Welcome to Lullingstone Castle & The World Garden of Plants

The, as yet, un-named, Cacti & Succulent House, World Garden, Lullingstone
by Vikki Rimmer

Tom is busy planting up the beds. In fact he's been so busy he's forgotten to come up with a new name for the 'Cacti House'. Tom says: 'I don't really know what to call it, it would kill me to call it 'The Cacti & Succulent House' - that's so boring! We're in need of some assistance here with the name and we'd love to throw it open to the public who have been so supportive of our project to date'.

The new plant House will contain close to 1,000 species of cacti and succulents collected by modern day plant hunter Tom Hart Dyke. Tom says: ‘'In terms of horticulture, it's going to be amazing - and it should even rival Kew! We’ve invited Mr Cactus himself – Jim Earles from Eltham, to come and open the new House. Jim is wonderful, an absolute expert on the ‘pricklies’, he donated thirteen Golden Barrell Cacti, thought to be extinct in the wild.’

Cactus Jim’s Golden balls will have pride of place in the Mexican border. The Cacti and Succulent House will be planted out in five ‘country-themed’ beds, including Mexico, The Canaries, USA and America, mirroring the theme of Tom’s famous World Garden, laid out in the shape of a map of the world. Every plant grown in the cactus house will be exclusive to that structure and won't be repeated outside in the WG itself.

At 58 foot long, 23 foot wide and 16 foot high at its highest point, the new House will cover the entire south wall of the World Garden, sitting on the site of the ancient Glass Houses from the Edwardian days. The new structure to house Tom's amazing collection of Cacti and Succulents has been erected, with proper ventilation, and gravel has been laid.

Tom says: ‘Ventilation will be very important, looking to keep it 5 degrees c minimum. Wheel chair access is a must, so we've built the path at 3 foot 6 wide, on level ground so that it's easy to negotiate. The beds themselves will be a mixture (no soil) of gravel, stones, flint, coal, charcoal to give drainage, and will be raised a maximum of a metre from the ground. Children's coloured play pit sand together with blue recycled glass will be used for the cacti mulch covering in the 5 beds I'm currently considering using purple sand!’.

What’s in a name?

Tom's own suggestion; 'TheXerophytic House' fell on deaf ears at Lullingstone - most of the volunteers were left wondering what he was going on about. Tom says: 'it's not the first time, I've had my volunteers lost for words! Xerophytic sounds pretty good to me - it means lover of dry and arid climes - but I'm also aware that it's not exactly a catchy name for the new House which will contain over 1,000 species of Cacti and Succulents from across the globe'.

Tom says: ' We'll have lot s of really tall cacti from South America – Cleisto cactus with a big tall colomnus furry spikes. Mexico will hold the thirteen golden Barrel cactus – which were donated by Cactus Jim (Jim Earles from Eltham) thought to be extinct in the wild. The South African border will contain fabulous succulents.'

'Mr Cactus' - Jim Earles, from Eltham - will open the, as yet, unnamed House on Saturday 22nd March - the first day of the 2008 season at Lullingstone Castle & The World Garden.
Lullingstone Castle is currently booking tours of the House and Garden for the 2008 season. Reservations: 01322 862114

Suggestions to: cacti@presscontact.co.uk

Press enquires to: Vikki@presscontact.co.uk
07886673412 or 01322 866293

Tom is available for interview

Lullingstone Castle & The World Garden open on Saturday 22nd March
details www.lullingstonecastle.co.uk Tel: 01322 862114