Winter may come to Cornwall occasionally but it rarely lingers for longer than a day or two. The fresh growth of spring can always be found around the gardens, a lingering promise of sparkling days fast approaching.
It’s a promise met when the first daffodils open around Christmas time. They lead a nodding golden tide that spreads across the gardens. Our Ednovean winter has changed from winter to spring in the blink of an eye, as we’ve been busy setting up the garden ready for our bed and breakfast guests to enjoy.
Winter to Spring in the blink of an eye?
We’ve woken up to a rare snow flurry just once this year. I was so excited I rushed outside before dawn to take some snaps. The fiery dawn skies were reflected towards the west across Mounts bay. Maybe enough for next year’s Christmas card?
There’s been an occasional frost that has transformed the Italian Gardens with an icing sugar frosting. On other days we’ve taken some time to sit and bask in the sunshine in the south facing arbour. Our garden world that changes from winter to spring in the blink of an eye!
Winter jobs
This winter has been a perfect time to really take stock of the Ednovean farm gardens.
Hence we’ve taken advantage of the long drought to rethink parts of the garden that had expanded way beyond their remit.
Would you believe that Cornwall is still under hosepipe restrictions?
This winter has shot passed in a flurry of pruning and raking, with occasional resorts to down right assaults with a chain saw.
The front hedge that has grown with abandoned has been radically lowered to restore the views. At the moment it’s going to become a race to finish it before the birds start to claim their nesting sites.
This year’s biggest winter job! Revamping the carpark
Pampas wars
Yet I think that it’s been the war on the pampas grasses, which were overtaking the car park entrance that has proved the most satisfying. I think that I might have mentioned it in my recent Porthleven blog – several times probably!
Well it’s surprising how standing back and really looking at the gardens progress sometimes can bring about some home truths! Finally, the slate Ednovean Farm sign can be seen once more, ready to welcome our guests!
Gravel edging
Now the Date Palms have been pruned of old fronds to lift their crowns, two overgrown Pampas have been removed and the lawn and path neatly edged with the residue of granite pavers. This has let new light in and given a broadly smiling welcome to our entrance for the coming year.
Spring comes early to Cornwall
Spring they say “Comes early to Cornwall” well indeed it does with the first spring daffodils bursting into flower in January.
In fact this year has been a wonderful year for the swathes of narcissi that inhabit the lower gardens. They’re just far enough away to make a spring garden walk and then fade away discreetly as spring turns to summer.
I hope that you’ve enjoyed a peak into our garden jobs for the winter Garden diary at Ednovean Farm. Remember you can find almost daily updates through our Social Media in both our Instagram and Facebook pages.
Of course if you’d like to walk amongst those daffodils yourself, why not try one of our special three day break offers ? Or even take a flying two day break, exclusively available for our Apricot Bedroom this spring.
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