Jungle Climbing Frame

Ever since my son was born, two½ years ago I have thought about building some kind of funky climbing frame in the garden to blend with the 'jungle' look of the planting. So, for the past 3 or 4 months, I've been working like a demon to transform the garden from an 'overplanted plant collectors plant collection' into a family garden with a backdrop of handsome architectural plants, and a Jungle Climbing Frame!


Using a mixture of materials I got free from work, materials I had left over from previous projects, and stuff I had to buy, I designed and constructed this....








It proved a real headache to consider all the safety issues for a 2½ year old (and for a 38 year old!) and I still have a few concerns about one or two things, but I can always modify things as I go along. My little boy loves it!

Surely you can't grow that here?

Not had a lot to blog about lately as the weather has put paid to all outdoors activity - almost. The TV news said it had rained every single day in November here in Wales. I can't ever remember it being this dry.Anyway, thought I'd take the chance, whilst nowt else worth mentioning is going on, to post a photo or two of a few gardens in the UK, that look anything but. All the following photos were taken in private gardens in the UK. And contrary to what you might think, none of them are in the subtropical southwestern tip of Cornwall. Granted, they aren't in Aviemore either, but it goes to show just what an exotic range of plants can be grown in the UK

Cornwall

We've not had chance this year to get down to our favourite English county, Cornwall!

So, here's a few photos from trips past of some of our favourite haunts in the Duchy...

First up, the atmospheric St Ives. It's unlike any other city/town/village/hamlet in the Uk (that I've visited anyway). There's just a feeling thats generated when visiting that you can only appreciate after you've been there...
The harbour


Porthminster beach. We nearly always stay at a wonderful little hotel called Primrose Valley http://www.primroseonline.co.uk/ which is around 30 yards from the beach and ticks all the boxes - food, decor, location, relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff!


And one of St Ives' many charming cobbled streets.

The Minack Theatre is a must visit. Situated on the cliffs overlooking Porthcurno beach, it was the life vision of Rowena Cade http://www.minack.com/dayvisitors/history.htm and must be one of the most original tourist attractions in Great Britain.

The aforementioned Porthcurno beach is simply breathtaking. I'll shut up as a picture tells a thou....etc.

And the view from the Minack.

I'm a big fan of the gardens and nurseries in Cornwall. Trevena Cross near Helston always has an excellent selection of tree ferns and ground ferns. It's where my wallet usually gets emptied and my wife usually gets bored.

Cornwall is probably the premier UK climate for exotic plants and gardens. Trebah is one I never tire of visiting. It's a little more commercial than some of the less frequented 'gems' but is beautiful all the same.

These Dicksonia antarctica almost look too pristine, but they work so well in this setting.



And finally, the wonderful St Michael's Mount. Quintessentially Cornish, like a large pasty dropped in the middle of the bay.