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A sub-tropical garden in a temperate climate

Finally, after what has seemed like an interminable wait, summer
arrived properly here in the UK., just over a week ago and every
brilliantly sunny day, temperatures have continued to rise well into
the 80's.   Cool, very humid weather early on, has encouraged
phenomenal growth on many plants, although some of those which prefer
hot arid summers, have tended to suffer from a variety of bacterial
and fungal rots.  Despite this, succulents such as Delosperma cooperi
are producing a second, blinding display flush of day-glo magenta,
while Bulbine fruticosum has romped away bearing masses of orange and
yellow pokers.  Even palms which prefer a warm summer in order to grow
away have produced a wonderful flush of new leaves - Syagurus, Butia,
Washingtonia Brahea and Sabal have wholeheartedly approved of the
weather which the rest of us have bitterly resented.

Today, has been the hottest day of the year, with temperatures down on
the exposed and somewhat windy sea-front hitting the mid 80's, whereas
in my more sheltered, walled garden, it has been a good 10 degrees
hotter for much of the day.  I have just come indoors after doing the
evening watering rounds and it is still in the upper 70's out there 
( 11.00pm ) and the sheer power of fragrance is flooding in through
the open windows and doors.  

Angel's Trumpets - Brugmansia 'Golden Queen'  is in full flower with
its rich butter yellow, 14" long trumpets cascading down from a 10ft
high tree, spilling a warm, decidedly narcotic aroma into the night
air.  Hybrid Auratum Lilies, 7ft high candelabras of Nicotiana
sylvestris,  Oleanders, Jasmine and the first of the Gingers -
Hedychium densiflorum are all adding to this exotic brew.  Some of you
may remember that I asked about the origin of an African balsam -
Impatiens tinctoria which I now  understand is native to eastern
Africa from Ethiopia down to western Uganda.  This was acquired as a
small rooted cutting in late May.  Now it has swelled to a 6ft. wide,
7ft high shrub with enormous, pale-pink veined leaves and large
panicles of long spurred, 3" wide, white flowers each with rich
maroon, central markings.  The overall effect is as though the plant
is surrounded by a swarm of exotic butterflies and the warm, honeyed
fragrance on a warm evening, pervades the air for yards around.

Moon flowers - Calonyction aculeatum are trained on cane pyramids and
their 6" wide, dazzling white, sweetly scented saucers are fascinating
to watch as they unfurl during early evening.  I had worried that they
might not make it this summer, but tiny, almost indiscernible buds
only 10 days ago, are now opening to reflect the light of the full
moon.

I detected a light, but noticeable lemon scent which took an age to
pin down, but discovered that a form of Canna glauca was the culprit.
I love this type of Canna - tall, erect, blue green, spear like
leaves, reminiscent of a highly refined Strelitzia and 5 - 7ft high
spikes of brilliant, canary-yellow flowers which possess none of the
blowsy excess shown by many of the popular hybrids.  The light lemon
scent is an added bonus to an exceptionally elegant plant.  

Everywhere, the chirp of crickets is accompanied by a low hum as hawk
moths dart from flower to flower.

As the weeks pass more gingers - Hedychiums coronarium, coccineum
'Tara' and gardnerianum will explode into flower, flooding the garden
with yet more fragrance and adding a colourful richness to take over
when the Auratum Lilies have faded.  These will carry on well into
autumn or even early winter and with several, the flowers will fade to
reveal brilliantly coloured seed pods which will remain up to and
beyond Christmas.

There are times when I envy those of you in warmer climates, but
looking out on my little patch, I'm reminded of the remarkable
diversity of plants which we can grow over here and suddenly, southern
England doesn't seem too bad at all.

David Poole
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