Latest news with #TomHartDyke
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Exotic plant blooms for first time in world garden
An exotic plant from Mexico has flowered for the first time in more than 15 years after being donated to a Kent tourist attraction. The Nolina hibernica was collected from a mountainous region by plant hunter Paul Spracklin and given to The World Garden at Lullingstone Castle in Kent in 2009. The 3.6m-tall (11.8ft) plant started flowering in late May. Botanist Tom Hart Dyke, who created the garden in 2005, said the plant has had "the perfect conditions to flourish and flower due to the spring sunshine and current hot conditions". He added: "This plant is rarely seen flowering anywhere other than in Mexico. "It's a really tough plant to grow. It has survived several really cold winters. "This large flower spike is polycarpic so will flower again." Nolina hibernica originates from high altitudes between 2400m (7,874ft) and 3200m (10,498ft) in the Pena Nevada mountain range in Mexico. It grows up to 6m (19.6ft) in its native range, often towering over much of the other vegetation, and has a "fountain-like quality to its foliage". Mr Spracklin, who brought the plant to the UK in 2004, said it was now "the finest example of the species I have seen outside of Mexico". Mr Hart Dyke added: "At the end of each leaf it seems to die back. "But when you look at it closely it really is ornate. "It needed to be mature to flower and have the right weather conditions." During nine months in captivity in South America in 2000 Tom Hart Dyke planned a garden which would contain plants "laid out in the shape of a world map according to their continent of origin". Five years later his vision became a reality at his family home near Eynsford. The World Garden, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, continues to grow, with many rare and important botanical plants added to its collection. It currently contains 8,000 species. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. World garden dreamt up during nine-month captivity 'Unusual' ginger flowers for first time at garden Outstanding poppy season at tourist attraction The World Garden
BBC News
17 hours ago
- BBC News
Exotic plant blooms for first time in Kent's world garden
An exotic plant from Mexico has flowered for the first time in more than 15 years after being donated to a Kent tourist Nolina hibernica was collected from a mountainous region by plant hunter Paul Spracklin and given to The World Garden at Lullingstone Castle in Kent in 2009. The 3.6m-tall (11.8ft) plant started flowering in late May. Botanist Tom Hart Dyke, who created the garden in 2005, said the plant has had "the perfect conditions to flourish and flower due to the spring sunshine and current hot conditions". He added: "This plant is rarely seen flowering anywhere other than in Mexico."It's a really tough plant to grow. It has survived several really cold winters."This large flower spike is polycarpic so will flower again." Nolina hibernica originates from high altitudes between 2400m (7,874ft) and 3200m (10,498ft) in the Pena Nevada mountain range in Mexico. It grows up to 6m (19.6ft) in its native range, often towering over much of the other vegetation, and has a "fountain-like quality to its foliage".Mr Spracklin, who brought the plant to the UK in 2004, said it was now "the finest example of the species I have seen outside of Mexico". Mr Hart Dyke added: "At the end of each leaf it seems to die back. "But when you look at it closely it really is ornate."It needed to be mature to flower and have the right weather conditions." During nine months in captivity in South America in 2000 Tom Hart Dyke planned a garden which would contain plants "laid out in the shape of a world map according to their continent of origin".Five years later his vision became a reality at his family home near Eynsford. The World Garden, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, continues to grow, with many rare and important botanical plants added to its currently contains 8,000 species.
BBC News
16-03-2025
- BBC News
Kent exotic garden dreamt up during nine-month captivity
Botanist Tom Hart Dyke's life changed forever on 16 March 2000 when he was kidnapped by Colombian guerrillas while hunting for orchids. During his nine-month captivity in South America the 24-year-old plant hunter planned a garden which would contain plants "laid out in the shape of a world map according to their continent of origin".Five years later his vision became a reality when The World Garden opened to the public in the grounds of his family's home, Lullingstone Castle, near Eynsford in Kent. Mr Hart Dyke said: "Creating the garden to pass the time in captivity kept me sane. It saved my life." The botanist, who was locked up along with his friend Paul Winder, said: "At one point my captives said 'we are going to kill you. You've got five hours to live'."We vanished for nine months. The first thing my family knew was when I was released."The World Garden, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, continues to grow, with many rare and important botanical plants added to its currently contains 8,000 species. Mr Hart Dyke said: "Colombia made me who I am. It made me realise to live each day to the full."In hindsight, I look back and am actually gratefully to our captors as without them I would never have my beautiful garden. "It means so much to me." The botanist said he was looking forward to "a season of celebrating and welcoming people and telling them our incredible story". He said: "The fact that the garden is such a success makes me brim with pride. "I love getting visitors from all over the world coming to our small corner of Kent."We even get Colombians who apologise on behalf of their country for what happened to me."
