thought about - it wouldn't be everyone's thing I'm sure but I'd like the challenge of trying to capture the ambience of different gardens. We'll see!
You mentioned yourself ,Kris and Mark, but there's no mention of Craig!!!
Them northern chaps keep to themselves
😂😂😂 Haha yes, us northern boys need to stick together, winter is coming! Nahh, for the comment I think you were referring to it was about Simon’s style of planting with bamboo, tree ferns, lots of palms and that’s what myself, Kris and Mark generally mostly have whereas Craig has a different blend of plants in his garden. He nearly got a mention when it came to the bromeliads in the palms though!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden nearly
Hahaha yep, nearly! Nothing but appreciation for Craig and I very nearly (again!) popped to see him when we were in Bournemouth last year but couldn't quite make it happen. One day!
Haha thanks Geroge, you pointed me towards this video regarding my questions on Fascicularia bicolor - love the placement and I will do the same on one of my trachys. Now I am trying to buy a Rhododendron Sinogrande lol. I agree with Dr Olpin on the Rhododendron. I love the evergreens and also deciduous (especially for the Autumn colours on the leaves)
Hi, apologies for the delayed reply and the bromeliads at Simon's definitely work very well on the Trachys and wall. Haha yes, sinogrande is a beauty and I sometimes wish I had Simon's restraint to focus on the evergreens and glossy leaves. Some autumn colours work well too though and I completely agree that even in a tropical garden, it's a season to be celebrated and enjoyed with some beautiful plants!
@GeorgesJungleGarden no worries at all. Tbf I have changed my mind about 50 times about the location! Still in the pot for now :-) . I might have to rewatch this video again as sometimes the mind can get sidetracked with random things like Arundo Donax variegata and whether it is too variegated for my garden lol
Haha yes, I've been there with plants and there's no point rushing! As for the Arundo donax, it's certainly a strong statement and a big old plant but I've got a feeling that if you decide it's right for you, then you are the right person for it!
@GeorgesJungleGarden haha "right plant right person" I have been propergating it for a while, but not convinced so in pots for now, rather than planting out.
Haha yes, very true! Maybe positioning the pots in place when it’s taller will help you make up your mind 😊
That's why I always grow loquats they give you a all round year luscious greenery
Very true, they're certainly a lovely alternative and the ones at Mark's Tiki garden definitely show they fit in with a tropical theme. At Simon's I think the Rhododendrons offer a similar form and are certainly a key plant in his jungle - we're lucky to have so many trouble free and lower maintenance options for creating an exotic effect here aren't we.
Great garden George, but please let Dr Olpin speak without interruption, he has so much to say, but we only got a part it!
Thanks and apologies it detracted from the video for you. Its tricky to strike a balance when you some people (including myself) that could watch Simon talk for hours about his experiences and a closer look at all the unusual plants but there’s also a lot of people who want to see a more conversational tour round the garden highlights and practical take home tips which I try to weave through my videos as I have a lot of newer gardeners watching. Unfortunately I only had a couple of hours to film this tour so didn’t have the privilege of filming both and chopping it down in the edit like a lot of professional productions would. I’m keen to improve going forwards though so will endeavour to make more time for the individuals I visit to fully explain their garden and balance out my contributions to their input, I do appreciated your honest criticism.
Great video as always george..... I'm in total agreement about Trachycarpus....But as I have 28 in different species and sizes I would think that 😂
Thanks Derek! Haha yes, I’m in a similar situation myself and will definitely look for more spaces I can get them in after this visit! I really do find it interesting how a lot of us grow a very similar group of core plants but the overall effect can vary so much depending on tastes, conditions and time. It really is spectacular seeing so many Trachycarpus with 20-25ft trunks!
28... hmm.
Do you by any chance compliment them with some Deciduous Azaleas.? I ask because it's a plant I thought might do well in Dr Simon Olpin's Sheffield Garden Paradise, though I know they don't do quite so well when invaded by running bamboo
@@aquachimp1 I have grown azalea mollis before but that was before I became obsessed with palms....I use lots of ferns bananas tetrapanax phormium yucca pulwonia and miriad of other tropical style plants...A very eclectic mix...The palms always take centre stage...I also grow another 20 or so other palm species including Butia, Chamherops, Serenoa, Sabel, and a recently purchased butyagrus erospathia.
