Greatly appreciate seeing the scruffiness, vegetative detritus and the natural cycles within a spectacular garden. A healthy reminder that every moment cannot be a five-star social media thumbnail photo. Also brings the hope and optimism of spring’s new growth! Thank you
Thanks Stephen, it's great to know the perspective and reality was appreciated. I'm sure his garden will be back to five-star soon enough but it's interesting to see this glimpse of it right now, hopefully it'll make the next visit all the more impressive when it happens!
Great video of a superb garden. Yes it's been a cold winter but there's still a lot looking good and the things that aren't looking good should hopefully bounce back and look good again in no time. Like you both I think sharing what our gardens look like in and after a bad winter is important to show that it's not always glamorous and to give a reality check for those that think it is. Great to see a fruiting, edible banana in the UK, pretty rare indeed! Mark, looking forward to seeing that red carpet. 😀🤪👍
Thanks Kris and I agree 100%, hopefully the sun this next week will start the big recovery! Good luck with the red carpet, at best he’ll just have removed the obvious trip hazards for you 😂
Thanks! Haha yes, that is an option but I don’t think Mark would like to lose any space in there. A bit more winter insulation could definitely help though!
Very informative video as usual, George. As we've said before, growing exotics is largely trial and error until you find what will survive in your own garden. Even then, a severe winter like this one just ending re-writes the rulebook. C'est la vie.
Thank you Alan and you're completely right. I know the duration of the cold this winter has not only taken out the 'expected' plants in my garden but also some I hoped would make it long term but that's the nature of it unfortunately. It's an an evolution and you soon learn what's worth trying again and what really isn't!
Now you know what my garden looks like in N. Florida, after only living here a year and a half from S. Florida, 2 winters down now, but this winter was brutal, a week plus of 30 degrees F was just too much for those left out, even my bamboos, I anxiously await new shoots...next year if we get those forecasts I will dig some up(bromiliads)they are slowly coming back with pups, half of my Australian tree ferns and young palms made it...many banana pups coming back, I just bought a plantain banana to add to the collection while I continue to monitor where to plant...everything looks so sad, but improving, temps in the 80's F. today, canna are blooming so I'm a happy planter...thanks for this...and thanks for not showing the green sphere...lol...!
I'm pleased to hear most things are coming back for you already and like Wesley who commented, even you guys in Florida are still experimenting and pushing the boundaries of what you can grow! I'm sure the next month will see more plants coming back for you. What bamboos were they out of interest? Presumably something more tropical? Haha yes, the green sphere did kind of slip in there...
@@GeorgesJungleGarden my two bamboo are the black bamboo, which has sent out a few branches, but no shoots yet and the Asian lemon, it's starting to send up skinny shoots, I'll take anything I can get, but it really hasn't been rainy or super warm and humid yet, such a crazy winter. I get truck loads of free mulch and the last load had some Spanish moss in it, I quickly grabbed and watered, this home has none...YET...I love the moss on trees, Florida romantic...
@@milkweeddreams8828 I hope your weather settles down soon and your Spanish moss settles in! I love the look of it on the trees too. As for your bamboo, I'm surprised the black nigra has completely defoliated but it's never known for looking pristine in a cold winter. I'm sure it'll come back for you soon!
Hey George. Great to see your mate Mark's garden. His attitude is right up my street. The Somme comment made me laugh. Interested with the watering of the tree ferns throughout the winter. Up in the North East there's plenty of rain even in the winter so I don't bother but shows the dry climate where you guys are. I'm with him 100% with the aloe polyphilla. Waste of time here. Similar with the livingstonia. I've only been in the tropical style garden 5 years or so but his no-nonsense approach to overwintering strategy is spot on. Great video. Cheers 👍
Pleased you enjoyed it Mr Calzone! I think Mark’s attitude is something a lot of exotic gardeners come round to, that acceptance of inevitable realities like the Aloe and Musa basjoo damage but also learning what you can get away with. With the tree ferns, we have had a wetter spell recently and we’re not quite the same as East Anglia etc below us but I think for a lot of the country a bit of extra watering when it hasn’t rained for the week is worthwhile. Not required after yesterday’s deluge though! Thanks and great to hear the chat was interesting 👍
Hi, I guess it depends where in the states you are but the variety of plants available here has definitely grown over the last few years. Some of Mark’s greenhouse plants are incredibly rare here though!
Thanks Nick and yes, it’ll be great to do another tour showing how it’s all progressed! This one was very much a case of heading out and flicking the camera on but there’s a lot of Mark’s garden that’s well worth a more detailed look 😃
Hi Tara, it certainly has been a tough winter and Mark's garden is looking great considering! Trachycarpus are a great start, very tough once they're settled in but I've got loads of vids on my channel if you want to know more about the different 'easy' palms to grow and care tips through the year.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden 😂 agreed! One of my best mate's is like that, totally blunt. The Musa killing fields were intense but his attitude to it is amazing! Meh 😂
@@cake-diver8991 Haha yes! My Musa have rotted right back now so I guess there's definitely something in the attitude of just seeing what happens! Obviously if it was ridiculous cold I'd do everything I can for my palms and tree ferns but for the more herbaceous plants a more relaxed approach can definitely work most winters.
