Fifty Shades of Green - Urban Forest Garden Midsummer Tour

Today's video is a midsummer garden tour of Annmarie and Andrew Swift's beautiful and truly unique 11 x 15m urban creation just north of Walsall, near Birmingham. Faced with challenges including a north-facing aspect, heavy clay soil, a high water table and being overlooked - with clever design, hard work and beautiful planting, managed to succeed and created a beautifully lush and diverse garden offering privacy and beauty through the seasons. A lush and leafy forest garden with areas of exotic and tropical style planting, greets NGS visitors, with multiple water features including two waterfalls, over 70 trees and 200+ shade-loving ferns, this really is a special garden proving just how much you can do with a small garden if you really like green! As we walk around the garden, we talk about small garden design tips, shady foliage plant ideas, building creative garden structures, encouraging wildlife into a small garden to control slugs, top advice for creating pondless waterfalls and what this beautiful space means to them.
FIFTY shades of Green Facebook Page: / 50sogtheswifts
Visit Annmarie and Andrew Swift's Walsall garden through the NGS: findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden...
More info and background on this urban forest garden from Manoj Malde Garden Design manojmaldegardendesign.co.uk/...
0:00 Intro
1:22 Fifty Shades of Green - challenges, opportunities & personality in a north-facing garden
3:36 The evolution of a small urban garden, from Japanese influence to an enclosed forest garden
4:52 Over 70 trees in a small forest garden and garden design tips for privacy and atmosphere
7:05 From one pond to a garden full of water features, waterfalls & wildlife
9:07 Spanish moss, foliage plant ideas and creating a natural looking garden
10:06 Upcycling and building a DIY garden gazebo structure with custom lights & artwork
13:43 Beautiful multiple head tree ferns & Dicksonia antartica care tips including watering & feeding
18:56 Gunnera x cryptica - a tip for controlling the leaves and manicata / tinctoria hybrid identification?
21:14 Making the most of sunny planting areas & creating a garden journey
22:04 Soil improvement & amendments for creating a north facing garden on heavy clay - challenges & tips
25:03 Water features monolith & pondless waterfall - tips, planting, encouraging wildlife & inspiration
28:13 Eucalyptus & Quercus dentata large leaved Oak tree
30:16 Encouraging wildlife into a small garden & natural slug control with frog population
32:09 Levels, diffusers, soakaway crates & top tips for creating a natural pondless waterfall water feature
36:41 Beautiful shade planting, ferns, creativity & upcycling / recycling garden ornaments
43:29 Delayed flowering in shade, trees for year round interest and underplanting
45:30 Koi pond with exotic plants and managing trees in a small garden
51:40 Tropical style planting area, creating privacy & atmosphere in an urban forest garden
If you've enjoyed my videos and would like to say thanks for the price of a coffee then please head over to my Ko-fi, any kind donations would be appreciated and put towards creating more exciting content: ko-fi.com/georgesjunglegarden​​
Thanks,
George

[@DIMMOCKS1]

A massive thank you to George @GeorgesJungleGarden for making this film and showcasing our garden in such a creative and immersive way. Your followers and friends know how much you enjoy film making and when we had the pleasure of your company in June your passion for it really shone through. Our garden is a difficult space to film well and you did wonders. Thanks again George. We love it. 😊👌🌿🌴🌳

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much again and I've got to say this one is almost entirely down to your personalities, input and journey through your amazing garden! As much as I enjoy the more creative elements of filming, I think this one works well (despite not getting as much footage of the garden as I would usually and a few minor audio blips!) because it's simply a great chat and walk around showing something really unique how it would actually come across in person. I really do appreciate your time and organisation so I could make the most of the time I could spend with you and I'm sure anyone visiting this summer will find a lot to see that didn't make it into this video! I'm so pleased you like it.

[@robertferreira3286]

You have a beautiful garden. I have watched this video three times now and it has given me some inspiration for what I can do with my garden, which is still a work in progress.

[@39chevy44]

Wow what a garden, and a lovely couple that have a passion for our type of gardening. Thanks for sharing George. Paul.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks for watching Paul, I'm so pleased you enjoyed it! Yes, the passion, dedication and effort really are obvious from every detail. Such a beautiful space!

