Search - Articles

on the island has a garden open to the public which has some fantastic trees and rare shrubs (including good collections of Olearias - particularly the exotically named phlogopappa and Rhododendrons). One part of the garden is called the Lighthouse garden

geometric pool with hidden-surprise mini-gardens leading off along its length and deep in to the distance. The Eden Project too never fails to fascinate and impress and we came away grasping numerous rather pricey packets of seed for all sorts of exotic

producing a single flower per stem once a year, moth orchids produce several stems, each boasting a dozen or more exotic flowers. Yes, I know you'll find these phalaenopsis orchids everywhere now, but they offer so much more value than a bunch of cut flowers

of the most exotic houseplants, like calla lilies and moth orchids, have actually becomes some of the cheapest to buy in supermarkets. You'll probably find pots in supermarkets now, boasting their stunning spathes.Zantedeschia albomaculata varieties have

and eastern species in Britain. I've never seen it. I probably never will.My first post-snow bug was something much less exotic. It was the common bluebottle, Calliphora vomitoria (pictured above), buzzing around the guinea pig's cage. The pig

to do a little research, and that's the joy of the internet. Within a few minutes you can discover bulbs you've never seen before — just show some restraint before pressing the 'buy' button!Many of these summer flowering bulbs are tender exotics

saw vast elephantine bananas, slightly creepy cycads, cavorting ferns, tall cacti, bombastic bamboos and exotic orchids.It was a great afternoon and the sun was shining, too — a bit of a result on the east coast of Scotland. The only thing that would

and consisted of immaculately maintained pathways through fabulous exotic plantings. Since then the garden staff has been reduced from 12 to one and the mood of the garden has changed to one more in keeping with the relaxed attitude of the island.The paths are a

in the grounds. The bushes were huge and bright red chillies hung from them like exotic earrings.By December my overwintered chillies looked quite dead. I put this down to the fact that it was December, it was dark and miserable and they should have been

at Gardeners’ World Live. Each year I am reminded of its loveliness and how much I would like to grow it, and each year I always manage to forget about it before I've got the train home.I love the ladybird poppy. It's not particularly fancy or exotic, it's just