Thanks Richard! It’s a great garden and if you enjoyed this vid you’ll probably like to see the next one in the series filmed later in spring and I’ll be returning again soon 😃
Haha yes, we've each got two miniature Dachshunds so will have to let them loose next time, there will be chaos though! Thanks as always, it was great catching up with Mark and seeing how his garden is doing.
Thanks, pleased you enjoyed it! Yes, I’m looking forward to heading back and seeing how it develops myself too so keep an eye out for the follow up vid in summer 😃
Really enjoyed this video. I liked Mark's comment about working a 40 hour week with kids having somewhat of an influence on how much you can do and also how much you care to wrap plants up to the extreme. I might have to watch this again but with a beer and drink every time there's a euphemism or phallic based joke! 😂. Was a bit like The Inbetweeners meets Gardeners World and as a combo it was great. Did he get most of those tree ferns before prices rocketed? There's thousands and thousands of pounds worth of tree ferns there. I'll be lucky to afford a 2 footer! I'll need to take a trip East to Lincolnshire some time.
Nice one, thanks Dan! Yes, Mark was keen to push the reality and lower maintenance side of things. I guess the main factors are the temperatures you expect and the temperatures you get but I think for most winters we don’t ‘need’ to wrap a lot as long as you’re reasonably sensible with your plant choices and positioning. Pleased you enjoyed it 😂 Mark got most of his tree ferns a few years ago so still a lot of money but the best price he could get. He works hard and his garden is one of his passions so fair play to him!
I love the laidback realism that Mark displays. It’s a great safety net for those of us just getting started who are trapped in a web of Google advice! (Right. Off to Google a rhododendron sinogrande😂)
Haha yes, you're completely right! Obviously it would be different it we'd had a -13 forecast but Mark's garden looks pretty amazing considering the duration of the freezes and his lack of protection! Rhododendron sinogrande are pretty special plants, unfortunately the heat wave really hit mine hard last year but in a damp, sheltered spot they look incredible.
Enjoyed the tour this guy is a true realist when it comes to growing tropicals. The banana in hothouse that is flowering is really cool. As you know I live in panhandle of Florida and it’s tough to get one the flower since we still have frost and this past year a massive cold spell. I’ve started trying to plant a couple in a pot and bring in when it’s cold. You have to be in central to southern Florida say Tampa and south in growing zone 10 & 11 to have a chance of flowering bananas
Thanks Wesley and yes, you're completely right, he's a realist for sure! It's cool to know that even though you live in Florida, you're still as passionate and dedicated as the rest of us here when it comes to trying the unusual and pushing the boundaries of what even you can grow. I hope you have success with your potted bananas this year!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks I don’t know if I mentioned I potted up 3 different varieties of bananas last summer and over wintered if it threatened freezing weather in my garage for those days. So they are already starting out about 5’ tall. I’ll keep you posted if any of them flower
Nice one, it definitely is and his focus on the evergreens definitely carries the exotic garden look through winter. I hope your Fatsia grows well for you, Mark has some beauties!
Thanks David! It’s obviously not the way forward for every garden every winter but hopefully the reassurance and possibilities of less winter worries came through!
It certainly is! Mark’s done really well to pull off so many themes and different plants hasn’t he. In a similar climate to yourself too. I hope everything grows well for you this year!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden My garden is probably a few degrees colder in winter on average then Yours and Marks. We ended up doing -7 as well here, and with a minimum of protection we did ok, with interesting results: May have lost a Butia, but managed to get two 4m Washingtonia through winter w/o protection (no time to do it and winged it). I really wonder how Marks' is recovering by now. The harsh reality of winter destruction we face every year fades away slowly this spring.... PS: I got 5 Livistona in full ground 😎😎 (but it does barely make up for not having Taylor Swift)
@@amphetaminelogic7006 That's interesting to hear your results, apologies for my delayed reply. I don't think Butia are as tough here as they are in places with hotter summers but you've done well to get the Washingtonia through! Mark's garden is bouncing back and I'll be following up with another video very soon - you're right in that spring definitely helps you forget the winter realities! Great to hear about your Livistona, I'd probably agree with Mark that they're not the best option for us here but with a bit more summer heat it's amazing the cold some plants can take. Over here it just takes too long for any damage to be outgrown so it's generally worth sticking to the plants which still grow during our cooler summers. That doesn't stop us experimenting though!