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you very much for your great comments. Appreciate it 🌿🌿🌿

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you for your great comments. 🌿🌿

[@Islandgirl4ever2]

Hi George, Inspired by your AMAZING garden, along with others in the UK in the same zone as I live in here in France, I bought myself my first fatsia japonica and planted it last week.. Very happy with it, but realised it got pretty burned by the sun, though I thought my shade sail covered that spot, so added a shade cover over it... I have a Japanese style garden on one side of the yard, and an English garden on the other side... I plan on added more tropical plants over time.. Thanks a bunch.. Cheers, Leesa in the French countryside!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Leesa and that's great to hear, thanks for your kind words! I'm sure your Fatsia will get more tolerant of the sun in time, it's more likely just the leaves grown in the previous location that will have been shocked but the shade cover was a great idea. Your garden certainly sounds like a lovely blend and hopefully you also find Annmarie and Andrew's ability to combine different planting styles inspirational! I hope you garden continues to grow well and give you lots of joy over summer, all the best.

[@vincenzecalzone8666]

I kept this tour for Friday night so I could enjoy a beer 🍺 or two. I've had the pleasure of visiting their fantastic garden last August. Beautifully crafted , a superb oasis of calm in the city. George, you've done an amazing job of filming the space so well. The conversation also between the 3 of you frames the whole experience. Brilliant work all of you. Fabulous 👌

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks so much @vincenzecalzone8666 - what an honour to have the video saved for prime time viewing! It really is a stunning space and I’m pleased you think I did it justice in the time I spent there. Although it wasn’t an especially easy place to film, full credit has to go to Annmarie and Andrew for being so friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic at sharing their creation 😃 Out of interest, what made you visit last August as it’s a fair way for you isn’t it? Did you research the tropical vibes for a visit when you were in that part of the country?

[@vincenzecalzone8666]

@GeorgesJungleGarden I was seeing a mate in Worcester. Just by pure chance I noticed the garden was open via the NGS scheme on the day of my return so I took a small detour through Walsall on my way back North. The ironic thing is thar they happen to live about 4-5 miles from where my Grandparents lived years ago so it was great to head back that way after 20+ years. Thought you did very well with the filming as the light conditions must have been challenging in places to capture on camera, much easier with the naked eye. The way they set the greenhouse up.in the front of the garden in the winter is as testament to the effort it takes to put that kind of show on each year. Full marks all round

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Hey James... Thank you for those amazing comments and the recommendation too👍🏼 We love how you've kept the film ready to watch on the prime TV slot on Friday... Awesome 😎🌿 As you said filming our garden is a challenge and George absolutely smashed it. Fab job he did. 👍🏼🌿👍🏼

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Ahh right @vincenzecalzone8666 - that's interesting and what a garden to stumble on by chance! I imagine just a hint of exotica was enough to draw you in over other NGS offerings! Yes, it was quite restrictive in terms of filming and I was certainly at the widest end of my wide angle lens wishing it went even wider! It wasn't too dark though given the midsummer sun (can you remember that?!) but that throws up it's own issues with harsh contrasts - not a huge amount I can do about that given my current equipment and workflow though. Yes, the greenhouse is definitely an indicator that things are done very differently and with organisation and dedication as you pull up! Thanks again for showing your appreciation and I've hopefully got another garden (or two!) coming up soon that'll be right up your street!

[@richardjohnson7984]

Brilliant - That has to be my ideal garden. I love their use of water which is often overlooked in tropical garden videos. Appreciate water isn't for all due to young children or pets etc. but their pondless stream was genius! Food for thought George??!! 😆

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you for your smashing comments Richard. Really appreciate it 😊

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Wow, I'm pleased you enjoyed it Richard and there's certainly ideas and inspiration in abundance! The pondless waterfall / stream was beautiful for sure and positioned in the perfect spot at the top of the garden. Haha yes, water will definitely be more of a feature at our garden one day in a pet / child safe way, I do want a lovely trough water feature but as Andrew and Annmarie say, you have to do one project at a time! Thanks for sharing your kind words.

