Thanks, I think you’re completely right 😃 Some people were walking just across from me so I wasn’t completely focused on the plants that minute but I’ve pinned your comment so others can get the correct ID if they’re lucky enough to have a climate like this to grow one in! Thanks!
Hahaha I wouldn't go quite that far but when you're rushing round getting a vid against the clock you do have to go on autopilot and let a lot of the enthusiasm shine through! Even if it means using the words 'amazing' and 'absolutely' every other sentence!
@@juliankemp-r2j Thank you, it's great to hear that even my time-limited efforts are appreciated! What's not growing well for you and is it just this year you've planted them?
@@TigerMa75 It's a special place for sure, it was so exciting just getting a first glimpse of the arid garden from the car park and it kept getting better from there. I'll definitely be back!
Now that was a proper ending, always great to see the fam...but OMG, that garden, I think I was aghast, mouth open the whole time...thank you so much for sharing, time to get into my own jungle, enjoy your trip, I sure did...!
Haha thanks, I edited this on my phone and wanted to pop that little memory of Harriet giggling in! I know, what an incredible garden, it just kept getting better and better! There's more I didn't get chance to include but that arid area was definitely my highlight. After seeing other gardens with some nice exotic specimens growing OK, visiting somewhere with rows and rows of virtually pristine rarities well on their way to maturity is definitely a special experience! I'm pleased you enjoyed seeing it and I'd love to go back another time and include more of this incredible place.
Thank you very much Marianne, pleased you enjoyed it! Home definitely feels like home but it was great to experience a place where they've recreated the Mediterranean and arid look so incredibly well and with so many stunning exotics growing to maturity. Thank you, I edited this on my phone and just wanted to pop that clip in, we had a lovely ferry trip back to Portsmouth making her giggle and watching the seagulls.
I went here a few years ago, all I can say WOW what a bloody incredible and awesome place Ventnor BG was, I love the fact that it has different elevations which helps with the tropicals and large trees create the botanical gardens microclimate, the IoW is full of gems. What a beautiful stunning place!
Awesome, you’re completely right! As I put in another comment the exotic ‘specimen’ plants are stunning but it’s the journey round the garden, the huge eucalyptus and the layout that really make it feel so incredibly special. The bank definitely helps the arid section thrive and it’s a beautiful way of displaying the towering palms and striking desert plants too 😃 Another visit definitely required for us both!
Thank you very much Iris! It was just a long weekend away but I'm pleased we made the spontaneous decision to have a family afternoon here. It's a garden that's been on my list a while and I'd love to go back to create a longer vid there one day but it was great to visit and enjoy the ferry trips making Harriet giggle too!
Stunners aren’t they, it’s such a privilege to see them as towering palms reaching for the sky rather than tatty little specimens clinging onto dear life 😂 You’ll absolutely love the gardens, definitely worthy of a place on any exotic garden lover’s list, I’d love to go back again myself one day soon too!
Hi there. Just to let you know that I shared this with Chris Kidd Friday .. We both agreed that it was a wonderful presentation . I will also be sharing it with the rest team . Thank you for your presentation. I will also be passing on your video to the owner. Thank you again John
Hi and thank you very much, that’s kind of you. Apologies about the central Brahea ID mixup! It’s honestly the quickest, roughest video I’ve done in a long time but I wanted to share my favourite area of the incredible garden on my channel. Thank you so much and I’d love to come back one day with my camera and get some more informative videos done, perhaps with the help of your team? Looking through the comments it’s clear there’s a lot of exotic garden enthusiasts that would love to know more about the way you do things 😊
Love how they have left alot of there plants and palms to look natural and not pruned to and inch of there lifes. Great walk around George have a nice break
Thanks and we're back now, it was a long weekend but we got plenty in! I really appreciated that too and the place is full of wildlife (including lizards and red squirrels!) so it's obviously a naturalistic approach that's working. I have heard that it used to be more highly maintained but I also prefer the tidy but natural approach and leaving the old leaves and fronds on plus having self seeded plants everywhere certainly adds to the atmosphere.
Thanks for watching Heater and I'm pleased you enjoyed seeing it, genuinely one of the most amazing garden experiences I've had. It's been on my list for a long time but I've never really googled or seen any videos of it and this was definitely a last-minute spontaneous trip so to see the plants get more and more exciting as we went round was something special. You'll love it and you can stay over there too! I might just have to make a return trip one day soon...
What a place ,that's going on the" I need to visit" list .Thanks for sharing George it looks incredible. 👌 kris will be pleased his magnificent specimen got a mention 😉🤣🤣🤣
Cheers Shane, it deserves a place on the list! We were only there a few hours but I could have easily enjoyed a full day looking round. Haha yes, no comment!
Fantastic video George, thank you!! We're moving to the Isle of Wight in a couple of months because we love it there so much and this garden is one of our most favourite places to visit.
Hi and thanks - apologies for my delayed reply! Good luck with your move, it must be exciting to make a place you enjoy so much your home. I could spend hours / days wandering around the garden, I love the mixture of unusual and experimental plants, the old fashioned charm, vistas along with the more naturalistic approach to things. I imagine it'll be lovely in the lower September / October sun, enjoy!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks George, we're really looking forward to the move and to getting an annual membership to the gardens so we can enjoy them in all the different seasons. We will be creating another tropical garden from scratch at our new house (gutted about leaving the old one behind, although having said that most of our plants are coming with us ...lol). Your passion for tropical plants comes across really well on camera and it's infectious!!
@@allielee8509 Thank you very much Allie and I'd 100% be getting an annual membership too! Well done on bringing most of your plants haha, that's what I did here, it's worth the effort! I hope the excitement of the new possibilities outweigh having to leave the old garden behind - I'm sure you'll love creating something new there. Thank you very much, it's great to hear you're enjoying my vids!
Thank you very much, they're stunning aren't they! It definitely felt like the Mediterranean which is very surreal when most of the island could easily be mistaken for Yorkshire etc. Just shows what's possible in a favourable microclimate on the south side of an already mild island at the south end of the UK!
