#Trebah Gardens

[frimleyblogger]

Mainbrace Cornish Dry Gin

Splice the mainbrace with a #gin designed to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee from @MainbraceRum which I bought during a recent visit to @DrinkfinderUK

One of my favourite things to do after a visit to the gardens at Glendurgan and Trebah near Mawnam Smith on the Helford estuary is to pop into The Ferry Boat Inn, sit outside with a pint of foaming ale and watch the little boats sail up and down and across the river. It was such a moment that inspired the birth of Mainbrace Distillery, specifically when Richard Haigh, a co-founder, saw a member…

[riverbanktalks]

[cryptid-stimming]

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[Image description:

Two gifs of someone walking beneath large Gunnera Manicata plants in Trebah Garden (Cornwall, UK). The plants look like giant rhubarb, stretching upwards and creating a tunnel underneath their large leaves. Sunlight and shadows play on the ground as the person walks.

End of image description.]

[eddy25960]

The Spectacular Trebah Garden Cornwall England

They are like Monet's Garden.

[elizaakatee]

Trebah Gardens, Cornwall

[amorgansgal]

For the ask!

1) What’s your favorite place you’ve been to in Britain, and why?

2.) What’s your favorite memory with your fiancé?

3.) What’s your favorite way to spend an evening out?

Probably Trebah Gardens in Cornwall. It is amazing and there's a beach right at the bottom of it and it's just such a beautiful place to go.

Him making me laugh hysterically in the car (don't worry I wasn't driving). He comes up with very unique expressions, so rather than say 'I was packed in like a sardine' he'll instead say 'I'm getting rather annoyed at not having enough room! I'm like an angry anchovy!' and it never fails to make me laugh hysterically. On that occasion he described something chaotic as 'A pig rolling down a hill into a china shop!' and I nearly choked with laughter.

Always like going to the theatre, so if I'm heading out somewhere in the evening it's usually to see a show!

Thank you @vanillasakura <3

[jefferyseow]

throwback Trebah Gardens, Falmouth 2016

[tintinntabuli]

Clotted Cream and Rant Reunions: A Letter to The Midwest

Behind posts, articles, conferences and social media, there’s a backstory. Have you kept up with the digital correspondence between Ranters Scott Beuerlein and Marianne Willburn? You can start here, or go back and find the entire correspondence at Dear Gardener.

Lovettsville, VA

June 29, 2023

Dear Scott,

If you saw the state of my office and house right now, you’d stop endlessly complaining on Facebook about needing a personal assistant, and feel pretty damned good about the chaos swirling around you.

When it comes to my personal account, I can’t call myself a ‘Facebook User’ as much as a ‘Facebook Lurker,’ which is why I didn’t comment on that particular moan. Also, the last time I dared to comment on one of your posts, the Meta Gods said my remark violated their community standards and logged one black mark against an otherwise sterling social credit score, which is probably now globally matched to my retinal scan thanks to Heathrow Airport and OpenAI. Granted, I do want to violate some sort of standard at least once before I die – but over something a lot juicer than witticisms on your latest ear infection.

I have owed you a letter for some time; but I did tell you to take my last apology for the same offense with a grain of salt. I’ve been abroad to visit friends in the UK and meet Anne and Charles for the first time, scout gardens for guided tours next year, drink copiously, and eat a lot of clotted cream.

A lot of clotted cream. As in, Cream on Cream (community standards be damned). And gin on gin. And wine on wine. And such good wine. In such beautiful settings. I believe there was also some champagne involved at one point. Two points. And the cream of course.

I ate that. I ate that and I would eat it again. Clotted cream on cheesecake with a pot of ice cream to wash it all down. Berries were for included for reasons of health.

Which means that I got back home and went on a masochistic diet at precisely the same time I had to face a mountain of work and cope with a flare of up of the chronic Lyme disease that hangs out in my body waiting for me to abuse my immune system. For abuse my immune system I did – admirably. (See above.)