[@tikitropicals65]

A great tour of a truly unique garden. Gardens are so unique to their makers and this is a great example. So much interest and personality in the garden. I really enjoyed it.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks and you're completely right - unique is certainly the word and this is certainly one of the most creative, individual and diverse yet relaxing gardens I've been to. A real treat to experience and a privilege to share it!

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Many thanks for your lovely comments Brendan. It was good to finally meet George. The sun came out too, always a bonus. 🌿🌿🌿

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It was good to meet you both two and yes, although the sun can make filming a bit tricky, it certainly looked beautiful through the dappled tree canopy 😃

[@mrchuffy6535]

Wow what a garden, interesting about the gunnera cryptica! Usually I think I can do this when you put a garden tour up but the money involved in this must be immense, thanks for the video!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It certainly is beautiful! Yes, I've thought for a while there's definitely a sliding scale or ratio of the genes that make up the Gunnera hybrids, it's interesting to see a form like this which has the large leaves (and is more upright and better behaved than mine!). I know what you mean about the scale and amount of effort that's gone into the garden, all I'd say is keep in mind that you're seeing the result of 15 years of progressive projects and hard work - hopefully it comes across that pretty much everything has either been made from scratch or creatively used. So whilst there's no escaping the costs of things like pond liners, building materials, lighting etc, you can certainly buy a lot of the rocks etc cheaply through Facebook etc and from there it's a case of doing each project as and when you can afford to do it and doing as much work yourselves as you can. Hopefully you avoided Angela seeing this one otherwise you're going to be booked up until retirement!

[@mrchuffy6535]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden she's all about the gunnera now! I wonder why! Luckily we got ours in the ground before the ban! 15 years of progressive spending! Thanks again George excellent content kept me entertained while I'm away

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

No worries and I hope the week is going by quickly! Haha yes, happy to be a bad influence! Yes, there’s no doubting the money adds up over the years but you could easily drop the same amount on a car with one extra letter on the name and nobody would bat an eyelid so each to their own 😊

[@emmagunston446]

George thanks so much for sharing this gorgeous garden! What a lovely, knowledgeable couple who are extremely talented, I cannot believe that waterfall is new! 😮 So grateful to you all for sharing your gorgeous gardens and your knowledge 💚💚💚

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Hello Emma. Thank you for your amazing comments. We were very lucky to have @georgesjunglegarden come to film. He's so good....has a great creative eye and vision. Our garden is very hard to capture and he's managed to do that perfectly. The waterfall installation was really tricky to do and to make look like it's been there for years it's hard.... So the fact that you were surprised at that makes it all worthwhile. Thanks again Emma 🌿👍🏼

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank so much Emma and Annemarie! The waterfall really is a thing of beauty and yes, I had to feature it more considering how great it looks after just one year. It's definitely invaluable hearing all the tips and tricks behind the end result. It really was such an inspiring visit and I'm so pleased you enjoyed the video!

[@Omlittlebuddha]

I love pigeons too! I have a pair nesting in my garden and they are just delightful to watch, and have wonderful personalities. ❤

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Lovely, we get plenty here as well, being close to the countryside. I love the way Annmarie and Andrew are so welcoming of nature in their garden and there's a lot to take from their attitude by many others who still see a beautiful garden and coexisting with all wildlife as being mutually exclusive.

[@5262janna]

This was a wonderful tour. The couple is as beautiful as the garden

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you, I’m so pleased you enjoyed it and they really are - so friendly, enthusiastic and keen to share their tips and passion. It was a pleasure to visit and share their creation!

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you very much for your lovely comment Janna. We really appreciate it 🙏🏻 🌿

[@gabelaw785]

I love this garden! This is one to rewatch regularly George, a classic. So much inspiration, and such lovely people, creating a sanctuary together. I need more trees!! Thanks all involved for your time, perfection 😘

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Ahh thanks, what a wonderful comment - it’s great to hear it’s appreciated and inspirational! It’s a pleasure to visit such friendly and dedicated people and share their passion and effort over the years with KZbin. Thanks for taking the time to leave your kind words 😊

[@DIMMOCKS1]

What smashing comments to read at the end of the day. We really appreciate it. Glad you liked the film. 🌿🌿🌿

[@danwilson5160]

The fish pond is good for tying it together, big brightly coloured fish really emphasises the overall exotic vibe.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

You're absolutely right! The fish are lovely and it's great how different the pond looks from both sides too, it's very much a backdrop to the tropical area as you start the journey and then you get a completely different experience when you see the fish up close as you come to the end of the path. Beautiful!

