Well this page has long since expanded so much that it has had to be split! But my previous system of adding a new page for each year of planting is no longer working as it was becoming *very* messy! Instead, I have now provided the following pages depicting the different parts of my garden. A description of each plant is still provided, and you can click on the images on each page to see a higher resolution image. Hope you have a fast internet connection!

The lower front garden.

The upper front garden.

The back garden.

The side garden.

And some additional pages on a couple of my more adventurous plantings:

Planting a large 'jub'.

Planting a large 'trithy'.

For info, the following is a quick summary of the more interesting plants which I am growing or have tried (list updated August 2019):

PLEASE NOTE that any hardiness temperatures quoted are based on my own experience as well as on information obtained from other websites/growers..... they refer to mature plants and even then are absolutely NOT guaranteed - as I have found out the best way to determine if a particular plant will survive is to try it for myself - something I have found extremely rewarding!

My exotic garden! - August 2010 (click the pic for a larger image in a new window)

Key:

Black = currently growing happily in my garden :-)

Blue = currently in a pot, kept frost-free but will be planted out when large enough

Red = Failure (plant died, sometimes after several years in the ground - cause of death not necessarily cold weather)

Green = On order, not yet arrived

* = plant currently receives some winter protection during 'normal' cold spells

(1) Centre growth protected with cloth (cold nights only)

(2) Centre growth protected with mulch (tree ferns, all winter)

(3) Leaves loosely tied up (all winter)

(4) Overhead rain cover (all winter)

(5) Blanket thrown over (cold nights only)

(6) Blanket wrap (cold periods only) - not keen on this type of protection as it can cause damage either directly or be trapping moisture

(7) Bell cloche (very small plants, all winter)

(8) Covered using empty mulch bin or upside-down wheelie-bin (bananas, during cold spells)

(9) Mini-greenhouse, unheated (all winter)

(10) Mini-greenhouse, heated only to keep temp >0°C (all winter, although heat only switched on during cold spells)

(11) Self-regulated warming cables, used as appropriate (all winter, although only switched on during cold spells)

The level of protection used is based on the age of the plant and how long it has been in the ground, for example many of my plants get some protection for at least the first 3 winters in the ground, with protection reduced after each winter. Protection used is applicable to 'normal' winter cold spells, i.e. no colder than -4°C (25°F).

(12) Brought indoors during cold snaps.