Haha 😂 I think the green globe looks awesome almost radioactive haha 😂. So I see your tall grass is still going in the distance covering the neighbours I’m interested in getting some for privacy as bamboo is taking its time growing. Any more info on it? Is it invasive like bamboo or pretty easy to rip out if it spreads somewhere it shouldn’t
Yes, it definitely has that radioactive vibe 😂 I think the grass you can see is actually the bamboo, Mark’s got a proper mix of grasses and bamboo in there. The giant grass we both grow is Miscanthus lutarioriparius but it needs a barrier digging in really as it can spread around 😬
Makes me sick to see his spare Tree ferns just sat in an area! Great video again George and by the way Linden is open and having deliveries as we speak ;)
@@markgoodlad4669 Ah its fine Mark, very impressed with what you have achieved, the price of tree ferns now is hard to stomach thats all, good luck for this coming year
I was just going to comment they they’re being stored for a special project, not even Mark has spare tree fern lying around 😂 Pleased to hear Linden is back open again, I’ll have to pop over some time soon!
I lost 2 large Corderlynes which I've never protected and are now mush half way down the trunks. Lost 2 phoenix palms which had no issue with previous few winters. Musa I had fleece and already coming back. Dicksonia had straw and and can feel knuckles.
It sounds like you had similar to me then, except my Musa look the same as Mark's now despite being fleeced. Definitely a tough winter and it completely took out my Phoenix, just 10 minutes down the road from Mark's garden! I'm pleased things are looking good for your Dicksonia though, that's a huge relief!
Haha yes, I was hoping he was going to say another genre of music so I could drop in a surprise country tune anyway but never mind 😂 Yes, Mark’s definitely full of enthusiasm blended with stubborn realism!
Wow!.. Tree ferns were amazing!.. Were they from Victoria or Tasmania?.. I understand that there's a serial number on the tag which you can locate its original location.
They really are and there'll be another update coming soon - it's looking better than ever! I believe they're Tasmanian but I'm pretty sure the tags have long since been removed. Great to know the responsible sourcing and location info can be tracked back though!
Thank you very much Tim and I’m pleased you enjoyed Mark’s approach to things! It can be too easy to focus on having to do everything by the book and experience is a great way of telling us what we can get away with (and what we can’t!).
Great description and that’s my idea of a garden too! Sure, a well designed and restrained garden might look great as you’re passing by but it’s obvious that experimentation, growing a huge variety and having a selection of strong themes is what makes it worthwhile for Mark 😃
Still Looks great at this time of year . How did his Parajubaea cope with -7 George . The green globe looks awesome with the sunshine on it . Needs a green light on that in the summer . Thanks for sharing your garden with us again Mark .
It does indeed! The globe was supposed to be clear but the green definitely adds a nice touch of colour! 😂 They didn’t feature in this vid but the Parajubaea are basically untouched other than a tiny bit of browning on the lower leaves, I was definitely impressed!
Thank you very much! Yes, I can do textbook instructional videos all day long but it’s nice to have a bit of humour and personality and I’m pleased the dynamic came across 😂
Not too bad after this bad winter. Might be worth looking into a roll down blanket for the heated conservatory. The Chinese style greenhouses use them. Their greenhouses don't require any additional heating to keep above freezing with lower temps than we get. Something I've got planned for the future. On cycads , I've found thick cardboard to be a great protector, it stays surprisingly strong even when wet for a few weeks.
Not too bad at all Henry, definitely better than here. How did you get on? The roll down blanket would be a good idea for sure and would certainly help to cut the heating down further. As for the cycads I get the impression with a bit of wrapping they can tolerate a fair amount of cold, it would be interesting to know what the lowest temperatures people have got them through in the U.K.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden overall not too bad, like you said in the video, position is key to it. Banksia marginata untouched, hakea did well, all the established butia sailed through. Aloe pollyphylla did well, all unprotected, all were planted with frost drains in mind and most vertical. I wish I got protection on the macrozamia moorei, the revoluta next to it with cardboard protection looks ok, but it got zapped, should pull through, it survived 2010. I'll definitely be creating some height for Musa, I'll be doing two projects. I'll be interested to see if the bananas grow to good produce.
@@henrywaterhouse6291 Few have put in the groundwork you have to give borderline plants the best chance, I'm pleased to hear about your successes and that you've got more projects in the pipeline? How did your Musa 'Tibet' (If that's the name used currently...) do after this test? I'm potentially planting mine out this spring but was planning on wrapping it for winter, like basjoo would be traditionally. Yes, I'll be intrigued to see how the bananas do too, they might just have got to this stage at the right time for some spring sun to assist, hopefully!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden I've got quite a few big projects planned for the next few years, the big new yucca arid section, there's already around 40/50 linearfolia getting established, hibernica in and the large bamboo to the front. It'll be a few years till it's at it's peak, I've planted eucalyptus and stone pines on the top of the banks, once they are big enough, I'll try more banksia, protea, hakea , they'll have overhead frost protection,with cold drains down from the banks and lower nutrients due to the trees robbing them. Another couple of plans further ahead are even more ambitious, think Eden project..... domestic scale though. Just working on testing a big sand battery for heating from solar , so I'll see how it goes. The Musa Tibet wasn't protected unfortunately, cut to the ground like the basjoo, a mistake really, due to its rarity. Confidentish that it should sprout again. Would be good to see yours planted , definitely agree protecting like basjoo for a couple of winters to get the rootmass big.