[@darrenedmans2297]

WOW . WHAT AN AMAZING GARDEN.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It absolutely is, I'm so pleased you enjoyed seeing it! I loved all the water and beautiful planting.

[@oldgold5848]

Wonderful garden .

[@DIMMOCKS1]

​@@oldgold5848Thank you so much 🌿🌿

[@haideefox2204]

What a fantastic video, youve shown off this garden as close as 'in person' as possible, it is even better in the flesh! Annmarie and Andrew have worked such magic, a real treat to explore.

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you Haidee. 🌿🌿🌿

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Ahh thanks Haidee, I'm pleased you enjoyed it and you're absolutely right! I tried to share it in a very true to life way along with a chat sharing some of their knowledge and tips but for the full immersive experience and atmosphere, it's absolutely worth visiting and soaking it in. I'm pleased I could share a fraction of what they've achieved and I hope others find it inspirational as well.

[@jamesclayton3388]

A wonderful garden guys,!..❤

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It certainly is James, a very unique and beautiful space!

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you James. 🌿🌿

[@estherterrier6400]

Wonderful garden, love these garden tours 😊

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It certainly is and thank you very much! I do enjoy filming them too! We get so used to seeing a polished version of garden highlights condensed into 5 or 10 minutes on TV and places often come across completely differently to how they do in person, so it's great to be able to share a longer chat and walk around showing more of the detail, beauty and the how's and why's. More on the way over summer but I'm really thankful for Annmarie and Andrew for being so generous with their time and knowledge.

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you very much🌿

[@paulharten7348]

Watched this video a few times - absolutely love your videos ! So inspirational as we're starting out from a very blank canvas - big garden and desperate for that instant jungle look but having watched so many of your videos i'm getting inspiration and have to accept it's not an instant thing - thank you 🙂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Paul, I’m so pleased you enjoy the videos and this one especially, it really is a stunning garden made by lovely people with so much passion and focus on the details. Your new garden sounds very exciting and you’re absolutely right, I really wouldn’t rush anything until you get a rough idea of an overall design that works for you. I’ve hopefully got some more video tours on the way soon that’ll give you more ideas but personally I think Mark (of Crazy Tiki Garden fame) has done a great job setting out a larger space on his circle theme 😃

[@mikemillson9572]

Another beautiful garden tour.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Mike, I'm really pleased you enjoyed the trip round!

[@DOLLYPEG1982]

Just a fantastic inspirational garden Wow

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It certainly is, so beautifully designed, planted and cared for! A privilege to share and I’m pleased you enjoyed watching it 😃

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Many thanks 🌿👍🏼

[@johnsandham1415]

Wow, simply an incredible garden 👏👏👏

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It really is John, some lovely features, attention to detail and a beautiful atmosphere 😃

[@later_daze_4080]

This place is unreal!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Isn’t it just! So much beauty, variety and atmosphere in a relatively small space 😃

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Many thanks 👍🏼🌿

[@sharonparsons3222]

What a lovely couple and what a stunning garden, I am in awe! 💕💕💕

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you very much Sharon. Glad you enjoyed our garden film. 🌿🌿🌿

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

That’s so kind Sharon, it was a pleasure visiting and sharing the video 😊

[@vanessahawkhead6316]

Tranquility at its finest love this garden those guys have done an amazing job ❤️

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Isn’t it just! They really have, from the overall design through to the construction, planting and keeping it all so wonderful 😃

[@vanessahawkhead6316]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden lots of thought has gone into such a small space I’ve just subscribed to your channel and this is the first thing I’ve seen how beautiful 💚

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you very much for your wonderful comments Vanessa. We really do appreciate it🌿🌿🌿

