Two Cornish Gardens
I went to Falmouth in Cornwall, over 5 hours by train from London. This seaside resort of over 20,000 is on the southwest coast and benefits from a sub-tropical climate. My primary interest were two nearby gardens : Glendurgan and Trebah.
Both gardens are in valleys which lead down to the Helford River. They are about 4 miles from Falmouth and I went by local bus though the route was so convoluted that it seemed far more than 4 miles.
Both gardens are in valleys which lead down to the Helford River. They are about 4 miles from Falmouth and I went by local bus though the route was so convoluted that it seemed far more than 4 miles.
Glendurgan Garden
Glendurgan is a National Trust property and the efforts of the many gardeners are obvious; the gardens are in immaculate condition. It is well known for its maze. I recently commented that the Maze at the Paris Botanic Garden really did not seem to qualify as a maze. The one at Glendurgan is definitely the real thing, a huge labyrinth of cherry laurel on the slope of the valley. It is over 175 years old and very impressive. I did not go into it because it seemed to be overrun by screaming children but enjoyed the view of it from the other side of the valley.
My favourite tree was the huge (over 120 feet high) tulip tree. Alas, it was not yet in bloom but I suspect the flowers would be so high that they might not be all that visible. The massive trunk spans the path and I had to go to the other side of the valley to get a photo of the tree. The garden has a large collection of tree ferns and by far the most exotic (for me) was a New Zealand slender tree fern. The trunk consists of dead fronds which have turned brown and look polished. The example in these gardens was far superior to any that I saw when checking the Internet for photos of them
My favourite tree was the huge (over 120 feet high) tulip tree. Alas, it was not yet in bloom but I suspect the flowers would be so high that they might not be all that visible. The massive trunk spans the path and I had to go to the other side of the valley to get a photo of the tree. The garden has a large collection of tree ferns and by far the most exotic (for me) was a New Zealand slender tree fern. The trunk consists of dead fronds which have turned brown and look polished. The example in these gardens was far superior to any that I saw when checking the Internet for photos of them
Photos of Glendurgan
Slide show
Trebah Garden
Trebah Gardens was developed in the 1820s and 1830s by a prominent Quaker, Charles Fox. The gardens went into decline on several occasions but in the 1980s the gardens were restored and enhanced by the Hibbert family. They opened the garden to the public in 1987 to help pay for the cost of upkeep and by 1989 visitor numbers had reached 36,000. The Hibbert family then gave the house, garden and cottages to the Trebah Garden Trust, a registered charity with trustees who oversee the management of Trebah. Their sole objective is to ensure that this remarkable garden will be preserved and maintained for the pleasure of future generations.
In my opinion Trebah has the slight edge over Glendurgan because of the remarkable mountain bamboo and the giant rhubarb but its historic connection with the American army also add to the experience. Garden trails lead down to a small beach which has memorials to the US 29th Infantry battalion which departed from this spot in 1944 as part of the D-Day landings in France. Over 7500 soldiers trained in this area.
An unusual feature at Trebah is the Bamboozle, a maze through the 40 varieties of bamboo which thrive in the sub-tropical climate. My favourite (and well worth a visit to the garden) is the ‘Pitt White’ bamboo (Yusharia Anceps). It is very tall and the most striking feature is that the leaves are so dense and heavy that the canes arch over, creating a cascade effect. This really is one of the most striking plants I’ve seen in many garden visits. I also enjoyed the nearby giant Rhubarb which looked so primitive that I would not have been surprised to see a dinosaur head popping out at the top. The gardens have a large cafeteria with a wide choice of light meals, a nice way to finish my visit there.
In my opinion Trebah has the slight edge over Glendurgan because of the remarkable mountain bamboo and the giant rhubarb but its historic connection with the American army also add to the experience. Garden trails lead down to a small beach which has memorials to the US 29th Infantry battalion which departed from this spot in 1944 as part of the D-Day landings in France. Over 7500 soldiers trained in this area.
An unusual feature at Trebah is the Bamboozle, a maze through the 40 varieties of bamboo which thrive in the sub-tropical climate. My favourite (and well worth a visit to the garden) is the ‘Pitt White’ bamboo (Yusharia Anceps). It is very tall and the most striking feature is that the leaves are so dense and heavy that the canes arch over, creating a cascade effect. This really is one of the most striking plants I’ve seen in many garden visits. I also enjoyed the nearby giant Rhubarb which looked so primitive that I would not have been surprised to see a dinosaur head popping out at the top. The gardens have a large cafeteria with a wide choice of light meals, a nice way to finish my visit there.
Photos of Trebah
The fine print
Website for Glendurgan Gardens :
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-glendurgangarden.htm
More information on tulip trees :
http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/l/lirtul/lirtul1.html
Website for Trebah Gardens :
http://www.trebahgarden.co.uk/
More information on that fantastic bamboo :
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=2062
Date of travel: August 2011
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-glendurgangarden.htm
More information on tulip trees :
http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/l/lirtul/lirtul1.html
Website for Trebah Gardens :
http://www.trebahgarden.co.uk/
More information on that fantastic bamboo :
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=2062
Date of travel: August 2011
