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July Garden diary – Hortus Conclusus and Garden Design

July 30, 2019

For this July’s garden diary I take a look at hortus look at the different aspect in the garden designs at Ednovean Farm. Follow our garden’s journey into high summer as it evolves through the enclosed and open gardens. I came also come across the intriguing term Hortus Conclusus recently in glossy magazines – what could it mean!?

Enclosed courtyard garden with fountain and crossed paths - hortus conclusus
The central courtyard garden at Ednovean Farm – a version of Hortus conclusus

The meaning of Hortus conclusus

Isn’t it a lovely term: – Hortus conclusus!  I’ve noticed bandied about in glossy magazines and books and how it beguiles and intrigues me, so I thought I would look it up

“Hortus conclusus is a Latin term, meaning literally “enclosed garden”. At their root, both of the words in Hortus conclusus refer linguistically to enclosure. “Wikipedia

Daisies and palm trees in garden landscape - July Garden diary
Sweeping lawns embrace the sea and countryside beyond the garden. the though Cordylines literally comb the wind to shelter the inner courtyards

Ah well, I had hoped that this might mean the triumph of the garden, so perhaps conveying a sense of arriving at the garden’s conclusion or dramatic culmination of ideas but no, sadly not. Maybe I shouldn’t have looked it up! Still undaunted this month’s garden diary is concentrating on the contrast between the enclosed garden with a Medieval vibe (according to my limited research) and the more open landscaped garden

Enclosed and open gardens - evolving garden designs
The sheltered courtyard gardens lead to the open lawns at Ednovean Farm

Hortus conclusus and garden design in our courtyards

The main courtyard at Ednovean is a perfect example of the early garden design, with crossed paths of the parterre dissecting the area, with a fountain in at the centre. this idea was popular in Medieval times.

Gateway to an open garden

The courtyard gardens at Ednovean farm open to a natural terrace of lawns overlooking the sweep of Mounts bay.


The Ednovean Garden in three parts

Enclosed courtyard garden with Date palms at Ednovean Farm
The box parterre in the courtyard is perking up now, it was hard pruned to try to eliminate box blight and improve air flow
July garden diary - raised terraced in the Ednovean courtyard garden
Early July on the wide gravel terrace above the Parterre

Our garden treads the line between two garden camps. Exploring the idea of whether to garden within a view and the prevailing weather conditions or choose garden within an enclosure and ensuing microclimates created there. Let’s start with the enclosed courtyards around the house that we sculpted from the old farmyards.

The hot border colours of early summer - July garden diary fo Ednovean Farm
Lawns swirl across the hillside beyond the enclosed courtyards with borders dressed in the hot colours of summer

These courtyards lead in turn to the swathe of lawns overlooking the lovely sea views over Mounts Bay that we so enjoy, until finally urns beckon us back to the enclosure of the Italian Garden. Here a series of lawned enclosed gardens wait to be discovered, sheltered from the sea breezes and trapping the heat of the day. So in away the garden travels in a full circle to Hortus conclusus.

Urns flank the entrance to the Italian Garden tempting our guests onwards to explore


July a diary of the Garden in summer

Enclosed formal garden with sundial
Those wonderful summer evening that stretch onwards for ever – Evening sunshine in the sundial garden

July itself is a wonderful conclusion for the garden – the peak of flowing with a hot palette of reds and oranges now giving way to an approaching tide of cool blue and white Agapanthus.

Hot summer colours in the July garden borders = ednovean garden diary


Agapanthus the stars of the summer garden

Our Agapanthus have certainly made their feelings know about the almost unknown freezing conditions we had when the Beast from the East came to call and February’s golden days turned to ice and snow. Mind you last years Mediterranean summer was amazing one to treasure!

 Agapanthus in teh July garden
Early morning delight as the first of the day’s sunshine catch the Agapanthus

But back to the Agapanthus – after a years sulking and gloomily growing more and more leaves – they have now sprung back into life producing towering shoulder height blooms the size of dinner plates. You know in a way it has almost been worth the wait!

Related

About Christine Taylor

Christine has written a weekly blog about life at Ednovean Farm and interesting places to visit in West Cornwall for over ten years now, concentrating on those off the beaten track places that only the locals find.

Charles and Christine Taylor have hosted Luxury Bed and Breakfast at Ednovean Farm Nr Penzance in West Cornwall since 1991 and live there with three cats and five horses, including a Spanish Stallion called Danni.

Ednovean Farm has been awarded AA five star gold for Bed and breakfast and is included in The Michelin Guide and The Alastair Sawday Guide .

The Farmhouse and gardens has been featured in BBC Homes and Antiques, Homes and Gardens. Period Living and 25 Beautiful Homes as well as being used as a film and photo shoot location.

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Christine and Charles Taylor,
Ednovean Farm, Ednovean Lane,
Perranuthnoe, Nr Penzance,
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