[@DIMMOCKS1]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Many thanks George...we continue to be completely overwhelmed at everyone's comments. 😊🌿🌿🌿

[@DJSupaflyguy]

Amazing Garden by the way 👌👌👌👌

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

I’m pleased you think so, it’s certainly different to others I’ve visited on my channel and I love the really unique planting combinations and atmosphere they’ve created 😃

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you very much 🌿👍🏼

[@markchitty6505]

That really is amazing, in so many ways... to transform what was an empty space into a tropical / jungle paradise, that when outside, you really could be anywhere in the world ... great vid George :)

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Mark, I’m really pleased you enjoyed watching it! Yes, there’s definitely some clever design tricks and beautiful planting going on to create that wonderful atmosphere 😃

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you very much Mark. It was a great privilege to have George film our garden. Glad you enjoyed it 👍🏼🌿

[@irismoles9369]

WOW what a great garden thanks for sharing George will be watching it more than once

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks for watching Iris, I thought it might be an interesting one for a lot of my viewers like yourself! There’s certainly been a lot of love and effort gone into it over the years 😊

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you Iris. 🌿🌿

[@wesleyhackney]

Lovely couple & fantastic garden so glad you shared it. It emphasized to me how interesting a garden can be with little flowers but lots of varieties & shapes of leaves & plant structure thanks again

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks! They really are and I enjoyed seeing it myself. I think I'm possibly used to seeing gardens with a heavy focus on foliage over flowers but when filming this, it wasn't until I got to the lilies near the end that it really became apparent how much colour and interest they've brought to the garden without many flowers. A lovely garden!

[@PhotographyAdventure]

Wonderful little space 😍🪴

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It really is, so many beautiful features and lovely details throughout! It must be so relaxing to just sit and be immersed in it after a busy week.

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you 🌿🌿

[@staffordshireShane]

What a beautiful garden .All the water, trees and ferns . My type of gardening . just cool , calm and a fantastic place to relax afterr a hard day at work . I loved this planting style . Thanks for sharing your fabulous garden with all of us .

[@DIMMOCKS1]

@staffordshireShane Thank you very much for your amazing comments. We're glad you enjoyed it. George has done a great job. 👌

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It certainly is Shane and I thought you might like this one! Such a lovely atmosphere and feeling that many larger gardens don't capture half as well. If you head over to their Facebook / Instagram pages you'll see photos of it in the evening looking spectacular, obviously I couldn't stay that long but the lighting really is beautiful too.

[@gordonissocoollike]

Wonderful discovery a great compliment to the thoughtful owners of the garden. One nice experiance

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you Gordon, I'm pleased you enjoyed this walk and chat around such a beautiful garden!

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you so much for your fab comments. Appreciate it 🌿🌿

[@trudydavies2822]

Wow. Just wow. Heaven. I need to visit. 😍🤯

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It certainly is a special garden, you too indeed to soak up some of that atmosphere 😃

[@db6625]

Another fabulous garden tour. A quality design and construction by this lovely couple. I hope you keep doing these private garden videos👍

[@DIMMOCKS1]

@db6625 Thank you very much for your lovely comments. 😊

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks @db6625 - this really is a beautiful garden from design through to construction, care and evolution, you're right. A real credit to them both. I'm pleased you enjoyed it and I've got more private garden videos coming up over summer, I enjoy filming and sharing them too.

[@mltthorn]

Great water features. They really helped make this great video. Finding out old photos etc. i loved the plant labels, very discreet and no bending to read them.

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you for your lovely comments. 🌿👍🏻

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

I loved the use of water too, they've really done an amazing job of it. You've got a great eye for details and whilst I didn't specifically mention it in the video, I really was so impressed by all the labelling and how they'd presented the folders with all the photos - so organised and beautiful just like everything else!