@GeorgesJungleGarden They certainly are!! Would love to visit there myself. I was in Llandudno, North Wales last week and saw a couple impressive Phoenix Canariensis palms and even a Washingtonia Robusta, along with probably over 100 Cordyline Australis. I think most coastal areas can grow these unprotected. Although I lost my Phoenix Canariensis last winter I have planted a Washingtonia Robusta in a sheltered spot in my garden. I am going to build a frame around it covered with plant fleece over the winter
@@darren9279 Nice one Darren, yes, there's definitely coastal areas around the country that just give the edge a lot of these exotics need to survive or flourish, seeing so many thriving at Ventnor will definitely be something you enjoy so add it to your list! Fingers crossed for your Washingtonia, they do get tougher as they get larger but you also want to be careful you don't have it wrapped too long as they need good airflow. If we get a string of mild or normal winters it should do OK and outgrow any damage but during sever prolonged freezes you may find it requires heating potentially and the fleece may not be enough - ultimately though, how sheltered the spot is will be the biggest decider, good luck with it!
@@darren9279 You can't help but be impressed by them in a place like this when they just get better and better as you head round! Awesome to see the Jubaea which have been in the ground a lot of years, just stunning beasts!
Thank you Kathryn! Nice one, I wish I could have done the same! We juggled it in with a short family holiday but I'm certainly glad we went over for the afternoon, I really enjoyed it.
It is indeed, I'm pleased you enjoyed this quick walk (/jog!) around! Those Jubaea are definitely something else, that big one especially is monstrous and makes the Phoenix look small! You'll really enjoy it I'm sure, it doesn't get much better for palms and arid plants in the UK!
Just a quick phone vid but it definitely gives some context to the photos and hopefully conveys enough of the feel of the place to make other people want to add it to their garden list!
Love the tour George. The arid area looks amazing. Yuccas the size of trucks. One day I've gotta get over there. Just easier to get to Spain than the Isle of Wight for me
Thank you and apologies for my delayed reply! Some monstrous plants for sure and definitely worth the visit even if it would take a while to get down there. Maybe combine it with a Cornwall mega-trip? I've enjoyed seeing your cool plant photos from your trip too, awesome!
Thanks Samantha! You'll love it I'm sure, there's a lot of different themed areas I didn't get time to feature too. Great to see the mixture of mature and exciting planting in a place where they can truly thrive!
Thank you very much and I really enjoyed it (obviously!), it's definitely worth a trip over if you're ever visiting the south coast of the UK and you can stay over there too!
Wow 😮definitely on my list now, have yet to make it across but I didn’t realise this was there so will be making the effort to go and have a look round thanks for sharing 👏🏻🤩
Pleased to hear it! I've had on my list to visit for quite some time, but this was a last minute spontaneous trip for the afternoon while we were on the south coast and I absolutely loved it. Well worth a trip over!
Thanks George. Great video. Ventnor is now top of my list for a visit this Summer - fab garden.If you're still in the area, I think you'd enjoy Abbottsbury Sub Tropical Garden. Happy birthday btw.
Thanks Colin! A well deserved spot at the top of the list, you'll love it. We were only down for a long weekend and my initial plan was actually to have a day heading to Abbotsbury myself on Monday but then decided to make it a family trip to here. They're both definitely on my list for a visit and return in the case of Ventnor! Thanks, it's this next week but I appreciate your kind wishes!
We definitely didn't stay long enough to see any funny goings on, just a quant little island with familiar scenery. But I imagine what happens on the island, stays on the island haha!
Absolutely fantastic looking place. Your video makes me want to visit even more than i did before. The arid area looks to be my favourite that you showed.
It certainly is Kris, I'd love to go back again for a longer walk around one day but the arid area was definitely my highlight. There's a whole Japanese garden, New Zealand area, Eucalyptus grove and loads more but the arid planting was certainly impressive. For me, it's the first UK garden I've visited that captures the look of some of the USA desert / palm style gardens and I'm sure you'll make it across one day soon!
What a Garden of Eden, what a stunning place! Everything is huge, beautiful and remarkable. A few things that caught my attention: Acanthus mollis, Cordyline australis purpurea, Brahea armata, and these long and thin Eucalyptus leaves @9:20 . But everything is incredible in that gorgeous place! Georges, thank you very much for that amazing journey! Hi baby girl and Mummy! 🌴☀
Thanks Bernard and I'm pleased you enjoyed seeing a quick video of this amazing place on our family day out! As always, you have a good eye for the highlights and some of those big Eucalyptus with the sickle-shaped leaves were stunning along with the drifts of Acanthus mollis. Obviously beautiful specimen palms and cordylines etc but it's the surrounding and background planting that really transforms the feeling of the place compared to the surrounding countryside. Definitely a beautiful garden whatever your horticultural interests!
What an amazing garden, some huge specimen palms, bananas and agaves but what I didn't see were any bamboos which is a shame. They could have some huge timber bamboos by now if they'd been planted when the garden was first made. Keep up the great work!😊
Cheers@@tedscott1478 , it's definitely a fantastic garden in a very special spot! There is actually a Japanese section at the top, running parallel to the long borders and Cordyline avenue and there's loads of bamboo in there, something I'd love to show more of if ever I'm lucky enough to be back there. You're completely right, some choice bamboos and a good bit of time equals something very special indeed!
Great video, that's just down the road from me. Have you taken a walk and had a nosey in private gardens/garden centres, see what they're growing it's quite interesting. It seems Palms and Agave are popular down here. Listening to the guy at the Garlic Farm, the light intensity here on the Island, the nearest place with the same is Bordeaux.
Hi Alex and thanks! Nice one, we were only there for the afternoon but saw a spectacular garden with large date palms just up the road from this plus a large Butia at the crafts place further inland. It doesn't surprise me about the light intensity, I guess it's all about the latitude. Combine that with the shelter of the island, the proximity to the channel and it's one of the best places for growing exotics in the UK!