Fantastic video George! I really enjoyed the tour and seeing how Mark's garden is looking after the cold winter we’ve had this year. I’m sure it will look stunning again come late summer. And that banana flower at the end was absolutely incredible! It’s my long-term goal to get some of my edible bananas to fruit here eventually, although I don’t have that incredible greenhouse setup like Mark has 😅. But who knows? Maybe someday!
Thanks Peter, pleased to hear you enjoyed it! I’m intrigued to see just how fast the bananas come back but I’ve got a feeling by early August it’ll be just as packed as last year! That’s definitely a great goal and hopefully one day you achieve it - Mark’s definitely got an awesome setup I’m jealous of too! Dwarf Cavendish and Super Dwarf Cavendish fruit at a lower height, as you can see even Mark’s greenhouse was only just tall enough to get away with it here. It’ll be cool seeing actual edible bananas on it!
another great informative video, very inspiring for what is possible ,Do you have any experience with Cythea Medullaris George, i am living in Dublin on Irelands east coast and have just purchased one from Kells bay in Kerry,I have a few other ferns all doing well but i hear these do need winter protection .any adive much appreciated Thanks
Thank you very much Matt, it's definitely an inspirational garden! I do, I actually had a medullaris planted out until this winter, which was just too much for it. They can take down to around -3°C but really need some kind of heated protection in a colder winter (which I didn't have time to do). So it all depends on what temperatures you see in winter, if you're especially mild you may get away with just some fleece. They're lovely ferns and I'm sure you'll have got a beauty from Kells Bay!
Hi, around -6 degrees Celsius I believe but it took the same the subsequent winter with a Brahea casualty you might see in the more recent 'Mark's Crazy Tiki Garden' series.
Unfortunately not 😂 He’s a natural with the camera but I’m not sure he’d have the patience to edit everything haha! I’ve said I’m always happy to share more vids of his garden progress, we get on well and it’s always more interesting having somebody else to bounce off!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks for your reply. I can imagine it’s a nightmare Oh btw I went to linden nursery the other day there’s still a palm there with your name on it haha thought I’d mention in case you’d forgotten about it 😂
Hi, it certainly is! This winter it got down to -6/7°C but each freezing spell lasted a week or so and that was the main problem, the previous winter only had one dip to around -3 from memory. It's the first time this banana has fruited for Mark but basically each stem only fruits once and this happens when it gets to a certain size or has grown an amount of leaves. Exciting times, hopefully they develop well!
I will treat those as two separate comments, I’m sure they probably make great gardeners and thanks for taking the time to leave such an insightful burst of positivity. You are right, Mark is currently on a challenging and beautiful journey and requires all our support, love and understanding as he transitions into a young Will Ferrell circa Elf era.
Greatly appreciate seeing the scruffiness, vegetative detritus and the natural cycles within a spectacular garden. A healthy reminder that every moment cannot be a five-star social media thumbnail photo. Also brings the hope and optimism of spring’s new growth! Thank you
Thanks Stephen, it's great to know the perspective and reality was appreciated. I'm sure his garden will be back to five-star soon enough but it's interesting to see this glimpse of it right now, hopefully it'll make the next visit all the more impressive when it happens!
Like the way you're showing garden, post winter and in natural transition,
Thanks, I think it’s a great contrast to the other videos where you can see how amazing and full it looks in summer 😃
Great video of a superb garden. Yes it's been a cold winter but there's still a lot looking good and the things that aren't looking good should hopefully bounce back and look good again in no time. Like you both I think sharing what our gardens look like in and after a bad winter is important to show that it's not always glamorous and to give a reality check for those that think it is. Great to see a fruiting, edible banana in the UK, pretty rare indeed!
Mark, looking forward to seeing that red carpet. 😀🤪👍
Thanks Kris and I agree 100%, hopefully the sun this next week will start the big recovery! Good luck with the red carpet, at best he’ll just have removed the obvious trip hazards for you 😂
If you don’t mind the smell put a compost bin or 2 in there 👍 an save £500 on the lecky bill, also an awesome garden an top video as usual. 👌👌👌👌
Thanks! Haha yes, that is an option but I don’t think Mark would like to lose any space in there. A bit more winter insulation could definitely help though!
Very informative video as usual, George. As we've said before, growing exotics is largely trial and error until you find what will survive in your own garden. Even then, a severe winter like this one just ending re-writes the rulebook. C'est la vie.
Thank you Alan and you're completely right. I know the duration of the cold this winter has not only taken out the 'expected' plants in my garden but also some I hoped would make it long term but that's the nature of it unfortunately. It's an an evolution and you soon learn what's worth trying again and what really isn't!