[@DIMMOCKS1]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thank you very much George. I love a slate label or 2!!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Or two hundred! 😅

[@hughmartinmcalary7702]

Great video george, giving me a boost and motivation to get me out and get some heavy work done. The atmosphere in there must be amazing, water is definitely something on the wish list for throughout my garden. All in good time and budget which these guys have done, making it a real garden!Well done on the filming.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks so much Hugh, great to hear you enjoyed this one and you’re completely right, the atmosphere there is fantastic. Hopefully something you’re able to achieve on a larger scale with your incredible space and dedication! Yes, that’s it, a combination of time, effort and careful budgeting over the years is what makes it so successful and I was really impressed at how tied together and natural feeling it all is given the progressive nature of the construction. Motivation and inspiration for us all and I’ve hopefully got some other creative and beautiful private garden tours coming up over summer 😊

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Hey there Hugh....Like you haven't got enough going on at the moment!! We @fiftyshadesof green20 have followed you on Instagram for ages now. We are in total awe of what you have created so far on your garden/housebuilding journey. You fill us full of inspiration all the time. As soon as you put your water in to your garden, trust me it will completely change the eco system and the essence of your space for the better. (But you know that already!!) Keep up your great reels and posts, we love watching your progress and wished we lived in Ireland!!

[@hughmartinmcalary7702]

@DIMMOCKS1 😬 thank you so much guys. Really chuffed with your compliments too. Always loads on but i do take time out, its important to enjoy what you create. Its been two days of rain and no break inbetween so everything is at a standstill this week. If your ever over make sure and give me a shout.

[@DIMMOCKS1]

@@hughmartinmcalary7702 we will...I can't wait to see what you've created. Likewise too.... Not that you'll ever have time!!! 😄🌿🌿

[@TonyField]

Absolutely gorgeous guys

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It’s an amazing garden, so green and relaxing 😃

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you so much Tony 🌿🌿

[@chrisyoung2671]

Truly inspirational.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It really is, so many great ideas and a beautiful attention to detail!

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you Chris 🌿🌿

[@TropicalDanUK]

Thoroughly enjoyed this George, especially given my Garden is North facing and full of clay too! Whenever I see a plant description say 'ideal for a larger garden' I take it as a challenge to grow bigger trees and shrubs. Love the use of water in their garden - the electrics must run all over the place! I'm using bungee cord and old broom handles to prop up my Gunnera but their solution is far more elegant!😅😅

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Hi Dan....you appear to have the same challenges as we do!!! Glad you enjoyed the water....I'm married to an electrician, so of course the electrics run all over the garden!!!🤣😂🤣🔌🔌🔌🙃

[@TropicalDanUK]

@@DIMMOCKS1 ah it all makes sense - putting those trade skills to good use. I notice you've made a photo album that shows all the progress. I was going to do the same as my garden in 2020 was a large sloped gravel driveway and is unrecognisable now. I really need to start uploading some videos.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Dan, I’m very pleased to hear you enjoyed it and it provided inspiration for similar challenges to what your garden faces. Haha yes, eventual size is just a guideline isn’t it! The amount of lighting in the garden really is incredible too, I bet it looks stunning at night. The Gunnera solution is certainly one I’ll be borrowing!

[@DIMMOCKS1]

@@TropicalDanUK Hey Dan. Those garden diaries are invaluable. As we open to the National Garden Scheme, our visitors use them. They love to know what was done and when... and what was planted and when. We did them to start with as we also forgot how things change and evolve. We're constantly saying 'what year did we plant that tree or build the pond and our guesses are always easy out!!! So yes, I would definitely document it.... Even if it's just digitally. 👍🏼🌿

[@robertferreira3286]

Wow what a beautiful garden. Very inspiring and has given me some new ideas for my garden.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It certainly is Robert, something a little bit different for sure and I'm pleased to hear it's provided inspiration for your future projects!

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you very much Robert 🌿🌿

[@karlsorchidparty2395]

A really beautiful garden. Thank you. Greetings from Göttingen! ❤🎉

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It really is Karl, thanks and I'm pleased you enjoyed it!