Not the brightest idea, but I’ve had worse. Disavowing clotted cream wasn’t an issue as we can’t get anything approaching it here – hell, our heavy cream is thinner than the stuff they give to stray cats in Cornwall – but not to have a fine glass of red while watching the sun go down after a day slinging dirt and words – yes, that stung.

The letter I started to write to you mid-crash diet tasted mildly of bitterness and self-recrimination; but now that I have decided that fourteen days is quite enough, and my immune system is slowly shifting into gear, things are looking up. I think I’ll have a modest glass tonight.

The UK has been having the same drought conditions that we are both experiencing in our corners of the US – and hose pipe bans were in effect in several counties – probably all of them by this point. I drove just under a thousand miles, the classical strains of Radio 3 calming the nerves at left-entry roundabouts and right turns. I still have my UK driving license, but it takes a few days to remember the feel of a gear shift in the left hand.

The hawthorns and rhododendrons were off the charts in both Wales and Cornwall. Simply glorious. After a quick night in London and a walk around Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Gardens with Dixter symposium buddy Adam Stolter, I stayed with an old friend in mid- Wales and visited Hergest Croft Gardens in Herefordshire. I simply couldn’t believe how magnificent the rhodos were. We wandered through forests of them until we came across a pond filled with the lush foliage of skunk cabbage and gunnera – reminding me that I’ve got to get some skunk cabbage started here.

Lysichiton americanus (Western skunk cabbage) at Trebah Gardens in Cornwall. I love both the Eastern and the Western skunk cabbage, so it is ridiculous I don’t have it in a moist part of the garden. It’s invasive in the UK.

When you’re not all that into rhodos (and I’m not – they hate my soil), and you find yourself struck dumb (in my case that’s a feat in itself), they’ve got to be pretty good.

There were some gorgeous colors, but I was smitten by this white rhodo at absolute peak.

Rhodos, gunnera and ferns in a garden that leads down to the sea… Trebah Gardens in Falmouth

And then closer toward the English border to Anne and Charles in Chepstow and their fascinating garden The Veddw, where we sat and ate moreish chunks of cheese and fourteen cups of strong tea, and every five minutes or so, exclaimed “THAT would make a great Rant.” The cheese is the other reason for the crash diet. And the fish and chips that Charles pre-ordered from their local chippy that night. It turned out to be one of four I would eat over the next two weeks.

Anne and Charles and the scene of much chatter.

What a joy to meet them both and compare garden writing, garden photography and the horticultural industry in general, in both countries. And discuss the challenges they had in creating what is an excellent, compelling garden. A garden that – no surprise here – makes you think. The little railway carriage that Charles renovated up for guests (paying or otherwise!) is uniquely wonderful.

The next day, Anne and I visited the nearby Wye Valley Sculpture Garden and sat at the top of it by an odd little reflecting pool, looking out towards the ruins of Tintern Abbey of Wordsworth fame. We breathed in the thick scent of a nearby Philadelphus and discussed the tricky balance of writing, and speaking, and touring, and, perhaps most importantly, finding a good amount of time to work (and learn!) in one’s garden. Which is, after all, the point. And then a slap-up meal in England 10 minutes away, across the Severn Bridge. Charles’ new Volvo has bendy headlights that anticipated the curves on the dark ride home. Very cool.

That is the other reason my letter is so late – that “finding a good amount of time to work in one’s garden” thing. Ten acres of one’s garden to be exact. I played hooky throughout the month of May, pretending that I didn’t need to do a thousand things at my desk, from website work to tour planning to a new book project, and just stayed outside.

This is the type of stuff I want more time to do – showcasing some of what’s blooming in the garden during each week of the season. Kira does a beautiful job of this for you at the Zoo, but I’ll skip the plant tags for time’s sake.