Wow, sounds delightful. But does that mean the azaleas died out, or you moved house?
Along with several much smaller exotics, I've just got 1 tree fern and two bananas - some of my small L-shaped garden is barely 2.3m wide , so the fern on its own nearly blocks the view beyond it.
As for the bananas, one is a, now, pup producing musa basjoo, and the other a Musa nagensium, and despite a plant label promising tolerance up to -5°C, which we only got very briefly last winter, the latter would not have survived were it not for the generous mulching, which I was really only aiming to use to anchor down the fleece.
We have "ordinary" ferns too. A couple of special looking ones, the names of which are long forgotten. I like them a lot. In the middle, there's a 26m+ birch tree that fries out the place in summer. It's got a lovely open network of branches, but even pruned, its span covers a huge area of the garden. For us, it mostly a spring garden with lots of bulbs. I think the neighbours are finally starting to like it.
@@derekscheshirepalmgardenuk5345
Most interesting and very well worthwhile taking it all in.
Personally, I find Mahonias look quite exotic-ish, but sometimes, where there's one, e.g. Berberis mahonia 'charity' , there will then be the wild, sometimes more rust or copper-leafed looking one which can be quite a nuisance.
Like him, everything my garden produces gets either shredded or composted , with shreddings sometimes added to the compost for variety and the net result is that the ground level does rise and so the last time I rebuilt the fence, I added a concrete edging as a base to replace the wooden one that had rotted on account of being half buried, and I don't even have what might pass as a jungle.
Speaking of which, my garden, though tiny by comparison, is more loose in it's design than neighbours are accustomed to, and one calls it a "sprookjes tuin" which would be Dutch for "fairy tales garden" so I refer to it as a cottage, or English style garden, albeit quite tame in that respect also and it occurred to me while watching this video just how closely it could be called an exotics-cottage-garden and so, instead of searching for terms such as jungle/exotic/topical garden etc I wonder what you'd think about labelling such a garden as an exottage garden (pronounced ex (egg)- zot- age)? Exoticottage?
ps, "zot" is the Dutch for crazy (-:
I'm pleased you got a lot out of seeing it. I know where you're coming from regarding the Mahonias. I did enjoy the 'Sweet Winter' at Simon Mabury's garden and I grow 'Soft Caress' but the some of the others can be a bit hit and miss in my eyes. In a setting like this, they work well, in a smaller garden, personally I'd prioritise other plants that give a more overtly exotic or tropical effect. Great to hear you're a fan of mulching and quite prolific at it too! As for your final suggestion, hearing that "zot" is Dutch for crazy sold it to me, you should definitely start using it! I do enjoy seeing hybrid gardens with more than just one element.
Exzottage gardens it is then (-; @@GeorgesJungleGarden
Haha yes, you definitely need to keep going with the theme!
Most gardens the size of his would be mostly lawn, which really is no longer more feasible than a managed jungle. Therefore the ex in exzottage, for no longer being zot
I just find such a garden, albeit filled with exotics, leans towards the naturalistic direction of a cottage garden and that why I see the connection. @@GeorgesJungleGarden
Very true, I understand your explanation and apologies for my delayed reply! You make a good point about the work and resources required for a lawn, in many ways Simon's garden is so much more 'sustainable' and in terms of biodiversity and 'interest' it's obviously on a completely different level!
I really love this mans garden, I wish I could grow bamboo in my climate, unfortunately where I live in Canada gets just too cold, too cold to grow anything close to what the both of you can grow :(. If I could make a suggestion for future videos though, you cut off the people when they talk, and I get it, you're very excited, but it got frustrating and I had to turn the volume off.
Hi, it’s certainly a very impressive garden and the plants that are thriving are mostly what have endured often significant cold but I understand your winters are another level and it may be worth checking out the bamboo forums for suggestions as a lot are hardy down to -20°C etc.