Great specimens of Phoenix and Jubaea,biggest I know of in uk mainland are 20 ft tall 100 year old plus in Torquay, both in private gardens.Worth seeing
Just been there today and as I live on the Island and may have collected a few seeds😂😂 it was helpful for your hasty run through. Well worth a days visit and I can provide overnight free accommodation so you can spend longer there! Of course the “Quid Pro Quo” would be I’d be asking for tips on growing my diminutive potted palm garden! 😂😂
Hi and apologies for the delayed reply. Haha cheers for the offer, I'd love to go back again one day. I shan't comment on your hypothetical seed collecting but I'm pleased you had a great time there and I am slightly jealous that you get to enjoy the garden through the seasons! Happy to help with your palms if I could!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks George, Yes very lucky to have it on my doorstep. Was there this Sunday, but chillier than normal! We, like you did, are moving from a rental to buying so the garden will have a good sized jungle area and my palms will be freed from their pot prisons.. it’s a big back garden so the Phoenix Canariensis will be planted out …some where in the middle! Let me know when you are next down and thanks for the recent content on overwintering!
It certainly is! They've got a few Butia around the place, I certainly remember seeing one quite larger blue-ish silver one but I don't think they have the others, they're potentially a step too far even for here. In theory Sabals are tough but anecdotally don't grow well here as we don't have enough summer heat to really get them growing well unfortunately!
Looks amazing, the echiums I've grown for years lost loads but still don't give up because when they have flowered the bees love them and they look amazing. Last year lost 5 but two survived. But no flowered yet
I'm with you Tony, they're worth persevering with. The ones that flowered at our old house were surrounded with bees and we even had a couple of Hummingbird Hawk-Moths around them too which was great to see. Hopefully your two survivors make it through this winter and really put on a show for you next year!
We have been here and you’ve revealed a lovely botanical garden. The climate is perfect and we love Ventnor. Edit: We have visited this side of the island several times but came here due to BBC Two’s Carol Klein’s plant odyssey.
Nice one, I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed the garden and it's very special microclimate too. I haven't seen that show yet but I've bought seeds from this garden before and it's a botanical garden I've had on my list to visit for quite some time, so jumped at a last minute spontaneous trip over from Portsmouth for the afternoon! I bet it's an absolute paradise in late summer / early Autumn when the light is low and everything looks golden!
Will definitely make a visit as live just across the Solent...didnt lmow it existed! I have a large trachycarpus in my front garden...what can I grow underneath it please?
You definitely should, well worth it! It's been on my list for a while but made a spontaneous trip across rather than stay in Portsmouth for the day. As for your Trachycarpus, the options are endless. It really depends what vibe you're wanting to create, whether you value evergreen interest or a summer spectacle and how damp or shaded the area is. Let me know and I'll let you know a few ideas I'd consider.
Hello, would you know whether the heavy fertilizing of Ensetes might affect nearby palms such as Washingtonias? I have a weekly schedule for my Ensetes, I would just poke my eyes if I burned my new palm! Also, I'm thinking that maybe I don't need to fertilize nearby palms at all if there's a chance they can benefit residual fertilizer... I'm clueless I guess
Hi Sebastien and no worries, it could do potentially but only if you really overdo it. I'm presuming your soil isn't particularly poor to begin with in which case you're probably right that adding fertiliser to the soil nearby means you don't need to worry too much about additional feeding for the palm. I'd probably back off the feeding by late August just so the palm slows down slightly before it gets colder. Maybe use any higher nitrogen feed carefully around the base of the Ensetes just to be on the safe side but as long as the plants are a sensible distance apart I wouldn't worry too much. Plus, if there's a fast growing palm that may enjoy a good feed here I'm sure it would be a Washingtonia!
Those Arbutus Unedo are brilliant, they should be more commonly grown along with Chamaerops Humilis Cerifera. Quick question George, I've gotten a nice Dryopteris Lepidoda / Sunset Fern, it's to replace a bottle brush I lost last year. My question is the soil is nice and acidic, but quite sandy will the sand impact in any way on the Fern, it has the acid but I want to.make sure it does it's best with the sandy soil section. Thanks George and have a good weekend.
Hi Killian, and apologies for the delayed reply, for some reason this comment didn't show up in the normal notification area. The Arbutus dotted throughout the garden were certainly stunning and I like the way that having slightly more unusual trees and herbaceous plants etc. subtly changes the feel of feeling of the place to a garden with specimen exotics to a proper exotic garden. 'Cerifera' are beauties and incredibly tough too. As for your question, is the soil quite damp still or is it very dry? I don't think the sand will hugely affect the fern but as they generally thrive in a damper, shadier and high-organic matter soil environment they might not do as well if many of those factors are changed. I imagine with your rainfall though it should be worth a go?
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Hi George, no it's not entirely Sand, it was just some I added to amend an area for a Bottlebrush, it was Sand mixed with Acid so not entirely sandy. I do have another question about Bamboo leaves, apparently they turn the soil slightly Alkaline on the top, is there any worry if I have acid loving plants planted with them, .i.e Arbutus, Pieris and Crinodendron since they look really well together, the fern seems happy since there's Acid and a bit of sand. Thanks George, just planting a climbing Hydrangea for deep shade.
@@roguedungeondelver5738 In that case I'd imagine it'll be just fine. As for the bamboo, I imagine any effect would be negligible unless you have a large grove over many years. But as you probably know, the leaves contain silica and help the growth of the plant as a mulch. If it's a big concern you could always remove any large quantities of fallen leaves and replace with other organic matter so the bamboo is still happy but soil changes are minimal. Just guessing but that's what I'd probably do, whilst you and plants can amend soil, generally speaking the soil's natural characteristics tend to come through regardless. I am a fan of the climbing hydrangeas, a great choice for a shady spot.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks George I hope your garden is enjoying the heat and warmth, thanks for that. I have one bamboo or two as specimen plants near acidic loving plants so I won't really be moving them. Thank you for the advice.
Really enjoyed seeing this vid, its re-ignited our passion for this place. We have been lucky enough to spend quite a bit of time here, but not visited for the longest time now. We made a video here on our last visit too, with the Curator Chris Kidd - which you might enjoy ua-cam.com/video/Q0Kle-ADvQE/v-deo.html Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm
Thanks, pleased to hear you enjoyed it and also appreciate this lovely garden. Interesting, I'll have a look at that later, thanks. I'd love to go back and do a more detailed vid(s) potentially with some input from the garden one day, I think there's a lot of lessons and experiences to be shared that would help a lot of us unusual plant growers across the country! I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment.