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you Karl 🌿🌿

[@EPErnst]

What a fantastic garden! A huge inspiration for how I would like my my garden to look. My is just a little bigger than this, and currently mostly just a lawn. I hope you'll be back, so that we can see it through the seasons.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It certainly is and it’s definitely full of practical ideas, inspirational projects and a great atmosphere. I’d love to go back in autumn but it’s quite a trip for me, you should definitely check out their Facebook page (link in the description) to see it change through the seasons and how amazing it looks at night 😃

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you very much for your wonderful comments and glad you are inspired. It would be good to have @GeorgesJungeGarden back in the Autumn. But like he said he's a good distance from us and it's a big commitment. Who knows in the future it may come to fruition 😊🌿🌿

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Who knows indeed, we’ll see 😊

[@sharonpreddy6681]

What a fabulous,creative garden .I love the water features and ponds ,your friends shoal are fantastic👌It is truly amazing what you have included in your garden it's Inspirational 💚great footage once again George👏👏👍

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you very much Sharon. George is a genius 🌿👍🏻

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks, you're too kind @DIMMOCKS1 - happy to share a tiny fraction of the garden's beauty!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks @sharonpreddy6681 - I'm pleased you enjoyed this video! It really is a beautiful garden and the amount of work that's gone into every detail and element really is so impressive. The audio wasn't quite up to where I'd like it to be in this one, but one feature that hopefully came through is the constant sound of the water, it creates such a relaxing atmosphere.

[@cathysmythe1258]

Awesome!!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Cathy, it really is a lovely space with so many beautiful details!

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you Cathy 🌿🌿

[@Tminus89]

Great example of mixed planting working out lovely! What a great source of inspiration. I am currently looking for open gardens here in NL, but most tropical ones are too far from my house unfortunately..

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It certainly is and I'm pleased you enjoyed seeing it! Such a lovely blend of plants and I love the cooling, relaxing feel they all have together. Hopefully you can find some more tropical gardens in your area as visiting others is so beneficial, are there any Facebook groups etc. more local to you?

[@Tminus89]

​@@GeorgesJungleGarden yes there are groups that I am in, I was talking about the gardens that come by over there... Luckily my mate's nursery is not too far away, always something to shoot and admire :) I just missed some Lotus flowers though, gotta keep an eye on his fb page haha

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you very much for your comments 🌿🌿

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

You can’t beat a cool local nursery can you! Plant inspiration 365 days a year!

[@Tminus89]

🤩🤩

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

A lovely garden with so many beautiful features for sure!

[@peterwilcock9747]

Thank you George another brilliant production from a wonderful garden. Thanks also to Annmarie and Andrew for sharing their Garden and knowledge.

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you very much Peter for your smashing comments. It was a pleasure to spend a day in the sunshine with George. He's a brilliant filmmaker 👍🏼

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Peter, I’m pleased you enjoyed it! Thanks again for your kind words @DIMMOCKS1 - I really enjoyed it too 😊

[@helenazzopardi1713]

What a lovely couple and garden. Thanks George for showing us this amazing garden.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks, I really enjoyed my time there and they were both so generous with their knowledge and time sharing their beautiful garden. I’m pleased you enjoyed watching it!

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you very much Helen. Glad you enjoyed it. Really appreciate it 🌿🌿🌿

[@yvonnebrown2342]

Amazing

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It really is a lovely space Yvonne, so relaxing and beautiful isn't it!

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you Yvonne 🌿🌿

[@unojayc]

I have a mister on an irrigation timer for the tree ferns. They can get up to 12 feet of rain in there natural environment..

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Excellent, yes, the humidity and moisture really are key for happy tree ferns aren't they!

[@GrowTropicalMK]

Thanks for this wonderful video Andrew, Anne Marie and George. What a unique garden that solved a privacy problem It is similar to what I face. My garden is about 50% larger than this and totally overlooked, so this is inspiring and provided me with some great dieas. This garden looks huge and totally private! Out of interest what is up against the boundries? I don't even think we saw them through the dense jungle and tree collection.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks, that's really kind of you! Yes, the privacy issue has been well and truly addressed here, great to hear it's given you some ideas. It really is incredible how big it looks and feels isn't it and a real testament to the design and planting that you couldn't really see what's up against the boundaries despite this being nearly an hour long! A few examples I saw of how they achieved this are: Using structures like the gazebo, plant shelving and seating with parasols in front of the fences. Boundaries covered, you don't have wasted space at the back of any structures and also any time you're facing into the garden from a position close to the edge it looks bigger. Secondly, running the large shaded pergola parallel to the fence line really takes your eye away from it and instead you focus on the planting wrapping around it and the focus (tree fern etc.) at the far end. Thirdly, they use a lot of taller but narrower plants like bamboo and more upright trees and shrubs near the edges, creating a lot of interest and overall leafiness for the area of the garden they take up.