I got all the tender plants in, pruned shrubs in new and interesting ways, staked perennials in boring but necessary ways, and weeded late into the nights. And then I took a deep breath, and rolled up the black fabric holding back the weeds in the kitchen garden, and explained the plan for the raised beds to Michael with the hopes that he might, possibly, slap a bed or two together while I was gone. I had hoped to finish this renovation three years ago, but there is only so much time and we are stretched thin.

He did more than slap one together it turns out. He took all that Marine Corps toxic masculinity and directed it at that space – building all ten beds and spreading the stone dust I’d conveniently and evilly had delivered before I left. It looks fantastic, but we still need to fill the beds, build the cold frames, the gathering platform, and the compost dividers, spread pea gravel, install electricity in the greenhouse, and, of course, plant up the beds. Still, this is a major, MAJOR, hurdle accomplished. I am very grateful. He is very sore. Here’s a quick video.

(Now THAT’s something we couldn’t have put into the letters of yesteryear!)

I’d go into further rapturous details over the gardens I saw in Cornwall, the Burgundy I consumed, the conversations I subsequently had, and the walks I took over moorland and coastal cliff, but it would only make you envious and sulky. So I won’t.

Looking out over Bodmin Moor in Cornwall. Blossoming hawthorns blown sideways from prevailing winds.

A bouquet I made celebrating the wildness and beauty of Cornwall.

The Lily Pond at Cothele House and Garden.

The subtropical vibe of Cornish Gardens is strong, and provided by that lovely Gulf Stream we waft over their way….

A maze in the valley at Glendurgan.

But I will just add that on my way back toward London and several gardens therein, I spent a full day at RHS Wisley – which was fantastic as always. They’ve opened up a new Science Center, Library and three new gardens as of 2021, and my day ended on the highest of notes when I found Tropical Plants and How to Love Them in their beautiful new reference library. Obviously an excuse for a celebratory glass of Prosecco and a pot of mint chocolate chip ice cream in the café that looks out upon the Glasshouse Landscape designed by Tom Stuart-Smith.

Man I earned this diet.

The old laboratory at RHS Wisley. You need one of these at the Zoo. Full disclosure, my book wasn’t in this beautiful building.

But it was in here…

Definitely worth a pot of mint chocolate chip ice cream.

The main borders at Wisley were almost completely empty by the end of a long hot day. Result.

On the home front, I hear you got Hans Hansen to speak at the Zoo’s upcoming Plant Trials Symposium during one of his busiest months. Well done. He did say last year that you were a charmer. That’s one word for it. I’m going to try my best to get out for it – what fun we had last year!

You have been busy – very busy – as I see in my capacity as a FB Lurker. Please rest assured that I wasn’t bitter over you speaking to the 1000+ audience members of the International Master Gardener’s Conference in Kansas City, as I can only assume they must have misplaced my speaker sheet in the frantic booking process and were forced to seek an easily available option.

Don’t they know I’ve got a book in Wisley’s library? I trust you ensured they had all my details for next year. Good man.

Yours,

Marianne

P.S. In my lurking I discovered you have been reverting to vodka with your tonic. Have I taught you nothing? Vodka is for starting land wars in Europe, not holding intelligent conversations with Michele after a long day. That’s a job for gin.

Clotted Cream and Rant Reunions: A Letter to The Midwest originally appeared on GardenRant on June 29, 2023.

The post Clotted Cream and Rant Reunions: A Letter to The Midwest appeared first on GardenRant.

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[lmuurpress]

Seeing Japan in Cornwall!

[I was driving around Cornwall when suddenly, I had this reminiscing feeling like I was right back in Japan. While I was there in Japan to meet the World-renowned figure and one of Japan’s National Treasure in the bodily form of the Japanese male named Hatsumi Masaaki (Dr.), the Soke/Grandmaster of the organization called Bujinkan or Ninjutsu. Anyway, as we continue, I was staying in an area called Yokohama and during the spring time I went to the national gathering at the given coordinates of 35.7155° North & 139.7741° East. This is the beautiful environmental location in Tokyo City, named Ueno Park. In both Japanese locations, it would be very easy to see a resemblance of Cornwall via the majestic view of blossoming cherry blooming.