Fatsia at 09:48 I've seen listed as Fatsia 'camouflage' which is way easier to spell than the Japanese name 😂
Haha yes, that’s an easy way out 😂
Great video George and Mark 👍👍
Thank you John, pleased you enjoyed it! 👍
Now you know what my garden looks like in N. Florida, after only living here a year and a half from S. Florida, 2 winters down now, but this winter was brutal, a week plus of 30 degrees F was just too much for those left out, even my bamboos, I anxiously await new shoots...next year if we get those forecasts I will dig some up(bromiliads)they are slowly coming back with pups, half of my Australian tree ferns and young palms made it...many banana pups coming back, I just bought a plantain banana to add to the collection while I continue to monitor where to plant...everything looks so sad, but improving, temps in the 80's F. today, canna are blooming so I'm a happy planter...thanks for this...and thanks for not showing the green sphere...lol...!
I'm pleased to hear most things are coming back for you already and like Wesley who commented, even you guys in Florida are still experimenting and pushing the boundaries of what you can grow! I'm sure the next month will see more plants coming back for you. What bamboos were they out of interest? Presumably something more tropical? Haha yes, the green sphere did kind of slip in there...
@@GeorgesJungleGarden my two bamboo are the black bamboo, which has sent out a few branches, but no shoots yet and the Asian lemon, it's starting to send up skinny shoots, I'll take anything I can get, but it really hasn't been rainy or super warm and humid yet, such a crazy winter. I get truck loads of free mulch and the last load had some Spanish moss in it, I quickly grabbed and watered, this home has none...YET...I love the moss on trees, Florida romantic...
@@milkweeddreams8828 I hope your weather settles down soon and your Spanish moss settles in! I love the look of it on the trees too. As for your bamboo, I'm surprised the black nigra has completely defoliated but it's never known for looking pristine in a cold winter. I'm sure it'll come back for you soon!
Hey George. Great to see your mate Mark's garden. His attitude is right up my street. The Somme comment made me laugh. Interested with the watering of the tree ferns throughout the winter. Up in the North East there's plenty of rain even in the winter so I don't bother but shows the dry climate where you guys are. I'm with him 100% with the aloe polyphilla. Waste of time here. Similar with the livingstonia. I've only been in the tropical style garden 5 years or so but his no-nonsense approach to overwintering strategy is spot on. Great video. Cheers 👍
Pleased you enjoyed it Mr Calzone! I think Mark’s attitude is something a lot of exotic gardeners come round to, that acceptance of inevitable realities like the Aloe and Musa basjoo damage but also learning what you can get away with. With the tree ferns, we have had a wetter spell recently and we’re not quite the same as East Anglia etc below us but I think for a lot of the country a bit of extra watering when it hasn’t rained for the week is worthwhile. Not required after yesterday’s deluge though! Thanks and great to hear the chat was interesting 👍
I like the green globe. Whatever the reason it's green. it looks good.
Haha yes, it does look cool! It was clear in the last video but the water didn’t get treated so it went a tasty green colour 😂
Great video nice to see it in winter knowing it will come back Thanks George
Thanks Iris! Hopefully it will with a bit more of this glorious sunshine!
Love the banter
Haha thanks, always a good chat with Mark!
Brilliant video 😊
Thank you very much, I’m pleased you enjoyed it!
Brilliant video as ever George. Tropical Chuckle Brothers! Thanks
Thanks Simon! Haha I’ll settle for that 😂
It’s crazy, although I’m in the states… where it’s warmer… I feel like the UK has more tropical plant varieties than we do.
Hi, I guess it depends where in the states you are but the variety of plants available here has definitely grown over the last few years. Some of Mark’s greenhouse plants are incredibly rare here though!
So pleased to see you say you will be back later in the year. The original video of this garden was one of my favorite.
Thanks Nick and yes, it’ll be great to do another tour showing how it’s all progressed! This one was very much a case of heading out and flicking the camera on but there’s a lot of Mark’s garden that’s well worth a more detailed look 😃
Wow!!!!! fantastic garden Mark this is something definitely I want to create,another brilliant video George
Thanks Paul! It’s amazing it looks this good after a cold winter isn’t it and it’ll be even better soon enough!
I really enjoyed this one George!
That’s great, thanks Jerry! Just uploaded the sequel 😃
Amazing I love tropical Carnot seem to keep palms alive it’s been a harsh winter looks fabulous 👍🌴
Hi Tara, it certainly has been a tough winter and Mark's garden is looking great considering! Trachycarpus are a great start, very tough once they're settled in but I've got loads of vids on my channel if you want to know more about the different 'easy' palms to grow and care tips through the year.
Loved this! That greenhouse, just wow! All the spanish moss just adds an amazing vibe
Thanks, yes it's definitely something special! I like the mix of Mark's reality and bluntness with his obvious passion for design and experimentation!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden 😂 agreed! One of my best mate's is like that, totally blunt. The Musa killing fields were intense but his attitude to it is amazing! Meh 😂
@@cake-diver8991 Haha yes! My Musa have rotted right back now so I guess there's definitely something in the attitude of just seeing what happens! Obviously if it was ridiculous cold I'd do everything I can for my palms and tree ferns but for the more herbaceous plants a more relaxed approach can definitely work most winters.
Love this video. 👍 Thank you.
