Moments from a May Storm: Heavy Rain in our UK Jungle Garden

[@Knobblytyressoggysocks]

I have a love/hate relationship with the rain as im sure most Gardners do. On one hand i think great, no watering today the tree ferns etc but on the other hand several days of rainfall has left some plants a bit unhappy with too much water 😅 Lovely video George, very relaxing 😊

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much! Yes, summer rain (in sensible doses) can be a thing of beauty - in the winter when it's muddy and bare, not so much! At least it drains away relatively quickly now the ground is drier - some sun would help with that too though!

[@PaulConnor100]

George you might get that water feature I was talking about after all 😂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yes, maybe so! Nahh, I’m lucky to have pretty good drainage here other than the trampled and muddy paths which take a while to dry out (non-surprisingly!)

[@PaulConnor100]

@GeorgesJungleGarden Ah the good weather is coming back, luckily we Don't get as bad on my side of the pond 🙏😅

[@staffordshireShane]

I laughed when the barrow came up 😂😂 I had some of that last summer 😂😂but its better than having to water ,isnt it .

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yes, it’s safe to say the next mix won’t need much water adding! Definitely better than watering, give me a balanced spring and summer with occasional heavy rain rather than a 2022 summer for sure!

[@andrewmetcalfe7928]

Epic stuff.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks, I do like a nice storm! (As long as it’s preceded and followed by some warm sun 😃)

[@dandandan389]

That's a relaxing video George!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Dan, not quite so relaxing when you’re out there seeing how wet the camera is getting 😂

[@DIMMOCKS1]

Love, love, love this video George....It may come in useful in a couple of weeks time!! 🤣It's so immersive. But then I'm a lover of rain and storms...oh and green!!!🌿🌿🌿

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you so much and yes, I do love a bit of rain too! There's nothing like a good summer storm and all the magic it brings to the vivid greens and big leaves. Some sun would be appreciated too though!

[@groundedgarden1461]

Great video to start my morning today! Thanks for probably getting soaked yourself to capture and share this beautiful video for us!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Ahh thanks, I'm pleased you enjoyed it! I was more concerned about the camera getting wet than me but it's all part of the fun!

[@irismoles9369]

Great for your jungle plants lovely video nice watching and listening

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much Iris, I'm pleased you enjoyed watching it! Yes, the plants must have enjoyed it. More sun and rain are welcome over the grey, windy weather we've had since!

[@davidmackie7473]

George, after the amount of rain we have had this year here in Edinburgh the last thing I needed was a rain video, 😂 but I did watch it all 😂 I must have gone mad 😂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha thanks David, I'm sure the wind has dried it out this week! Just in time for more rain next week...

[@Vala_Bike_Trails]

Haha, so true for the UK this video 😅😅. Some absolutely beautiful shots George, lovely little video that mate 🫶🏼🫶🏼.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yes, that last burst of sun seems like a long time ago now doesn't it! Thanks, I'm pleased you enjoyed it!

[@aquachimp1]

Your photographic skills really show on this one and having read all the other comments, I'm not the only one to have noticed this as a masterpiece. Well done

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much, that's really very kind of you! I'll try and make more of these shorter little atmospheric videos as I capture so many little clips of the garden and don't always have the opportunity to film longer videos to combine them into. I'm pleased you enjoyed it!

[@gordonissocoollike]

Beautiful. Ignore the+previous burst your bubble negative comment. Life is an adventure and I thank you for yours

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much! Don't worry, I don't expect everyone to like every video I make or have the same points of view but I'll keep uploading what I enjoy making and sharing, thanks for your support. I did wonder how an argumentative comment could be left on a video without any dialogue but I guess sometimes tone and meaning can get misconstrued in text so no harm intended I'm sure.

[@markchitty6505]

Great vid George, watched it twice lol ... could sit there for hours just watching that and listening to the rain :)

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Mark! I’ll try to make a longer version one day when I get a proper stereo mic and recorder to film the rain onto the Gunnera leaves 😃

[@missdimples1982]

Beautiful shots George, and the sound is heavenly. I enjoyed it so much ❤

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much, I'm pleased you enjoyed it! I'll maybe keep popping some shorter vids up amongst my longer ones with more of the clips I get while I'm in the garden with my camera - hopefully a sunnier one soon...

[@cindyrichards9471]

George, this is a beautiful video. If you made it a bit longer, it would be a wonderful sleep video. Is the rain real?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much Cindy, I’d love to make a longer version with the right audio gear (proper stereo mics etc) when I can justify picking them up and have another storm opportunity 😊 This one is a mixture of camera recorded audio and overlayed recordings from a sound library for the telephoto greenhouse shots which were filmed from inside or where I needed a longer rain recording to run longer than short individual clips. With more static shots and a microphone under the Gunnera leaves I’m absolutely sure I could make something lovely one day soon 😊

[@rstorey]

This video is like the scene from Jurassic Park with the goat.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha amazing, in that case I have well and truly succeeded!

[@cindyrichards9471]

I'm looking forward to seeing that sleep video.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Cindy, I'll try to make it happen! I'll need some different audio kit and more static footage but I'll certainly try my best one day soon.

[@dianeschultz1648]

Love it. Happy plants!!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you, they are indeed!

[@stevebacon1026]

Im fiming in the rain, just filming in the rain!👍Steve.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yes Steve, the wind has dried it out now hasn't it!

[@melaniesheppard778]

Absolutely marvellous! ❤

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much Melanie 😊

[@shineamen3107]

Gorgeous footage. You're not kidding in the UK when it comes to rain! What a treat for most of the inhabitants of your jungle garden! 🙋‍♂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much Bernard, it was a proper downpour! Unfortunately it's largely been grey and windy since, no heavy rain or summer sun to speak of. I'm sure I'll be back to moaning about watering the garden soon enough!