Genuinely thank you for your feedback and perspective, I’m sorry you found it grating and it’s something I’ll look at improving going forwards. Just to offer a bit of an explanation, I did make the decision with these ‘tour’ videos that I wanted them to be more of a conversational style, with inputs from both people and hopefully a good blend of showing the garden, talking about experiences and plants and take home care tips for beginners. I know it’s no excuse but I don’t have the filming or editing time to record hours and hours like a professional crew and whittle it down so I’m very conscious that whilst I’m filming and also letting the other person share, I do have to try to steer the video to an extent and occasionally prompt what I think would make a good discussion. When Simon was talking about soil or the Bashania fargesii etc, I let him put his interesting points across but I was also keen not to dwell too much on more obscure plants etc at the expense of not being able to show the whole garden and creating an accessible TH-cam-friendly video for newer growers wanting inspiration and practical tips. For every person who could quite happily watch Simon talk for hours about obscure plants (me!), there’s others who want a more straight to the point tour and a chat that also focuses on the basics. Hopefully that makes sense but I was quite tired on the day of filming so I’m happy to put my hands up and say I don’t always get it right and I get where you’re coming from. I’m committed to improving over to time though so I do appreciate any feedback and suggestions 😊
Fantastic video, really enjoyed seeing this garden and your talk. One improvement suggestion I have is: let the man finish speaking. It gives a sort of unnecessarily stressed feel to it when you end his sentences or otherwise interrupt him. Not black or white, just a nudge towards more patience would help IMO.
Hi and thanks for your kind words and considered feedback. I agree with what you have to say and it's something I'll incorporate into future videos. It was possibly down to not having enough time on the day to video everything and have the luxury of cutting down more later so I probably spurred the conversation on a bit more subconsciously to make sure we actually got to the end of the garden. I think another factor is that most of my earlier garden tours had been more conversational with gardeners and growers potentially not used to speaking or that I know on a friend basis, whereas Simon is a very considered and knowledgeable speaker and I maybe should have adjusted the video style and cadence to suit. I know how I'd do it differently again though and improving is all part of the journey isn't it.
What soil ph is it? As Dr Olphin has rhodedendrons, camellias mixed in? A brief mention of peat was made but I wondered if the acid lovers were in pots but some of those rhodys are huge.
Hi, apologies for the delayed reply and I'll ask Simon and get back to you ASAP. Oh yes, the vast majority is in the ground and I do wonder how much Simon's addition of organic matter over the years has altered the ph. He is very close to woodland so I know what I'd guess but I'll ask for confirmation!
Nice!! Like the Cornish gardens, the created microclimate is fantastic.
How big is the garden?
200 ft long at the back by ~40 ft wide.
@@SimonOlpin Thankyou, it's an incredible garden you have created. I hope to achieve a similar nice space in Yorkshire.
It's certainly got the Cornwall feel in spades @henrywaterhouse6291 and is definitely a garden you walk through and look up at which really changes the feel and immersion of the jungle effect. I'm sure you'll do an amazing job with your plants despite your equally testing weather!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden definitely cornwallesk, always good to see other northern gardens doing well, you always get some ideas and inspiration looking at what others have done.
Very true! I hope all is growing well and going well with yours. I'll be taking a pup from the Tibet inside as insurance this winter but protecting the rest in a few weeks time before any significant cold.
Can i use yew cuttings as a mulch??
Hi, you can but too much of some conifers can change the acidity of the soil and they take a while to rot down. In smaller quantities though, I think I'd go for it.
I was wondering why he had not planted Magnolia delavayi & suddenly there it was at the end. Maybe he should try some of those bamboo iris as well? They grow under trachycarpus in the wild. Great fans of evergreen leaves & small blue & white flowers.
Just one thing though. Can you talk just a wee but less and let him speak more?
Superb report on his beautiful garden otherwise !
