Covering just under two acres the garden was started from scratch in 2007. The garden in front of the house has a large area of very wet ground – very difficult to cultivate. Since this is North Cornwall rainfall levels are high, and rain persistent. Being potty about plants it hasn’t put me off!
The house used to be a Vicarage. It was immediately obvious to me that the front door lined up with the church tower, so a double line of hornbeam is being pleached to emphasise the view to the church and break up the area. The collection of double primroses is planted out around the garden; they relish the wet conditions. Pre- First World War herbaceous peonies are a new passion and are rapidly taking over what was originally intended to be vegetable garden. A greenhouse heated in winter contains Nerine sarniensis, species and other pelargonium, while the cold greenhouse has species nerines and narcissus.
Latest Diary Entry
An unbelievably wet start to the New Year. It seems to have been nothing but gales and driving rain recently. But still plants carry on quite happily. Its not a surprise to see Narcissus ‘Rijnveld’s Early Sensation’ in flower before the turn of the year but I was surprised to see the tazetta ‘Cuscarne’. There is quite a lot going on around the garden. Camellias – transnokoensis and grijsii as well as a double white hybrid are flowering. C. transnokoensis is a real favourite of mine. The lovely Daphne I bought from Junkers in the Spring seems to be settling in nicely. Lots of lovely white fragrant flowers. Its one of their own breeding called ‘Cobhay Snow’. Hellebores are just getting started and all the usual early snowdrops are out. I have started a short Spring Walk along the bottom of the garden partly because I wanted somewhere to plant more Hamamelis. I was able to use some of the good soil from my huge weed heap that was opened up when I had a small digger in to remove some hedging. I think this may become quite an interesting area. Hellebores and daffodils have been planted and for later in the year some species peonies.
Now I am looking forward to better weather so I can get on with weeding and getting the garden ready for the new gardening year.
More Diary Entries →