That Agave looks like a Ferox variety amazing. Also a quick question about Musa Basjoo bananas, is alright to plant them near Palms, I e. Trachys or Chammies for fear of Banana Fusarium wilt spreading or no and any recommendations for Sago potting soil. Thanks George. Would love to be there.
It's an incredible place! I suspect you're right on the Agave but I wouldn't claim to be an expert at the less than hardy Agaves and all their nuances. Stunning beasts to see though! As for your banana question, it's not really something I've heard of in the UK and plenty of gardeners including myself grow them in close proximity without issues. Personally I wouldn't worry but I'd definitely try to leave enough room for the Musa to grow without bashing into the palms too much. As for the Sago, I don't think they're too picky and I've used a decent multipurpose (soil-like structure) with a bit of horticultural grit added for mine just to improve the drainage. A garden to add to your list!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks George I just like to keep an eye out for an plant diseases even ones that can't spread here or those Japanese lily beetles, I've given up growing them save for Daylilies and Callas. Thanks George
@@roguedungeondelver5738 I understand and that's very sensible. Yes, I even had some of those beetles on the Fritillarias this spring. They didn't ruin them but not great to see them spreading around and you do right considering these things.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks I know there is a difference in between thinking about diseases like Fusarium wilt which only occurs in the Tropics or Med and worrying about lily beetles which have ruined Oriental lillies.
It is important to watch out for these pests, a quick question to tack on to this. I bought Ficus Carica Brown Turkey, my only query is are they planted at the original soil level of their container or planted deeper, and can Fargesias take full Sun, thanks George
Hi George ,can you help I have some really healthy musa basjoo . The problem is as they produce new leaves the tips are getting shredded .is seems like something is eating them ,any advice many thanks
Hi George definitely not scraping ,I have about 5 plants with this problem . Just the tips of unraveled new leaves all other leaves unaffected .it means when leaves get larger the tips are damaged .i tried researching it no luck 👍
@@gaynorkinnaird800 Hmmm I'm not sure about that in all honesty. It can be insect damage if it's on newly opening leaves, I've had that with a salvia before but generally speaking Musa seem pretty trouble free barring the odd bite of mark you don't really notice at a distance. If you're able to send my page pics on either Facebook or Instagram then I'll try to help if I can.
Haha yes, I know! This was a Monday visit and I did the video around 3:30-4pm so maybe a bit off peak and there were more people around earlier. Still nowhere near as many as you'd expect or the place deserves but hopefully a few people who've seen this vid make the trip over one day soon!
I know, they’ve got huge drifts of it covered in flowers! I’ve got one plant flowering near the bins at the front of our house but the ones I wanted to grow swell got cut right back last winter unfortunately. I guess the airflow and being drier really help them during winter.
Hi, zones don't always translate as well to UK gardens in my opinion but I'd say this is a solid 9 and definitely on the sheltered end of that. Plenty of planting potential!
It sounds like a return visit is well overdue then! I guess it's one of those places that's a nice garden if you just like gardens but if you're into growing exotics it's like going to Disneyland! I'm already looking forward to a return visit one day!
Alas despite being on the island I lost my date palm this winter. In a pot though, should have got it in the ground a year or two ago. Musa basjoos kept their height despite no protection though and are looking magnificent surrounded by canna musifolia, and whilst my t rex died above ground 1 plant is now 6 as it sent up a load of pups and they are romping away!
@@jamesreed906 Oh yes, I'm in no doubt that the extra microclimate advantages of the garden will definitely have given the big Phoenix an advantage plus now they're mostly big they'll be a whole lot tougher than a potted plant. Maybe one to try again though? Good to hear everything else is bouncing back well for you though, it's definitely turning out to be a different summer compared to last year isn't it!
03:11 It’s a Brahea edulis, not a Washingtonia at all ;-)
Thanks, I think you’re completely right 😃 Some people were walking just across from me so I wasn’t completely focused on the plants that minute but I’ve pinned your comment so others can get the correct ID if they’re lucky enough to have a climate like this to grow one in! Thanks!
George walking round with a semi on with all the great plants ha ha ha
Hahaha I wouldn't go quite that far but when you're rushing round getting a vid against the clock you do have to go on autopilot and let a lot of the enthusiasm shine through! Even if it means using the words 'amazing' and 'absolutely' every other sentence!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden well done george your getting good at your craft .. ps why are my tropicals not growing as big as yours ..i,m in BOLTON UK
@@juliankemp-r2j Thank you, it's great to hear that even my time-limited efforts are appreciated! What's not growing well for you and is it just this year you've planted them?
Mind blown 🤯
I know, just crazy cool isn't it!
Thank you George for a brilliant video. I think you put that into words and emotions perfectly
Thank you very much, that's really kind of you to say so and I'm pleased you enjoyed it! It really is an exceptionally unusual and stunning garden.
Hi George, wrong date but definitely felt like my birthday. Thank you so much for sharing 😊
Hi Jerome, pleased to hear you enjoyed it, thanks!
Love palms and love the IOW so this is basically heaven for me. Thanks for sharing.
Well, it'll have to be the top of your list to visit next time you're there! Incredible palms! Thanks, I'm pleased you enjoyed it.
Completely agree! We are big IOW fans and especially this side of the island.
@@TigerMa75 It's a special place for sure, it was so exciting just getting a first glimpse of the arid garden from the car park and it kept getting better from there. I'll definitely be back!
Wow! Now I have a reason to visit GB!🤩
It's definitely a very special place, hopefully you get the opportunity to visit!
Now that was a proper ending, always great to see the fam...but OMG, that garden, I think I was aghast, mouth open the whole time...thank you so much for sharing, time to get into my own jungle, enjoy your trip, I sure did...!
Haha thanks, I edited this on my phone and wanted to pop that little memory of Harriet giggling in! I know, what an incredible garden, it just kept getting better and better! There's more I didn't get chance to include but that arid area was definitely my highlight. After seeing other gardens with some nice exotic specimens growing OK, visiting somewhere with rows and rows of virtually pristine rarities well on their way to maturity is definitely a special experience! I'm pleased you enjoyed seeing it and I'd love to go back another time and include more of this incredible place.
Mind blowing Collection of Exotics 😊
Isn't it just! I wasn't sure I'd have chance to do a vid but had to film something quickly to share, it really is an incredible place!