[@janinewoodbridge3814]

Beautiful 😍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much Janine, I'm pleased you enjoyed it!

[@milkweeddreams8828]

Simply stunning, perfect music and lush happy plants looking toward the sun...I just finished watering, at least the fruit trees are starting with some shade now...what a downpour, enjoy...!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much, that's very kind of you! I bet you've done more watering than me recently and I'm sure your beautiful garden will be very thankful for it!

[@samanthalonghurst-howes1465]

Your garden looks so beautiful and tranquil in the rain. 💖 Xxx

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much, there’s definitely beauty in the rain for sure! I’ll try and do a longer version one day when I can pick up some decent microphones and have a storm at a convenient time 😃

[@Arturo_G]

Beautiful video, love it

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much, that’s very kind of you 😊

[@bellsibub9951]

Some nice camera work there george and that phrase "no need to water this week" is very familiar to me lately as I have a mossy fern area at the base of my west fence! I also have a mediteranean bed on my east fence but the slugs have been eating my lavender! Not had much chance to make a pond yet as i am caring for my parents in their assisted care home.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much and yes, it’s certainly a change to have a few warm and dry days isn’t it! The slugs have certainly been more of an issue this year haven’t they - you wouldn’t have thought lavender would be particularly palatable for them would you?! I wish you all the best with caring for your parents and understand the demands on your time, hopefully you’re able to make some time for yourself around those priorities too. The pond will wait until you’re able to sort it I’m sure 😊

[@bellsibub9951]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanx mate. Yep, slugs, don't help having a mossy fern area! I already have a dry pond where i want the pond to go, which fills up each time it rains hard. There is corsican mint growing around the sides and seems to love it there so will leave it for now.

[@mrchuffy6535]

Really comes alive in the rain and the leaves look lush and green! Incredible.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

It does indeed, the greens are so vibrant aren’t they. Hopefully it’s balanced out with some sun soon though 😃

[@robintaylor2845]

Stunning!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much Robin 😊

[@palmlifeuk3553]

One thing I've found about too much summer rain is getting round to feeding plants that use liquid feed. It's one of the reasons why I may completely switch to slow release feeds for all my Palms in pots etc.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

That's a good idea and I generally use slow release these days as it's more convenient. I do find that when it's warmer though, unless it really chucks it down, a bit of rain doesn't do much to water pots so you certainly have to be aware that they might still need watering, particularly if they're sheltered by your house etc.

[@JH-fv1gq]

Hosepipe ban in late summer no doubt😮

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Maybe! Who knows how it's going to go, there's no doubt the average temperatures are going up but we don't know if it'll be a scorching drought again or another 12 months of rain do we! The water companies should certainly be doing a better job of storing more water and providing a buffer against erratic and extreme weather events.

[@DJSupaflyguy]

👌👌👌👌🫡

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks 😃

[@alanhunter2009]

Sorry to burst your (water?) bubble, George, but here in Edinburgh we had 6 weeks of May/June rainfall in 24 hours last week. Everything is saturated with no sign of drying out as there is heavy rain every day. I expect to see Gene Kelly soon.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Oh dear Alan! Yes, I’m in no doubt others like yourself had it worse, there was just enough here to put me off recording a longer video outside on Sunday during a short filming opportunity. Oh dear, hopefully you’ve avoided any flood damage and I’m sure you’re fed up of singing in it by now!

[@roguedungeondelver5738]

It looks like Wildlife documentarys set in Congo or Borneo. It really is lush. George do you grow any Cordyline Australis Red Varieties and how do you find them, somr seem to get devoured by snails and some srem to get famged by the frost. They seem not as tough as their green relatives. Thank you

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, apologies for my delayed reply, thanks for your kind words! As for the Cordylines, I planted a couple of red ones and they both perished in the first cold test during the 2020-21 winter. There's some medium sized examples locally, mostly closer to buildings but in all honesty I don't think they're tough enough in colder areas and the tricky bit is protecting them from cold (and snails etc!) whilst they're small. My young green ones got taken out too but the slightly larger ones came through so they are certainly tougher in my experience as well as the generally held beliefs.

[@roguedungeondelver5738]

​@@GeorgesJungleGarden Hi George, I've replaced the Red ones and Torbay dazzlers with green ones and fan palms. I've also managed to get a Schefflera Taiwaniana, what aspect is best and soil type, drainage sand acidity and problems with pests. Thank you George.

[@roguedungeondelver5738]

​@@GeorgesJungleGardenThank George, the red and Torbay ines are replaced by green ones and fan palms. I've gotten a Schefflera Taiwaniana, what aspect is best along with soil, drainage soul type acidic or regular and pests. Thank you.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hey, apologies for the delayed reply. I don't know the preferred acidity unfortunately and haven't really had the options to experiment here. Pests don't seem to be an issue like most of the plants I grow. Drainage and shelter are important though. Whilst they can take our sun well, I think some element of partial shade suits them well, shelter from harsh winds will be appreciated and drainage is key. They don't want to dry out in summer but too much water will likely kill them so I'd generally prioritise spots with 'normal' to well drained soil with some grit / horticultural sand / organic matter added.

[@roguedungeondelver5738]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks George. Both Scheffleras are in a woodland bamboo garden and had plants previously growing there and the soils have been amended before. Both seem really happy and are putting on new growth. Both areas also have the advantage of a Wall for microclimate.

[@Omlittlebuddha]

How will all the arid plants survive in all the rain we will have in June 😮

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

I don't worry too much about summer rain as there's less chance of them rotting while it's warm and they're in a very free draining substrate but yes, this cool, grey and wet weather isn't ideal is it!