Autumn visits - Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens

For the last couple of years I've been hearing about a sculpture garden near Penzance but have not got round to visiting. This September my Mum (who's far more knowledgable about Cornwall than I am even though she lives 300 miles away) managed to focus my mind and we set off on a rather dull but dry day.

Tremenheere Sculpture Garden is quite close to the National Dahlia Collection at Varfell Farm, and is slightly buried in the countryside. It's a steep valley garden that open just a few years ago,that's been landscaped with very naturalistic woodland areas and more cultivated areas, all interspersed with Sculpture.

The narrow wooded, approach to the Garden opens out to a more jungly area...

and on to the Chelsea Garden which has beautiful edge laid slate surfaces...

and a lovely lush pond area.
(Yes this is a teen showing an interest in green stuff, don't worry it was fleeting and purely because he was with Granny and not me!)

There's construction area in the quarry space - always a hit with the practical husband... 

right next to Slip of the Lip by Peter Randall-Page, a gorgeous marble piece that needed stroking repeatedly.

The paths meander up the valley on various levels, some of them a bit precipitous. Certainly this is a place for the fairly mobile and active if you want to see it all, although there are routes that are flatter and gentler.

The spectacular view (even on a dull day) from the top of the valley down to St Michaels Mount and the sea...

from the lookout.

The planting is interesting and varied, although not labeled so many lovely things stayed a bit of a mystery, although on visiting the website later I discovered a downloadable plant list for the keen botanist.

The dark tunnel leading too...

the serene space of Tewlwolow Kernow by James Turrell. 

Described as 'an elliptical domed chamber from which to view the sky', it was contemplative and still, a complete contrast to the busy sensory landscape outside.

The view of the sky could have been bluer but it was still very tranquil.

But if you put your phone on the floor on timer to get a better shot when there is a teen about...

this happens! Not so tranquil suddenly.

So onto the Camera Obscura by Billy Wynter nestled in waves of rippling grasses and positioned at the centre of the garden to give a 360 degree view...

and inside the dark space the image cleared as our eyes adjusted to see the teens amongst the soft foliage (and taking a picture on my phone made the image clearer again).

The bees were mad for the Eucomis, and the Aeoniums contrasted with the grasses beautifully in the more exotically planted area around the Camera Obscura...

and in the wooded areas gorgeous sculptures nestled, surrounded by sculptural benches...

on which to sit and contemplate.

So we did!

Then out to the nursery which had a beautiful green roof and a great selection of Aeoniums.

Now back to the cafe, the Tremenheere Kitchen which I can't recommend enough. It has a light airy interior and plenty of seating outside and the food is delicious. We had lunch and usually at this point I would include a shot of something yummy but it all disappeared too quickly.  If you want to check out their autumn lunch menu click here.

And the cafe also had a lovely flower stall with an honesty box in the entrance. The flowers were 'garden-y' and very reasonable.

And to top it off there was a very good gift shop full of lovely and unusual things including the pewter shell bowls used in the Cafe for salt and pepper.

I liked those a lot!