A Norfolk exotic adventure PART ONE EAST RUSHTON OLD VICARAGE
I seems like for ever-ago but it was only four months ago that I was sunning myself in Norfolk surrounded by a whole host of exotic plants. I visited many places: Amulree and Urban Jungle exotic nurseries, Will Giles Exotic Garden, NGS open garden owned by Kevin Scales and East Rushton Old Vicarage. The latter of which I will talk about in this blog. The previous will be blogged about soon....
I had been told that East Rushton was a bit of a hidden gem and a must-see place if one is interested in "unusual" and "exotic" plants. As I am always interested in seeing any gardens, especially those that are exotic I couldn't resist. I wasn't alone on my journey through Norfolk, having my pregnant wife and two little girls with me. Every time we visit a garden I say to them, "Our garden will be like this one day" they smile and say will it have a trampoline too? There were no trampolines at the Old Vicarage but plenty of space to play in and lots of exotics for me to get excited about.
At the start of the garden is a very interesting plant sales area with many choice plants at fair prices. I resisted having spent up at the tropical nurseries... Tropical and exotic plants were everywhere including these wonderful Brugmansias which had a lovely perfume and sun-yellow colour on the flowers.
There are many brick walls at the Old Vicarage which retain a lot of heat and provide some protection from the elements. In one of the first areas that one comes across is this mixture of arid and prairie planting. Chamaerops humilis palms, Aeoniums amd Eucomis were the highlights of this section for me. All interplanted with various silver-leaved plants ideally suited to the hot dry conditions.
Towering Miscanthus finished the ensemble.
Next onto a shadier, more intimate spot with towering Trachcarpus fortunei underplanted with shade-loving plants
A sunny spot next before heading on past the Dicksonia antartica tree ferns.
In the same spot as above but facing the opposite way was a large Tetrapanax papyrifer which was easily 10ft tall. The Inula daisies were also large, standing at around 6ft.
As well as the brick walls there were dozens and dozens of Eucalyptus trees planted around the garden, almost certainly to add a degree of protection to the plants below and to act as a wind break.
Now on to what I think is the best part of the garden and probably one of favourite areas of planting I've ever visited; the "Desert Wash" A huge amount of labour must have been employed to move tonnes of rock, flints and boulders to create a wonderful arid garden that I could only dream about creating "Up North" Notice the clear blue skies (yes this was 2012!)
The hardy structural elements of this area consist of Yuccas, Nolinias, Agaves and Dasylirions. These are softened with grasses, Euphorbias and vivid orange Californian poppies.
Nolinas
Agaves
Dasylirion
Various Yuccas
Even some hardy cacti!
Colletia cruciata a spiky shrub that I had never seen before.
Even the none exotic areas of the Old Vicarage like the kitchen garden had some tropicals interplanted. Can you see them?
How about now?!
Finally an avenue of Trachcarpus fortunei leading onto a wonderful view of a lighthouse.
I have not shown all of what East Rushton Old Vicarage has to offer. There are many more areas to explore including some fantastic large-flowered Hydrangeas along with more conventional plantings. I would urge anyone in the area to visit, but before you do check out the website. Opening times and details of the gardens including a plan can be found here: http://www.e-ruston-oldvicaragegardens.co.uk/pages/view/587/opening-times.htm
Next up the next stage of my Norfolk exotic adventure.