Wow amazing, thanks for sharing. I will watch several times. I bet you want to move location after seeing this!
Your daughter is gorgeous!
Thank you very much Marianne, pleased you enjoyed it! Home definitely feels like home but it was great to experience a place where they've recreated the Mediterranean and arid look so incredibly well and with so many stunning exotics growing to maturity. Thank you, I edited this on my phone and just wanted to pop that clip in, we had a lovely ferry trip back to Portsmouth making her giggle and watching the seagulls.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden adorable!
gutted !! knowing if i lived a good few more hundred miles in a easterly direction mine would be this big !!!! brill vid george
Thanks! Haha yes, we can all dream can't we!
I suspect the growing season is virtually all year round!
I bet you're not far wrong! I'm sure they have their wintry and chilly days but it's hard to imagine them when you're surrounded by these plants!
I went here a few years ago, all I can say WOW what a bloody incredible and awesome place Ventnor BG was, I love the fact that it has different elevations which helps with the tropicals and large trees create the botanical gardens microclimate, the IoW is full of gems.
What a beautiful stunning place!
Awesome, you’re completely right! As I put in another comment the exotic ‘specimen’ plants are stunning but it’s the journey round the garden, the huge eucalyptus and the layout that really make it feel so incredibly special. The bank definitely helps the arid section thrive and it’s a beautiful way of displaying the towering palms and striking desert plants too 😃 Another visit definitely required for us both!
Lovely really enjoyed your tour I have been there years ago but it’s looking good Lovely little daughter enjoy the rest of your holiday
Thank you very much Iris! It was just a long weekend away but I'm pleased we made the spontaneous decision to have a family afternoon here. It's a garden that's been on my list a while and I'd love to go back to create a longer vid there one day but it was great to visit and enjoy the ferry trips making Harriet giggle too!
The Washingtonia are my favourite. The gardens are definitely on my list, like I'm sure they will be for so many after this video.
Stunners aren’t they, it’s such a privilege to see them as towering palms reaching for the sky rather than tatty little specimens clinging onto dear life 😂 You’ll absolutely love the gardens, definitely worthy of a place on any exotic garden lover’s list, I’d love to go back again myself one day soon too!
Loved the giggles at the end ❤ she is adorable
Awww, thanks, yes I wanted to pop that quick bit in 😊
What an amazing place, thanks for showing
It definitely is, I could have stayed a lot longer there!
Hi there. Just to let you know that I shared this with Chris Kidd Friday .. We both agreed that it was a wonderful presentation . I will also be sharing it with the rest team . Thank you for your presentation. I will also be passing on your video to the owner. Thank you again John
Hi and thank you very much, that’s kind of you. Apologies about the central Brahea ID mixup! It’s honestly the quickest, roughest video I’ve done in a long time but I wanted to share my favourite area of the incredible garden on my channel. Thank you so much and I’d love to come back one day with my camera and get some more informative videos done, perhaps with the help of your team? Looking through the comments it’s clear there’s a lot of exotic garden enthusiasts that would love to know more about the way you do things 😊
Haha Chris did notice that small thing. However he really like and enjoyed your video. Speak soon John
Cheers John, I thought he might! Thanks again and speak to you soon.
Love how they have left alot of there plants and palms to look natural and not pruned to and inch of there lifes. Great walk around George have a nice break
Thanks and we're back now, it was a long weekend but we got plenty in! I really appreciated that too and the place is full of wildlife (including lizards and red squirrels!) so it's obviously a naturalistic approach that's working. I have heard that it used to be more highly maintained but I also prefer the tidy but natural approach and leaving the old leaves and fronds on plus having self seeded plants everywhere certainly adds to the atmosphere.
Many thanks for this video. I was not aware of this fabulous looking garden……..now that I am, it’s on my list of places to visit👍
Thanks for watching! It's definitely worth a visit, I'd like to go back and explore more of it in detail one day soon too!
Absolutely wonderful exotics. Thanks so much 🎉 I love your enthusiasm and little family shot
Cheers Gordon, I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed seeing it!
Thanks for sharing George. What an amazing place! I would be in my element there!!
Thanks for watching Heater and I'm pleased you enjoyed seeing it, genuinely one of the most amazing garden experiences I've had. It's been on my list for a long time but I've never really googled or seen any videos of it and this was definitely a last-minute spontaneous trip so to see the plants get more and more exciting as we went round was something special. You'll love it and you can stay over there too! I might just have to make a return trip one day soon...
What a place ,that's going on the" I need to visit" list .Thanks for sharing George it looks incredible. 👌 kris will be pleased his magnificent specimen got a mention 😉🤣🤣🤣
Cheers Shane, it deserves a place on the list! We were only there a few hours but I could have easily enjoyed a full day looking round. Haha yes, no comment!
Fantastic video George, thank you!! We're moving to the Isle of Wight in a couple of months because we love it there so much and this garden is one of our most favourite places to visit.
Hi and thanks - apologies for my delayed reply! Good luck with your move, it must be exciting to make a place you enjoy so much your home. I could spend hours / days wandering around the garden, I love the mixture of unusual and experimental plants, the old fashioned charm, vistas along with the more naturalistic approach to things. I imagine it'll be lovely in the lower September / October sun, enjoy!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks George, we're really looking forward to the move and to getting an annual membership to the gardens so we can enjoy them in all the different seasons. We will be creating another tropical garden from scratch at our new house (gutted about leaving the old one behind, although having said that most of our plants are coming with us ...lol). Your passion for tropical plants comes across really well on camera and it's infectious!!
@@allielee8509 Thank you very much Allie and I'd 100% be getting an annual membership too! Well done on bringing most of your plants haha, that's what I did here, it's worth the effort! I hope the excitement of the new possibilities outweigh having to leave the old garden behind - I'm sure you'll love creating something new there. Thank you very much, it's great to hear you're enjoying my vids!
Fantastic video George, absolutely love the palms 🌴 🌴!! looks like you are walking around in the Mediterranean!!
Thank you very much, they're stunning aren't they! It definitely felt like the Mediterranean which is very surreal when most of the island could easily be mistaken for Yorkshire etc. Just shows what's possible in a favourable microclimate on the south side of an already mild island at the south end of the UK!
