Category Archives: Ednovean Farm’s garden through the seasons

A monthly update of the gardens at Ednovean Farm in West Cornwall in a climate warmed by the Gulf stream. Follow our garden as we travel through the seasons and explore the Mediterranean style planting in our courtyards, formal parterre, Italian Gardens and visit the wild untamed corners.

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The first of the winter’s gales

Gravel terrace at Ednovean Farm after the rain

Louis cat setting off across the top terrace after the rain

The first gale of winter roared in this week and the term “storm lashed bay” springs to mind as I watched the white topped waves sped across the bay beyond the garden. Yet for me there was something intriguing about the motion in the garden that was suddenly brought to life, as the restless wind buffeted the foliage. I spent a few minutes recording the motion of the plants to share with you this week and an awful lot longer wrestling with YouTube! Continue reading “The first of the winter’s gales” »

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October and Autumn approaches in the Ednovean Farm Garden

Miscanthus and Pampas grass

Miscanthus grass in the Italian Garden

We are approaching autumn in our gardens at Ednovean farm now and slowly I’ve noticed the changes in the season as autumn approaches as I’ve watched the birds twist and curl above the garden in a tightly grouped flock with the swift sure movements that are part of the unchanging rhythm of the seasons. Just as surely as I occasionally hear the sound of the sea drifting over the garden with just a little more insistence, or watch Spud with soft white paws treading the golden leaves of autumn that flutter on the lane, as he returns from important cat business abroad. I know each day the signs grow larger that mark the autumn days that lay ahead of us and yet the garden is still full of promise as the flourishing  grasses bring an unexpected tawny-red glow to the borders. Continue reading “October and Autumn approaches in the Ednovean Farm Garden” »

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The September garden

St Michael's Mount at sunset from Ednovean Farm garden

Dramatic foliage framing St Michael’s Mount at sunset looking across Mounts bay from our garden

I think I fell in love with the garden again this morning. The lines of newly emerged pampas plumes became almost iridescent in the morning sunshine in an ever repeating pattern marching down the garden and I was once again instantly smitten by their quiet majesty. This month’s photos were inspired by the play of light and dappled shadows around the garden and of course the beautiful blue of the sea that frames our days here at Ednovean farm. Continue reading “The September garden” »

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Ednovean Farm’s garden in August

Cornish garden

The sinuous curves of the sunken lawn give the green promise of a garden walk

As I walked across the dew laden lawn this morning to feed the mares I heard the lazy flop of the waves landing on the shore from the beach far below and realised that the season was subtly moving onwards. So for my final garden diary for August I’ve explored the different garden areas from the sheltered formal courtyards to the sweeping lawns; from the pathways that weave their way through the plants or meander into a tiny clearing; from a small froth of frou frou flowers to the elegant spare architectural shapes. This month I’ve tried to capture a little of the atmosphere of the living breathing garden as it progresses through the seasons. Continue reading “Ednovean Farm’s garden in August” »

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The August garden – A window into summer

Agapathus and Fennel below a shelter belt of Palms

Agapanthus and Fennel frame the entrance to the small formal sundial garden beyond the main terrace

The August garden at Ednovean Farm is a window into a summer’s day this month, unfolding gently chapter by chapter with each day that has dawned. This month I’ve watched the dancing sunlight on the foliage and felt the warm sultry shadows of mid summer. This month the garden has seen the whole unpredictable yet satisfying drama of the summer days played out in this window into summer and so I thought I’d start my garden diary early too, just in case the camera should suddenly give up its task of recording our days! Continue reading “The August garden – A window into summer” »

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Ednovean Farm in this months Homes and Gardens

Ednovean Farm in Homes and Gardens

The view from the Apricot bedrooms private terrace is the opening photo for the article

 

“Spectacular views of St Michael’s Mount vie with bold architectural planting and neatly clipped green rooms in this exotic Cornish Garden” Carole Drake, September 2015 Homes and Gardens.

I’m so excited to tell you that Ednovean Farm gardens are in Homes and Gardens this month (September issue) ! I mentioned it the other day in my blog “Don’t put your daughter on the Stage Mrs Worthington” after this years interior shoot. Carole Drake came here to take the photos for this magazine feature, last September –  magazines work so far ahead.  I’ve already bought two copies of course. I think our B&B guests are stocking up too, with copies of the glossy magazine as a lovely souvenir of their stay at Ednovean Farm. Continue reading “Ednovean Farm in this months Homes and Gardens” »

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July in the Ednovean Farm Garden

Ednovean farm and Echiums frame the lawn

Golden Oat grass frames the urns with the sweep of the lawn beyond

Ah July and the garden begins to party. Our usual contrasting leaf shapes and textures have been joined by an explosion of colour this month in celebration of the zenith of the year. I’m afraid though I must now admit that the photos will be few and far between for this months diary ad our camera has had a minor hiccup and only took black photos –true it has been ailing for a while but this month it finally succumbed to a version of Canon Berrie Berrie and is in intensive care at the camera hospital even as we speak. Still maybe I can describe the garden to you this month in its summer finery along with the few photos I did manage Continue reading “July in the Ednovean Farm Garden” »

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Life in the Gulf Stream

View over formal Parterre and sub tropical planting

Early morning and I peek down on the parterre in our courtyard garden lined with Date Palms

We are so lucky to live on the West Cornwall Peninsula. The most south westerly peninsular in Britain warmed by the Gulf Stream – the warm air that flows from the Caribbean north east towards Europe and that lends us this unique sub tropical climate. Yet each day as I look down over the courtyard in the morning I still admire the Date Palms for their arching beauty and their ability to transport my imagination to anywhere in the world. Continue reading “Life in the Gulf Stream” »

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June in the Ednovean Farm Garden

Formal courtyard garden at Ednovean Farm

I looked down on the courtyard garden early this morning and was pleased to see the hedges improving!

June has been a wonderful month for the garden here at Ednovean farm, with the sun almost dancing in the garden’s shadows. The long dry spell has suited our planting of drought loving and grey leafed plants perfectly here in our seaside garden. This month more of the garden furniture has had a bright new makeover, more unruly hedges have been almost tamed into submission and I completed a tiny new garden project. Continue reading “June in the Ednovean Farm Garden” »

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A summer evening

A summer border int eh garden at Ednovean Farm

The soft golden light as the day fades to evening in our garden

“There is something very comforting about a summers’ evening in Cornwall” Charles remarked tonight as we sat in the garden and he’s right – there is something quintessentially British about sitting in the fading light as a long summer evening meets the night. It brings those half remembered impressions of past summers back to the forefront of our memories– those symbols that say summer in big bold letters. The chiming of a church clock perhaps, or the golden light of early evening, maybe anticipating the prospect of barbeques on the beach –all these things add up to summer days that stretch on seemingly forever as unbelievable we approach the longest day of the year. Continue reading “A summer evening” »