At the end of July several of us from Dorset Plant Heritage went to visit Mike and Tina’s Jungle Garden. We followed the SatNav to the postcode, but as we got closer, we had no trouble in identifying the correct house, as black railings around the front garden were attempting to keep the jungle in, in what is otherwise an unremarkable suburban road.
The front garden had tall Trachycarpus, colourful gingers and cannas, Eucomis, even ferns in pots, and was just a taster, for what was to come! The drive was full of plant sales tables, with a tempting array of plants. Then an ingenious covered car port, which provided a space to overwinter a number of plants, but was now in café mode, with space to sit and enjoy refreshments while looking at the range of cacti and succulents racked on and around staging against the house wall, as well as other potted jungle planting.
The larger back garden was similarly full of plants at every level, while still finding space for 3 greenhouses, a summer house and tucked away around a corner, a small potting shed, as well space to sit. Near the house, a large loquat tree hosted unusual hanging baskets, one containing a bird’s nest Asplenium, and underneath, the start of a varied understorey of large leafy plants. In a back corner several tree ferns hid the fence, all 3 greenhouses were brimming with plants, one had selection of carnivorous plants sat in trays. Air plants were growing on driftwood, as well as on trunks and hanging from other trees.
For a plantsman’s garden, with an amazing selection of plants, it was well designed, with the garden working as a whole as well as at a detailed level. The exuberant planting in the ground was extended to stylishly arranged pots. Most of the plants were well labelled, and Mike’s knowledge and enthusiasm about them was obvious.
A really enjoyable visit, both for interesting and rare plants, a lovely jungle themed garden and not forgetting the excellent selection of cakes to choose from, thanks to Tina’s baking skills.
