Sunday morning in the jungle

Last Sunday Jean, Val and I spent a very pleasant couple of hours in the jungle! The jungle in question is only a few minutes from Peckham High Street.

The owner, Clive, generously opened the garden to CABAHS members for a private view. Some of you may have visited before as the garden is regularly open on Open Garden weekends and has featured on TV with Carol Klein.  

Clive lives with various members of his family in a huge house in a leafy street in Camberwell. When they bought the house, the back garden had been severely neglected and was a ‘jungle’ of brambles. A digger sculpted out the different areas of the garden, paths were laid and interesting artefacts (many associated with Buddhism) added, to create a sense of discovery around each bend and corner. A few years ago, part of the next door garden was acquired, thus extending the original garden.   

There are numerous chairs, benches and sofas dotted around in quiet, sheltered corners and even a cosy shed/garden house full of interesting pictures and objects – perfect for a peaceful read on a summers day with just the swishing of the wind in the leaves for company.

The jungle effect has been created by the planting of palm trees, tree ferns, banana plants and Paulownia (Foxglove tree) under planted with ferns and smaller flowering shrubs giving splashes of colour.  The Ensete or Musa genera of banana plants grow successfully in the UK but I particularly liked the red variety which are much more delicate and need protecting in the winter. Clive described how each autumn he cuts the leaves and roots off the red banana plants, giving them a large leek-like appearance, and stores them upside down indoors throughout the winter. With plenty of space for spreading, there are some magnificent, sturdy bamboos in the extension garden.

Other members of CABAHS will be able to supply more names and details of the plants on display!

A very pleasant morning was rounded off by tea/coffee and home made cake served by the delightful Alice.

Carolyn H