Thanks Justin, pleased you enjoyed it! 😃
Outstanding Well done
Thanks Richard! It’s a great garden and if you enjoyed this vid you’ll probably like to see the next one in the series filmed later in spring and I’ll be returning again soon 😃
I love the green globe 😂
Haha yes, I think it looks cool too! Maybe not the clear globe we saw in the last vid but definitely a vivid shot of colour!
I live in Perth Western Australia & I’m jealous of his garden 😂
😂 It’s something special isn’t it! I’m sure Mark would be jealous that you can probably grow a lot of the bromeliads etc. outside!
Great inspirational video as usual George and a wee bit of banter to.👍
Thanks Paul, had to be done 😂
Haha sausage party video 😂 great video George
Haha yes, we've each got two miniature Dachshunds so will have to let them loose next time, there will be chaos though! Thanks as always, it was great catching up with Mark and seeing how his garden is doing.
Great video, can’t wait to see an update once it’s all recovered and looking lush 😍
Thanks, pleased you enjoyed it! Yes, I’m looking forward to heading back and seeing how it develops myself too so keep an eye out for the follow up vid in summer 😃
Really enjoyed this video. I liked Mark's comment about working a 40 hour week with kids having somewhat of an influence on how much you can do and also how much you care to wrap plants up to the extreme. I might have to watch this again but with a beer and drink every time there's a euphemism or phallic based joke! 😂. Was a bit like The Inbetweeners meets Gardeners World and as a combo it was great. Did he get most of those tree ferns before prices rocketed? There's thousands and thousands of pounds worth of tree ferns there. I'll be lucky to afford a 2 footer! I'll need to take a trip East to Lincolnshire some time.
Nice one, thanks Dan! Yes, Mark was keen to push the reality and lower maintenance side of things. I guess the main factors are the temperatures you expect and the temperatures you get but I think for most winters we don’t ‘need’ to wrap a lot as long as you’re reasonably sensible with your plant choices and positioning. Pleased you enjoyed it 😂 Mark got most of his tree ferns a few years ago so still a lot of money but the best price he could get. He works hard and his garden is one of his passions so fair play to him!
Yes, got the vast majority during the days of £25 a foot or less.
@@markgoodlad4669 I remember those days! Some of my smaller ones were £17.50, sickening!
I love the laidback realism that Mark displays. It’s a great safety net for those of us just getting started who are trapped in a web of Google advice! (Right. Off to Google a rhododendron sinogrande😂)
Haha yes, you're completely right! Obviously it would be different it we'd had a -13 forecast but Mark's garden looks pretty amazing considering the duration of the freezes and his lack of protection! Rhododendron sinogrande are pretty special plants, unfortunately the heat wave really hit mine hard last year but in a damp, sheltered spot they look incredible.
Enjoyed the tour this guy is a true realist when it comes to growing tropicals. The banana in hothouse that is flowering is really cool. As you know I live in panhandle of Florida and it’s tough to get one the flower since we still have frost and this past year a massive cold spell. I’ve started trying to plant a couple in a pot and bring in when it’s cold. You have to be in central to southern Florida say Tampa and south in growing zone 10 & 11 to have a chance of flowering bananas
Thanks Wesley and yes, you're completely right, he's a realist for sure! It's cool to know that even though you live in Florida, you're still as passionate and dedicated as the rest of us here when it comes to trying the unusual and pushing the boundaries of what even you can grow. I hope you have success with your potted bananas this year!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks I don’t know if I mentioned I potted up 3 different varieties of bananas last summer and over wintered if it threatened freezing weather in my garage for those days. So they are already starting out about 5’ tall. I’ll keep you posted if any of them flower
@@wesleyhackney Nice one, looking forward to hearing how big they get this year!
Great selection and stunning amount of evergreens! Just added a Fatsia japonica to my garden!
Nice one, it definitely is and his focus on the evergreens definitely carries the exotic garden look through winter. I hope your Fatsia grows well for you, Mark has some beauties!
Excellent and definitely interesting video George.
Thanks David! It’s obviously not the way forward for every garden every winter but hopefully the reassurance and possibilities of less winter worries came through!
Awesome garden george! Thx for sharing (from an 8a dutch exotic garden)....!
It certainly is! Mark’s done really well to pull off so many themes and different plants hasn’t he. In a similar climate to yourself too. I hope everything grows well for you this year!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden My garden is probably a few degrees colder in winter on average then Yours and Marks. We ended up doing -7 as well here, and with a minimum of protection we did ok, with interesting results: May have lost a Butia, but managed to get two 4m Washingtonia through winter w/o protection (no time to do it and winged it).
I really wonder how Marks' is recovering by now. The harsh reality of winter destruction we face every year fades away slowly this spring....
PS: I got 5 Livistona in full ground 😎😎 (but it does barely make up for not having Taylor Swift)
@@amphetaminelogic7006 That's interesting to hear your results, apologies for my delayed reply. I don't think Butia are as tough here as they are in places with hotter summers but you've done well to get the Washingtonia through! Mark's garden is bouncing back and I'll be following up with another video very soon - you're right in that spring definitely helps you forget the winter realities!