[@GrowTropicalMK]

@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks for the reply! Yes, it's incredible that the video was an hour long! So much to see

[@DIMMOCKS1]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Wow...couldn't have put it any better George!! Thank you 👌😊

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you for your great comments 🌿🌿

[@GrowTropicalMK]

@@DIMMOCKS1 you deserve them! Great garden

[@steverichardson4374]

Love the garden fantastic ideas

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you very much Steve 👍🏻🌿

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It's a beauty isn't it Steve, so many beautiful features and a great attention to detail throughout! A lovely relaxing space.

[@Gtumrths]

Thanks for the beautiful tour! How does they keep the bamboo from getting mold????

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks for watching, I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed it! Are you referring to the bamboo panels forming the back of the gazebo?

[@shineamenmbs3107]

Very impressive and beautiful forest! Big up to Annmarie and Andrew! These tree ferns omg! Great job at taming the Gunnera... Just curious, what is this bush with thin green leaves at 21:15? I am intrigued Gorgeous 'Soft Caress'! Thanks a lot George and also to the owners/creators of this Garden of Eden!

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you very much for your awesome comments @shineamenmbs3107 The plant we think you mentioned in an Acer (Acer palmatum 'Villa Taranto' (Japanese maple 'Villa Taranto') It's a finely divided leaf and this is the bottom tier. 🌿

[@shineamenmbs3107]

@@DIMMOCKS1 Thank you very much for your time and detailed answer. So much appreciated. I was thinking of an Acer palmatum, but i had never seen this specific variety before. Superb, just as all your forest garden! All the best! 💚🌿

[@DIMMOCKS1]

@@shineamenmbs3107 Thank you very much for your amazing comments. We really appreciate them.😀👌

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

I'm so pleased you enjoyed this one @shineamenmbs3107 - it was a beautiful experience being in the garden and a privilege to share. Thanks for stepping in with your knowledge @DIMMOCKS1

[@DIMMOCKS1]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden 😊No worries 🌿

[@martinwb3834]

Nice garden / nice people 🪴🌴

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

I completely agree on both counts, it was a pleasure visiting and sharing the garden 😃

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Thank you very much Martin. 🌿🌿

[@DJSupaflyguy]

Why are they keeping copper beach tree in a pot ? Do they grow too big or are they invasive or do they kill other trees like a walnut tree ?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, I think it’s a practical reason, simply to enjoy the visual look and colour contrast the foliage brings in a smaller form. Some trees can have allelopethic effects (including my precious Eucalyptus!) but with this one I believe it’s just a case of the growth rate and eventual size not being appropriate for a space where they want to enjoy it in a bush form closer to the house and slowing it down in a lot is preferable to butchering it and chopping it back hard regularly. I’m sure Annmarie will mention if there are any other reasons!

[@DJSupaflyguy]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden that makes sense 🙏👍

[@DJSupaflyguy]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden allelopethic effects 🤔😂 out of my vocabulary 😂 is that where they put out toxins from roots to kill of completion from other trees?

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Great question. It's one of those all time favourite trees of ours. But it grows rapidly into a huge specimen. Our back garden accommodates over 65 trees. As @georgesjunglegarden mentioned..... Many we keep in pots for the simple reason to stunt the growth so we can enjoy them with the worry of them becoming out of control. Hope that answers your question 🌿

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hey @DJSupaflyguy - yes indeed, you've got it! Other plants have it too but maybe not quite as successfully or as long term as walnuts are known for.

[@DJSupaflyguy]

Where were them steaks holding gunnera leaves up bought from ?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

B&Q I believe, they’re with all the canes and other metal items. I’ll definitely be picking some up!