READER'S GARDEN
“Nearly a quarter-century ago, back in the year 2000, we embarked on a significant chapter of our lives by acquiring our first home, a quaint cottage nestled in the rural beauty of Aberdeenshire, just outside Turriff. The property, graced with 3 acres of land, comprised 1.5 acres of garden and an adjacent field or paddock, marking the beginning of a journey for us, two individuals in our early twenties, navigating the realm of homeownership with limited gardening experience.
“In the initial stages, our garden presented itself as a canvas of simplicity, adorned with grass expanses and pockets of broom and whins (otherwise known as gorse). The allure however, of the surrounding Scots pine trees, Pinus sylvestris, standing sentinel-like, clinched our decision to make this place our own. Despite our earnest endeavours to cultivate hardy shrubs, we found ourselves facing a formidable adversary: rabbits, which led to an amusing Christmas gift, a book aptly titled ‘Gardening with the Enemy,’ offering insights into rabbit-resistant plant choices.
“Our botanical journey took a captivating turn as we drew inspiration from bamboo's enchanting presence in the aforementioned book and reminisced about our honeymoon experiences in Thailand, surrounded by breathtaking bamboo plantations. A dream began to take shape, an aspiration to transform our sizeable garden into a haven exuding tropical jungle vibes.
“The initial work in this ambitious transformation was the creation of a garden pond. Here, we planted our very first bamboo specimen, the majestic Phyllostachys nigra f. henonis, which now stands proudly at an impressive 5.5 metres (18ft) in height. With time, more varieties of bamboo found their place, complemented by the vibrant hues of yellow-flowering pond irises and the grandeur of large-leaved plants like gunnera, Rogerseria, hostas, ferns, and ornamental grasses. The result was a lush tropical landscape that emanated an exotic allure.
“Being situated in Aberdeenshire, known for its chilly winters, presented us with challenges in cultivating tender tropical plants. We had to be judicious in our plant selections, opting for species that could evoke a tropical ambiance while weathering the cold seasons successfully.
“Bamboo emerged as a star performer in our climate, leading to a growing fascination that transformed into a hobby. This passion extended to the propagation and sale of bamboo plants on eBay, inadvertently laying the foundation for what has now become our modest family business. Initially conceived as a means to finance the metamorphosis of our expansive garden into the dreamy Scottish jungle we envisioned, the sale of bamboo plants gradually took on a life of its own.
“The realisation of our dream to cultivate our own jungle garden unfolded by transforming an abandoned, steep, and overgrown valley on the edge of our property. Chris, my husband, dedicated countless days to clearing the space, eradicating whins, broom, and bracken, and meticulously crafting a network of steps and paths to make the area accessible.
"Numerous bamboo plants were carefully planted, and their swift maturation brought about an almost instantaneous jungle effect.
“While this valley proved to be the coldest part of our garden during winters, the mature bamboo created a microclimate, offering shelter and enabling the successful cultivation of more delicate plants suited to our Northeast Scotland climate. Trachycarpus palms, phormiums, cordylines, and Fatsia japonica found a home in this unique environment, thriving where they could not elsewhere in our garden.
“The experimentation with planting continued, introducing unusual trees such as eucalyptus; a handkerchief tree, Davidia involucrata; a Ginkgo biloba; a tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipifera; and various colourful Japanese acers amidst the bamboo groves.
“The once-overgrown valley, now christened the jungle valley, evolved into a semblance of a secret garden. Hidden paths and intriguing tunnels, naturally formed by arching bamboos, created a delightful playground for our growing boys.
"Our garden, now boasting over 45 different bamboo varieties, showcases the versatility of this evergreen plant. Bamboo has played a multifaceted role in shaping our outdoor space, serving as shelter belt hedges, providing privacy screening around our summer house and hot tub, and contributing to the year-round jungle effect and lushness that defines our green haven.
“When queried about my favourite bamboo variety, the choice proves to be a challenging one as my affection extends to all of them. Yet, if pressed to name my top three, they would be Fargesia robusta ‘Campbell’, characterised by its upright growth and zebra stripe effect; Fargesia jiuzhaigou, a compact clumper with striking red culms; and Fargesia denudata, also known as the fountain bamboo, celebrated for its elegant arching habit and yellow culms.
“The presence of bamboo in our garden isn't just appreciated by us; it serves as a haven for birds. Numerous small birds have chosen our bamboo as nesting sites, with the ever-present robin darting amongst fallen leaves. The bamboo groves provide perfect shelter for various forms of small wildlife, and our garden has become a fortunate habitat for roe deer and red squirrels. Thankfully, the days of rabbit troubles are behind us, as they have discovered that bamboo does not quite align with their culinary preferences.
“Two and a half decades into our gardening journey, our landscape is a testament to evolution: a harmonious blend of native woodland and exotic, oriental jungle vibes. The Scots pines, which first captured our hearts at the inception of our property ownership, now stand tall and proud, overlooking the more recent additions of exotic bamboo groves in the valley below. The garden has become an ever-changing canvas, reflecting the passion, dedication, and love poured into it over the years.”
If you are feeling inspired to try bamboo in your garden, do check out Scottish Bamboo for some top hardy, clumping selections.
If you would like to see your garden featured in a future edition of Scotland Grows magazine, please do get in touch to mail@scottishgardeningmagazine.com - we would love to hear from you!