... I am probably one of the very few oddballs who works in the Hightech industry but avoids social media. And being glued to screens all day as part of my job. I very much prefer being outside ... but decided to crawl a bit out of the shadows and better myself!

Just joined but depends on the atmosphere you wish to create. I tend to loosely group plants according to geography and situation in garden. Bamboos give structure and height within a few years so this is where I start. Himalayan forest (semi shaded and moist, near large trees): blue columned bamboo...

Actually, I was thinking about Koi and got advice BUT as you may know, they like plants too, are looking for any excuse to die if water quality is borderline and living near the Thames we have herons, mink and cormorants. It all got kicked off by my daughter winning a feeder fish at a fair. Was an e...

Hello, Quick intro: Got into exotic plants about 12 years ago, and initially growing a few hardy orchids (Cyprepedium, Pleione), then moved to some ferns (Blechnum, woodwardia, osmunda, lophosoria ... lost Pteris wallachiana this year after growing it 9 years), but got a bit nuts with bamboos (over ...

Another thing regarding the pond: it can never be too big, especially if you start collecting water lilies . And if you add the marginals even less so.

I grow a few Scheffleras (no taiwania) in fairly alkaline moist soil in part shade. I worked plenty organic matter into it though because it is dense clay. Lost one due to ring barking by a muntjac; lesson learned! For quick tropical look for me a blue columned bamboo worked well. I tried a few and ...