Some of the more famous areas of Cornwall known for its socially imported Cherry blossoming tree culture are Bodmin, Gorran, Mawnan Smith, Penzance, St Austell, St Mawgan, Torpoint, and around the Truro area. While some acreages of majestic viewing can be found in these illustrious & splendid spots of Cornwall, they are Lanhydrock Garden which has a historical site, Antony Woodland Garden which is a Botanical Garden in the southeast zone of Cornwall. The 19th Century area is called Trewidden Gardens which is a must go for those who are passionate about Camellias, Magnolias, Azaleas and Tree Ferns. Caerhays Castle Gardens and Trebah Garden as well as an actual Japanese in St Mawgan reflects the cultural passion for seed migration.

While my wonderful Japan flashbacks were due to the awe-inspiring sightings of Cherry Blossoming trees. Incidentally, the Japanese tree setting gardens are not the only gardens in Cornwall. The Glendurgan Garden, have a mystical mesmerizing effect upon the body, one would absently forget that they are still in Cornwall, England, because of the sub-tropical floral experience & the exposure to the coastal zone of the Atlantic. What I saw missing in my reminiscing in the land of the rising sun, while I was captivated by the Blossoming Cherry trees, I was saddened I didn’t see any bonsai trees like when I was in the port city of Yokohama. I’ve just realized that both Cornwall and Yokohama are both environmental areas located near the coastal zones.

My stay in Japan was short nevertheless, I’ve the memories for this lifetime & I met some wonderful people there both Japanese and non-Japanese as well. One night when I was walking/journeying around on the streets of Tokyo, an African from Senegal approached me while pretending to be a Jamaican, he was utterly shocked that I could tell from his accenting dialogue that he was a Senegalese. Back then the year was 1998 and I made a small gentleman’s one dollar bet with a wealthy Japanese male and won; the bet was, Jamaica would beat Japan in the World Cup soccer/football matchup. Yeah, driving around Cornwall brought back many memories of an amazing life-experience that some individuals have told me that they wished they had lived.

Maybe this publication and the regaling narrative will inspire others from Cornwall or the rest of the world to take a springtime trip to the land once called Nippon and there they’d see the blossoming cherry trees!]

L-Muur Press P3 PLAY! Journeying Fieldwork! Ne Plus Ultra!

JUS COGENS ERGA OMNES! SELF-DETERMINATION FLOWING TO ALL!

[yagetaway]

Trebah Garden Bridge, Cornwall.

[frimleyblogger]

Rosemullion Dry Gin

A distinctive take on a dry gin from Rosemullion Distillery, purchased on a recent visit to @DrinkfinderUK @CornishPure #gin #ginreview

The area around Mawnam Smith in western Cornwall is one of my favourite spots, boasting two wonderful gardens in Trebah and Glendurgan, the fabulous Helford river, and the Ferryboat Inn and is home to a proudly independent and innovative distillery, Rosemullion, which takes its name from the nearby Head. As well as gins, they distil rums and whisky. I have already tried (and reviewed) their…

[introvertedpedant]

King Stannis Baratheon is continuing to survey the Cornish coast for potential ports.

[agavex]

Trebah Garden, Cornwall. November 2019.

[dedanaan]

Trebah Garden

[letsdiscoverkitty]

Cornwall 2018: A few little snaps from the week

[findmytrip]

Travel to United Kingdom

Travel to United Kingdom

The United Kingdom (UK) is a country that is a union of the countries on the island of Great Britain .British culture is influenced by the combined nations history . the capital of United Kingdom is London and its globally influential center of finance and culture. United Kingdom is one of the famous tourist country with Millions of visitors per year(40 Million visitors). 10 Top Tourist…