@GeorgesJungleGarden They certainly are!! Would love to visit there myself. I was in Llandudno, North Wales last week and saw a couple impressive Phoenix Canariensis palms and even a Washingtonia Robusta, along with probably over 100 Cordyline Australis. I think most coastal areas can grow these unprotected.
Although I lost my Phoenix Canariensis last winter I have planted a Washingtonia Robusta in a sheltered spot in my garden. I am going to build a frame around it covered with plant fleece over the winter
Nice to see someone as passionate about palms 🌴 as I am George!!
@@darren9279 Nice one Darren, yes, there's definitely coastal areas around the country that just give the edge a lot of these exotics need to survive or flourish, seeing so many thriving at Ventnor will definitely be something you enjoy so add it to your list! Fingers crossed for your Washingtonia, they do get tougher as they get larger but you also want to be careful you don't have it wrapped too long as they need good airflow. If we get a string of mild or normal winters it should do OK and outgrow any damage but during sever prolonged freezes you may find it requires heating potentially and the fleece may not be enough - ultimately though, how sheltered the spot is will be the biggest decider, good luck with it!
@@darren9279 You can't help but be impressed by them in a place like this when they just get better and better as you head round! Awesome to see the Jubaea which have been in the ground a lot of years, just stunning beasts!
Beautiful, thanks for the video! Visited a few years back while on holiday, loved it so much I went back a second day!
Thank you Kathryn! Nice one, I wish I could have done the same! We juggled it in with a short family holiday but I'm certainly glad we went over for the afternoon, I really enjoyed it.
Wow, absolutely stunning place, George! Thanks for showing us around, those Jubaea are a sight to behold! I'll definitely have to visit one day!
It is indeed, I'm pleased you enjoyed this quick walk (/jog!) around! Those Jubaea are definitely something else, that big one especially is monstrous and makes the Phoenix look small! You'll really enjoy it I'm sure, it doesn't get much better for palms and arid plants in the UK!
Been looking forward to this one! 🌵😍
Just a quick phone vid but it definitely gives some context to the photos and hopefully conveys enough of the feel of the place to make other people want to add it to their garden list!
Love the tour George. The arid area looks amazing. Yuccas the size of trucks. One day I've gotta get over there. Just easier to get to Spain than the Isle of Wight for me
Thank you and apologies for my delayed reply! Some monstrous plants for sure and definitely worth the visit even if it would take a while to get down there. Maybe combine it with a Cornwall mega-trip? I've enjoyed seeing your cool plant photos from your trip too, awesome!
Some garden, incredible.
It definitely is, it just keeps getting bigger and better as you walk around, some breathtaking plants and planting for sure!
Amazing place. I will definitely be planning my visit here soon. Great video again. Xxx
Thanks Samantha! You'll love it I'm sure, there's a lot of different themed areas I didn't get time to feature too. Great to see the mixture of mature and exciting planting in a place where they can truly thrive!
Thanks for bringing this fantastic garden to us. Looks like you had lots of fun. Another good reason for me to visit the UK
Thank you very much and I really enjoyed it (obviously!), it's definitely worth a trip over if you're ever visiting the south coast of the UK and you can stay over there too!
Wow 😮definitely on my list now, have yet to make it across but I didn’t realise this was there so will be making the effort to go and have a look round thanks for sharing 👏🏻🤩
Pleased to hear it! I've had on my list to visit for quite some time, but this was a last minute spontaneous trip for the afternoon while we were on the south coast and I absolutely loved it. Well worth a trip over!
Really like it.. From Mauritius
Thanks! Not quite your climate but for the UK, it's definitely a very special place indeed!
Thanks George. Great video. Ventnor is now top of my list for a visit this Summer - fab garden.If you're still in the area, I think you'd enjoy Abbottsbury Sub Tropical Garden. Happy birthday btw.
Thanks Colin! A well deserved spot at the top of the list, you'll love it. We were only down for a long weekend and my initial plan was actually to have a day heading to Abbotsbury myself on Monday but then decided to make it a family trip to here. They're both definitely on my list for a visit and return in the case of Ventnor! Thanks, it's this next week but I appreciate your kind wishes!
I live here, an open mind is required if you're staying more than half a day🤣🤣👍
@@martindunstan8043 Hahaha yes, no comment!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden must admit I was expecting more hate with that honest appraisal 🤣🤣👍
We definitely didn't stay long enough to see any funny goings on, just a quant little island with familiar scenery. But I imagine what happens on the island, stays on the island haha!
Absolutely fantastic looking place. Your video makes me want to visit even more than i did before. The arid area looks to be my favourite that you showed.
It certainly is Kris, I'd love to go back again for a longer walk around one day but the arid area was definitely my highlight. There's a whole Japanese garden, New Zealand area, Eucalyptus grove and loads more but the arid planting was certainly impressive. For me, it's the first UK garden I've visited that captures the look of some of the USA desert / palm style gardens and I'm sure you'll make it across one day soon!
Nice treat George and such a incredible place, if only you had a few more acres 😂
We can all dream! I'd love to do my own (slightly tougher!) version up here!
!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME !! WOW ....IN THE UK
I know, crazy isn't it! It's a very special microclimate indeed to be able to grow some of these exotics to maturity!
Absolutely beautiful ❤
I thought so, a properly amazing place!
What a Garden of Eden, what a stunning place! Everything is huge, beautiful and remarkable.
A few things that caught my attention: Acanthus mollis, Cordyline australis purpurea, Brahea armata,
and these long and thin Eucalyptus leaves @9:20 . But everything is incredible in that gorgeous place!
Georges, thank you very much for that amazing journey! Hi baby girl and Mummy! 🌴☀
Thanks Bernard and I'm pleased you enjoyed seeing a quick video of this amazing place on our family day out! As always, you have a good eye for the highlights and some of those big Eucalyptus with the sickle-shaped leaves were stunning along with the drifts of Acanthus mollis. Obviously beautiful specimen palms and cordylines etc but it's the surrounding and background planting that really transforms the feeling of the place compared to the surrounding countryside. Definitely a beautiful garden whatever your horticultural interests!
What an amazing garden, some huge specimen palms, bananas and agaves but what I didn't see were any bamboos which is a shame. They could have some huge timber bamboos by now if they'd been planted when the garden was first made.