Hi and apologies for my delayed reply. Yes, Simon's got a stunning assortment of plants and that's another interesting suggestion you make - they sound like they would work very well. Thanks for your honesty and it's something I identified myself. I'm still trying to get to grips with the format of visiting a garden, walking round and planning the video then getting the main video filmed along with all the overlay footage in a relatively short day. On this one, I didn't leave enough time and when you're with somebody like Simon who could enthusiastically and knowledgably talk about any plant subject, I must confess there was maybe a bit of pressure to move the conversation round the garden as I didn't have the privilege of filming everything and editing later. Feedback taken on board though and I hope you see improvements in my upcoming garden tours this year.
This is what most Jungle gardeners strive to achieve. George im trying to create this, I have a lightly partly shaded area where I want plant an Arbutus Unedo for the canopy. I have a conifer from South America it will reach 1m 3 feet in diameter, height ranged from 20 to 40 to 80 feet, I want to plant the Arbutus near it maybe a foot or two to three away to create this lush effect. Would this cause any problems, there near a shed but far away not to cause any problems since ive measured the trunk diameter. Thank you
It really is incredible isn't it, a mature and established no-compromise jungle. As for your question, if you're planting long term, both plants have the potential to be trees and I'd consider spacing significantly further apart. You can always use ferns etc. to give that lushness and volume of leaves around them short term. Even if you're wanting the trees to be close together I'd still have maybe 2-3m between them to allow room for the trunks and surrounding roots to grow. If you look at mature trees, it's not just the diameter of the trunks but then the roots buttress into the soil and there's often a a surrounding area of incredibly dry and thinner soil that the Arbutus would struggle to thrive in.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks George, I was considering that and might put terrestrial ferns, Carex Grasses and a smaller tree like shrub, ligustrum Japonica, especially rotundifolia or Lucidium would work well, I was unsure but the trunks of both trees might be a problem, so I've also moved my Fargesia Demissa Gerry there, for deeper shade compared to where it was. Thanks George and have a good day.
Thanks and apologies for the delayed reply! That sounds like a lovely mix of plants that'll suit the area well. I'd definitely do that, space the trees out more, use the smaller plants for colour and interest, the Fargesia for height and over time the trees will take their places and really help create that genuine jungle effect!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks George the Conifer is staying, I even measured out the width of the trunk it ranges from 3 to 12 feet across but won't reach the shed in trunk diameter. I have a question in regards to soil, I've planted what originally was meant to be a chamaerops but seems to be a Trachy, do they have any problems with acid soil, that way for the chamaerops. Thank you George.
Nice one - I guess the other factor is that by the time the trunk is 12 feet across the shed might not be there haha! Apologies for the delayed reply, in my understanding Trachycarpus are very adaptable and can cope with most soil types (extremes might cause issues).
Can we bring plants into the uk?
There's various laws and regulations controlling what can be brought in but yes, many exotic plants are imported and there's also many great nurseries and suppliers propagating and growing exciting plants right here too.
👌👌👌👌🫡
Thanks, I'm pleased you enjoyed it!
You should NOT interrupt all the time. It is hard to listen to both of you talking at the same time!
Hi, that was never my intention and apologies it detracted from the video for you. I do try to have a more conversational back and forwards approach rather than a simple presentation but I’m quite new to the format and still learning so will take your feedback on board. On this day we spent most of the morning walking around and talking without a camera which did limit the filming time in the afternoon so I potentially had to steer the video round more to get round everything in time rather than having the luxury of recording everything and refining it in the edit but I will make an effort to improve going forwards.
I really appreciate the conversational style George ❤It brings warmth and relatability to your videos. It’s what helps to keep your viewers pinned for 1 hour plus, and is therefore a keeper 😊Given that it’s impossible to please everyone, stick with what satisfies you in the editing room… you’re smashing it.
Thank you very much, I really do appreciate it! Happy to take feedback on board though and of course nobody is born knowing how to film, present, conduct an interview and put a long form video together so part of the fun is improving over time and working towards the videos that I'd want to watch myself. I'll keep trying my best thanks and hopefully sharing more exciting gardens, cool plants and interesting people in the very near future! All the best and thanks for taking the time to leave your support.