Welcome to the Jungle

Our gardening expert, Conrad McCormick, shares his advice for creating a tropical-inspired space.

For some gardeners, there comes a point where the familiar starts to feel, well, a little too familiar. The neat lawn, the clipped box balls, the pastel cottage planting repeated from one front garden to the next, all the way down the street. Not that there is anything wrong with cottage-style gardens, of course; many are beautiful, wildlife-friendly and deeply romantic. But some of us are looking for something different. Something bolder, more immersive, more transportive. Perhaps you’ve been inspired by holidays abroad, wandering through lush Balinese courtyards dripping with foliage, sun-dappled Mediterranean terraces or the dense, layered planting of subtropical gardens. Or perhaps it is simply a desire to step outside and feel enveloped by greenery. Whatever the reason, tropical style, foliage-led gardening continues to surge in popularity, and surprisingly, our climate is far more accommodating of the look than many people realise.

Read more in the July issue…