Keep up the great work!😊
Cheers@@tedscott1478 , it's definitely a fantastic garden in a very special spot! There is actually a Japanese section at the top, running parallel to the long borders and Cordyline avenue and there's loads of bamboo in there, something I'd love to show more of if ever I'm lucky enough to be back there. You're completely right, some choice bamboos and a good bit of time equals something very special indeed!
Looks an amazing place, worth a visit one day
Definitely, you’ll love it if you’re ever in that part of the world! 😊
Great video, that's just down the road from me. Have you taken a walk and had a nosey in private gardens/garden centres, see what they're growing it's quite interesting. It seems Palms and Agave are popular down here. Listening to the guy at the Garlic Farm, the light intensity here on the Island, the nearest place with the same is Bordeaux.
Hi Alex and thanks! Nice one, we were only there for the afternoon but saw a spectacular garden with large date palms just up the road from this plus a large Butia at the crafts place further inland. It doesn't surprise me about the light intensity, I guess it's all about the latitude. Combine that with the shelter of the island, the proximity to the channel and it's one of the best places for growing exotics in the UK!
Great specimens of Phoenix and Jubaea,biggest I know of in uk mainland are 20 ft tall 100 year old plus in Torquay, both in private gardens.Worth seeing
They are indeed and I've seen pics of those too! I might be heading down there next year so will have to see if I can get a look!
Just been there today and as I live on the Island and may have collected a few seeds😂😂 it was helpful for your hasty run through.
Well worth a days visit and I can provide overnight free accommodation so you can spend longer there! Of course the “Quid Pro Quo” would be I’d be asking for tips on growing my diminutive potted palm garden! 😂😂
Hi and apologies for the delayed reply. Haha cheers for the offer, I'd love to go back again one day. I shan't comment on your hypothetical seed collecting but I'm pleased you had a great time there and I am slightly jealous that you get to enjoy the garden through the seasons! Happy to help with your palms if I could!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks George, Yes very lucky to have it on my doorstep. Was there this Sunday, but chillier than normal!
We, like you did, are moving from a rental to buying so the garden will have a good sized jungle area and my palms will be freed from their pot prisons.. it’s a big back garden so the Phoenix Canariensis will be planted out …some where in the middle!
Let me know when you are next down and thanks for the recent content on overwintering!
Absolutely stunning! I was wondering if they have any Phoenix dactilifera, Pindo, Sabal species and Needle palms.
It certainly is! They've got a few Butia around the place, I certainly remember seeing one quite larger blue-ish silver one but I don't think they have the others, they're potentially a step too far even for here. In theory Sabals are tough but anecdotally don't grow well here as we don't have enough summer heat to really get them growing well unfortunately!
Looks amazing, the echiums I've grown for years lost loads but still don't give up because when they have flowered the bees love them and they look amazing. Last year lost 5 but two survived. But no flowered yet
I'm with you Tony, they're worth persevering with. The ones that flowered at our old house were surrounded with bees and we even had a couple of Hummingbird Hawk-Moths around them too which was great to see. Hopefully your two survivors make it through this winter and really put on a show for you next year!
We have been here and you’ve revealed a lovely botanical garden. The climate is perfect and we love Ventnor. Edit: We have visited this side of the island several times but came here due to BBC Two’s Carol Klein’s plant odyssey.
Nice one, I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed the garden and it's very special microclimate too. I haven't seen that show yet but I've bought seeds from this garden before and it's a botanical garden I've had on my list to visit for quite some time, so jumped at a last minute spontaneous trip over from Portsmouth for the afternoon! I bet it's an absolute paradise in late summer / early Autumn when the light is low and everything looks golden!
Vacationing on the Isle of Wight with little Harriet!
We had a family afternoon there and enjoyed the ferry trip too before heading back to Portsmouth, it was lovely!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Little Harriet is adorable!
@@philippehoyez9398 Thank you very much, she's definitely developing a proper little character now!
Will definitely make a visit as live just across the Solent...didnt lmow it existed! I have a large trachycarpus in my front garden...what can I grow underneath it please?
You definitely should, well worth it! It's been on my list for a while but made a spontaneous trip across rather than stay in Portsmouth for the day. As for your Trachycarpus, the options are endless. It really depends what vibe you're wanting to create, whether you value evergreen interest or a summer spectacle and how damp or shaded the area is. Let me know and I'll let you know a few ideas I'd consider.
Hello, would you know whether the heavy fertilizing of Ensetes might affect nearby palms such as Washingtonias? I have a weekly schedule for my Ensetes, I would just poke my eyes if I burned my new palm! Also, I'm thinking that maybe I don't need to fertilize nearby palms at all if there's a chance they can benefit residual fertilizer... I'm clueless I guess
Hi Sebastien and no worries, it could do potentially but only if you really overdo it. I'm presuming your soil isn't particularly poor to begin with in which case you're probably right that adding fertiliser to the soil nearby means you don't need to worry too much about additional feeding for the palm. I'd probably back off the feeding by late August just so the palm slows down slightly before it gets colder. Maybe use any higher nitrogen feed carefully around the base of the Ensetes just to be on the safe side but as long as the plants are a sensible distance apart I wouldn't worry too much. Plus, if there's a fast growing palm that may enjoy a good feed here I'm sure it would be a Washingtonia!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden thank you so much for your feedback! And thanks a village for the inspiration 🤩
Those Arbutus Unedo are brilliant, they should be more commonly grown along with Chamaerops Humilis Cerifera. Quick question George, I've gotten a nice Dryopteris Lepidoda / Sunset Fern, it's to replace a bottle brush I lost last year. My question is the soil is nice and acidic, but quite sandy will the sand impact in any way on the Fern, it has the acid but I want to.make sure it does it's best with the sandy soil section. Thanks George and have a good weekend.
Hi Killian, and apologies for the delayed reply, for some reason this comment didn't show up in the normal notification area. The Arbutus dotted throughout the garden were certainly stunning and I like the way that having slightly more unusual trees and herbaceous plants etc. subtly changes the feel of feeling of the place to a garden with specimen exotics to a proper exotic garden. 'Cerifera' are beauties and incredibly tough too. As for your question, is the soil quite damp still or is it very dry? I don't think the sand will hugely affect the fern but as they generally thrive in a damper, shadier and high-organic matter soil environment they might not do as well if many of those factors are changed. I imagine with your rainfall though it should be worth a go?
