The Hottest Garden in the UK . . .

. . .  is how the Ventnor Botanic Garden is described in their publicity, and they're probably right.

Originally the grounds of the demolished Ventnor TB hospital, the garden was developed by Hilliers of Winchester before becoming what it is today.

Rarely experiencing frost, having a great deal of sunshine, low rainfall and a lime soil, the Botanic Garden, on the SE facing coast of the Isle of Wight, can grow a remarkable range of plants, but a different range from West Coast gardens. No rhododendrons!

These towering monocarpic perennials, Echium pininiana, from La Palma in the Canary Islands, seed all over the place. Even Ventnor town is full of them! They will grow in Argyll - we grew them occasionally at Arduaine, and An Cala on Seil has done so too, but they hate the wet so have to be sited very carefully!

A wonderful place, as is Ventnor, but a touch warm for me!