Page 5.
The Southern Hemisphere &
Exotic garden on the upper deck.
There are three distinct domains
in the upper deck area.
The Southern Hemisphere and
Exotic Gardens both feature plants that are tender and exotic with luscious
foliage. There is also a Gravel Garden that features plants accustomed to hot,
dry and sunny conditions.
Many of the plants that are growing in the Southern Hemisphere and
Exotic Gardens are native to the Southern Hemisphere, and included are species
from Australia, New Zealand, as well as China and Southern Europe.
All of the plants are growing in
large pots or containers and include:
A Gunnera (Gunnera mantica),
Tree ferns (Dicksonia antarctica), Native British ferns and tender Australian
species, Canary island palm (Phoenix canariensis), New Zealand flax,
(Phormium),
Olives (Olea europaea), Yew
(Taxus baccata), Banana (Musa basjoo),
Bamboo (Phyllostachys aureosulcata), Patio palm (Cordyline
australis ‘Red star’)
as well as Cannas and Hostas.
In addition are clipped box and
topiary (Buxus sempervirens),
Golden Leyland cypress (Cupressocyparis ‘castlewellan’),
This
area of the garden receives early morning sunshine and can become very hot
during the summer months.
The
plants are densely planted in large containers, and this helps to keep the
humidity levels relatively high and they provide shade for each other.
Views of The Exotic Garden.
View
from the Roman doorway looking towards The Southern Hemisphere Garden.
Detail
from the Roman doorway to the garden.
The
plants in this area have been chosen for their colour, exotic foliage and
exquisite leaf patterns.
The
accent colours are orange, purple, dark blue and magenta.
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The Southern Hemisphere Garden.
A
large bust of Brutus stands on a stone pedestal
and
overlooks the Southern Hemisphere Garden.
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The Gravel Garden.
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