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Hi George, no it's not entirely Sand, it was just some I added to amend an area for a Bottlebrush, it was Sand mixed with Acid so not entirely sandy. I do have another question about Bamboo leaves, apparently they turn the soil slightly Alkaline on the top, is there any worry if I have acid loving plants planted with them, .i.e Arbutus, Pieris and Crinodendron since they look really well together, the fern seems happy since there's Acid and a bit of sand. Thanks George, just planting a climbing Hydrangea for deep shade.
@@roguedungeondelver5738 In that case I'd imagine it'll be just fine. As for the bamboo, I imagine any effect would be negligible unless you have a large grove over many years. But as you probably know, the leaves contain silica and help the growth of the plant as a mulch. If it's a big concern you could always remove any large quantities of fallen leaves and replace with other organic matter so the bamboo is still happy but soil changes are minimal. Just guessing but that's what I'd probably do, whilst you and plants can amend soil, generally speaking the soil's natural characteristics tend to come through regardless. I am a fan of the climbing hydrangeas, a great choice for a shady spot.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks George I hope your garden is enjoying the heat and warmth, thanks for that. I have one bamboo or two as specimen plants near acidic loving plants so I won't really be moving them. Thank you for the advice.
Really enjoyed seeing this vid, its re-ignited our passion for this place. We have been lucky enough to spend quite a bit of time here, but not visited for the longest time now. We made a video here on our last visit too, with the Curator Chris Kidd - which you might enjoy ua-cam.com/video/Q0Kle-ADvQE/v-deo.html
Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm
Thanks, pleased to hear you enjoyed it and also appreciate this lovely garden. Interesting, I'll have a look at that later, thanks. I'd love to go back and do a more detailed vid(s) potentially with some input from the garden one day, I think there's a lot of lessons and experiences to be shared that would help a lot of us unusual plant growers across the country! I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment.
That Agave looks like a Ferox variety amazing. Also a quick question about Musa Basjoo bananas, is alright to plant them near Palms, I e. Trachys or Chammies for fear of Banana Fusarium wilt spreading or no and any recommendations for Sago potting soil. Thanks George. Would love to be there.
It's an incredible place! I suspect you're right on the Agave but I wouldn't claim to be an expert at the less than hardy Agaves and all their nuances. Stunning beasts to see though! As for your banana question, it's not really something I've heard of in the UK and plenty of gardeners including myself grow them in close proximity without issues. Personally I wouldn't worry but I'd definitely try to leave enough room for the Musa to grow without bashing into the palms too much. As for the Sago, I don't think they're too picky and I've used a decent multipurpose (soil-like structure) with a bit of horticultural grit added for mine just to improve the drainage. A garden to add to your list!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks George I just like to keep an eye out for an plant diseases even ones that can't spread here or those Japanese lily beetles, I've given up growing them save for Daylilies and Callas. Thanks George
@@roguedungeondelver5738 I understand and that's very sensible. Yes, I even had some of those beetles on the Fritillarias this spring. They didn't ruin them but not great to see them spreading around and you do right considering these things.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks I know there is a difference in between thinking about diseases like Fusarium wilt which only occurs in the Tropics or Med and worrying about lily beetles which have ruined Oriental lillies.
It is important to watch out for these pests, a quick question to tack on to this. I bought Ficus Carica Brown Turkey, my only query is are they planted at the original soil level of their container or planted deeper, and can Fargesias take full Sun, thanks George
Hi George ,can you help I have some really healthy musa basjoo . The problem is as they produce new leaves the tips are getting shredded .is seems like something is eating them ,any advice many thanks
Hi, is it possible they're scraping against anything in the wind or are there definite bite / insect signs on them?
Hi George definitely not scraping ,I have about 5 plants with this problem . Just the tips of unraveled new leaves all other leaves unaffected .it means when leaves get larger the tips are damaged .i tried researching it no luck 👍
@@gaynorkinnaird800 Hmmm I'm not sure about that in all honesty. It can be insect damage if it's on newly opening leaves, I've had that with a salvia before but generally speaking Musa seem pretty trouble free barring the odd bite of mark you don't really notice at a distance. If you're able to send my page pics on either Facebook or Instagram then I'll try to help if I can.
Cannot believe this - ONE woman and one dog? Where are the tourists? Or is this 4am and a private visit? I need to know more!
Haha yes, I know! This was a Monday visit and I did the video around 3:30-4pm so maybe a bit off peak and there were more people around earlier. Still nowhere near as many as you'd expect or the place deserves but hopefully a few people who've seen this vid make the trip over one day soon!
Completely jealous of their aloe striatula, it's always struggled in my garden and never flowered 😢
I know, they’ve got huge drifts of it covered in flowers! I’ve got one plant flowering near the bins at the front of our house but the ones I wanted to grow swell got cut right back last winter unfortunately. I guess the airflow and being drier really help them during winter.
What's the zone in that area?
Hi, zones don't always translate as well to UK gardens in my opinion but I'd say this is a solid 9 and definitely on the sheltered end of that. Plenty of planting potential!
Embarrassingly I live a few miles down the road and haven't been since I was a kid!
Although I do walk the dog behind it once a month or so.
It sounds like a return visit is well overdue then! I guess it's one of those places that's a nice garden if you just like gardens but if you're into growing exotics it's like going to Disneyland! I'm already looking forward to a return visit one day!
Alas despite being on the island I lost my date palm this winter. In a pot though, should have got it in the ground a year or two ago. Musa basjoos kept their height despite no protection though and are looking magnificent surrounded by canna musifolia, and whilst my t rex died above ground 1 plant is now 6 as it sent up a load of pups and they are romping away!
@@jamesreed906 Oh yes, I'm in no doubt that the extra microclimate advantages of the garden will definitely have given the big Phoenix an advantage plus now they're mostly big they'll be a whole lot tougher than a potted plant. Maybe one to try again though? Good to hear everything else is bouncing back well for you though, it's definitely turning out to be a different summer compared to last year isn't it!