Great to hear about your Livistona, I'd probably agree with Mark that they're not the best option for us here but with a bit more summer heat it's amazing the cold some plants can take. Over here it just takes too long for any damage to be outgrown so it's generally worth sticking to the plants which still grow during our cooler summers. That doesn't stop us experimenting though!
It's worth George's tripping hazard to see your glass covered tropical
Haha yes, worth the hazard 😂
Haha 😂 I think the green globe looks awesome almost radioactive haha 😂. So I see your tall grass is still going in the distance covering the neighbours I’m interested in getting some for privacy as bamboo is taking its time growing. Any more info on it? Is it invasive like bamboo or pretty easy to rip out if it spreads somewhere it shouldn’t
Yes, it definitely has that radioactive vibe 😂 I think the grass you can see is actually the bamboo, Mark’s got a proper mix of grasses and bamboo in there. The giant grass we both grow is Miscanthus lutarioriparius but it needs a barrier digging in really as it can spread around 😬
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Thanks! 😃
Makes me sick to see his spare Tree ferns just sat in an area! Great video again George and by the way Linden is open and having deliveries as we speak ;)
I do plan to use the tree ferns around my new garden office so they won’t be wasted. Don’t worry.
@@markgoodlad4669 Ah its fine Mark, very impressed with what you have achieved, the price of tree ferns now is hard to stomach thats all, good luck for this coming year
I was just going to comment they they’re being stored for a special project, not even Mark has spare tree fern lying around 😂 Pleased to hear Linden is back open again, I’ll have to pop over some time soon!
@@markgoodlad4669 Garden office, you're living the dream!
I lost 2 large Corderlynes which I've never protected and are now mush half way down the trunks. Lost 2 phoenix palms which had no issue with previous few winters. Musa I had fleece and already coming back. Dicksonia had straw and and can feel knuckles.
It sounds like you had similar to me then, except my Musa look the same as Mark's now despite being fleeced. Definitely a tough winter and it completely took out my Phoenix, just 10 minutes down the road from Mark's garden! I'm pleased things are looking good for your Dicksonia though, that's a huge relief!
hahah shame about Taylor Swift! - great video. Your friend's passion really shines through :-)
Haha yes, I was hoping he was going to say another genre of music so I could drop in a surprise country tune anyway but never mind 😂 Yes, Mark’s definitely full of enthusiasm blended with stubborn realism!
Wow!.. Tree ferns were amazing!.. Were they from Victoria or Tasmania?.. I understand that there's a serial number on the tag which you can locate its original location.
They really are and there'll be another update coming soon - it's looking better than ever! I believe they're Tasmanian but I'm pretty sure the tags have long since been removed. Great to know the responsible sourcing and location info can be tracked back though!
Absolutely brilliant video and a real lesson on winter care. Very similar to my own way of gardening . Thanks George
Thank you very much Tim and I’m pleased you enjoyed Mark’s approach to things! It can be too easy to focus on having to do everything by the book and experience is a great way of telling us what we can get away with (and what we can’t!).
Beautiful chaos!
Great description and that’s my idea of a garden too! Sure, a well designed and restrained garden might look great as you’re passing by but it’s obvious that experimentation, growing a huge variety and having a selection of strong themes is what makes it worthwhile for Mark 😃
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Most definitely! :)
Still Looks great at this time of year . How did his Parajubaea cope with -7 George . The green globe looks awesome with the sunshine on it . Needs a green light on that in the summer . Thanks for sharing your garden with us again Mark .
It does indeed! The globe was supposed to be clear but the green definitely adds a nice touch of colour! 😂 They didn’t feature in this vid but the Parajubaea are basically untouched other than a tiny bit of browning on the lower leaves, I was definitely impressed!
Wonderful garden, love both of your humour 😊 love this upload 👌🏻
Thank you very much! Yes, I can do textbook instructional videos all day long but it’s nice to have a bit of humour and personality and I’m pleased the dynamic came across 😂
Not too bad after this bad winter.
Might be worth looking into a roll down blanket for the heated conservatory. The Chinese style greenhouses use them. Their greenhouses don't require any additional heating to keep above freezing with lower temps than we get.
Something I've got planned for the future.
On cycads , I've found thick cardboard to be a great protector, it stays surprisingly strong even when wet for a few weeks.
Not too bad at all Henry, definitely better than here. How did you get on? The roll down blanket would be a good idea for sure and would certainly help to cut the heating down further. As for the cycads I get the impression with a bit of wrapping they can tolerate a fair amount of cold, it would be interesting to know what the lowest temperatures people have got them through in the U.K.
p.s. When you do yours make the ceiling height just a little bit taller if you’re planning on growing fruiting bananas!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden overall not too bad, like you said in the video, position is key to it. Banksia marginata untouched, hakea did well, all the established butia sailed through. Aloe pollyphylla did well, all unprotected, all were planted with frost drains in mind and most vertical. I wish I got protection on the macrozamia moorei, the revoluta next to it with cardboard protection looks ok, but it got zapped, should pull through, it survived 2010.
