The Tropical Garden at Great Dixter

I am admiring the damp mild earth of this balmy and never-ending fall weather, but I do feel suspended between seasons and I am having trouble settling into the idea of winter. So I am back to Great Dixter to recount the glories of the tropical garden! The old rose garden was replaced with a unusual garden full of tropical plants with an emphasis on texture and foliage. The plants loom overhead, boasting large leathery leaves, outrageous and unusual blooms, and a spectrum of different textures, colors, and structures. Every square inch of garden at Great Dixter is filled to the brim and no one plant steals the show. All the plants share the stage, showcasing their talents together, entwined, growing up through, around, and over one another. It is unique, complex, cutting edge, and magical!

Tetrapanax papyriferus, with those giant leaves and tall airy blooms.

Banana and Canna leaves back-lit and glorious.

Vibrant colors of canna, salvia, rose, verbena, and dahlia.

Great Dixter shows us that anything is possible. As gardeners we can be more courageous, creative, and risky and it will likely be more stunning than we could have imagined.