I'll definitely be creating some height for Musa, I'll be doing two projects. I'll be interested to see if the bananas grow to good produce.
@@henrywaterhouse6291 Few have put in the groundwork you have to give borderline plants the best chance, I'm pleased to hear about your successes and that you've got more projects in the pipeline? How did your Musa 'Tibet' (If that's the name used currently...) do after this test? I'm potentially planting mine out this spring but was planning on wrapping it for winter, like basjoo would be traditionally.
Yes, I'll be intrigued to see how the bananas do too, they might just have got to this stage at the right time for some spring sun to assist, hopefully!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden I've got quite a few big projects planned for the next few years, the big new yucca arid section, there's already around 40/50 linearfolia getting established, hibernica in and the large bamboo to the front. It'll be a few years till it's at it's peak, I've planted eucalyptus and stone pines on the top of the banks, once they are big enough, I'll try more banksia, protea, hakea , they'll have overhead frost protection,with cold drains down from the banks and lower nutrients due to the trees robbing them. Another couple of plans further ahead are even more ambitious, think Eden project..... domestic scale though. Just working on testing a big sand battery for heating from solar , so I'll see how it goes.
The Musa Tibet wasn't protected unfortunately, cut to the ground like the basjoo, a mistake really, due to its rarity. Confidentish that it should sprout again. Would be good to see yours planted , definitely agree protecting like basjoo for a couple of winters to get the rootmass big.
Fantastic video George! I really enjoyed the tour and seeing how Mark's garden is looking after the cold winter we’ve had this year. I’m sure it will look stunning again come late summer. And that banana flower at the end was absolutely incredible! It’s my long-term goal to get some of my edible bananas to fruit here eventually, although I don’t have that incredible greenhouse setup like Mark has 😅. But who knows? Maybe someday!
Thanks Peter, pleased to hear you enjoyed it! I’m intrigued to see just how fast the bananas come back but I’ve got a feeling by early August it’ll be just as packed as last year! That’s definitely a great goal and hopefully one day you achieve it - Mark’s definitely got an awesome setup I’m jealous of too! Dwarf Cavendish and Super Dwarf Cavendish fruit at a lower height, as you can see even Mark’s greenhouse was only just tall enough to get away with it here. It’ll be cool seeing actual edible bananas on it!
I know you're from the UK but I was wondering if you know what your equivalent USDA growing zone is?
Hi Valerie, they don’t always translate over 100% but we’re probably an 8a if that helps 😊
another great informative video, very inspiring for what is possible ,Do you have any experience with Cythea Medullaris George, i am living in Dublin on Irelands east coast and have just purchased one from Kells bay in Kerry,I have a few other ferns all doing well but i hear these do need winter protection .any adive much appreciated Thanks
Thank you very much Matt, it's definitely an inspirational garden! I do, I actually had a medullaris planted out until this winter, which was just too much for it. They can take down to around -3°C but really need some kind of heated protection in a colder winter (which I didn't have time to do). So it all depends on what temperatures you see in winter, if you're especially mild you may get away with just some fleece. They're lovely ferns and I'm sure you'll have got a beauty from Kells Bay!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Many thanks for the advice George much appreciated
What minimum temperatures did the garden experience?
Hi, around -6 degrees Celsius I believe but it took the same the subsequent winter with a Brahea casualty you might see in the more recent 'Mark's Crazy Tiki Garden' series.
Ps does mark do you tube ?
Unfortunately not 😂 He’s a natural with the camera but I’m not sure he’d have the patience to edit everything haha! I’ve said I’m always happy to share more vids of his garden progress, we get on well and it’s always more interesting having somebody else to bounce off!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks for your reply. I can imagine it’s a nightmare Oh btw I went to linden nursery the other day there’s still a palm there with your name on it haha thought I’d mention in case you’d forgotten about it 😂
@@Antwann1986 Haha still not mine! Unless it's paid for in which case, I'll swing by and get it in the van quickly haha!
Beautiful garden, how cold does it get there in the winter? Do you get fruit ever year from the banana trees?
Hi, it certainly is! This winter it got down to -6/7°C but each freezing spell lasted a week or so and that was the main problem, the previous winter only had one dip to around -3 from memory. It's the first time this banana has fruited for Mark but basically each stem only fruits once and this happens when it gets to a certain size or has grown an amount of leaves. Exciting times, hopefully they develop well!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thank you, I will have to try it out.
@@kenakay6961 Nice one, good luck!
Don't show the green globe, now everyone is focused on it 😅
Haha yes, that made me smile while I was putting the video together!
Female to Male Transgenders make good gardeners. Congrats !
I will treat those as two separate comments, I’m sure they probably make great gardeners and thanks for taking the time to leave such an insightful burst of positivity. You are right, Mark is currently on a challenging and beautiful journey and requires all our support, love and understanding as he transitions into a young Will Ferrell circa Elf era.