Magical Music in May

Saturday saw the lovely Magical Music in May event at Polgwynne in Feock. The garden is always gorgeous and opens each year for the NGS, but this year Amanda and Graham did it differently. They had areas within the gardens as musical stages to showcase the work of the Cornwall Music Service Trust for which they were raising money.

As we approached strains of music floated out to meet us and, although the weather wasn't as brilliant as it could have been, the scene was set.

The Pond Garden had glorious combinations of plant colour and texture (above - Maple and Hosta and Candelabra Primula) and drifting piano and brass music (I honestly wasn't trying to cover the horn player with a tree, but I did a great job of it - sorry!)

The new terraced bank creates a perfect performance space for, on this occasion, a great Jazz ensemble...

which accompanied us all the way to the cutting garden...

full of Peonies, delicate Alliums and silvery Nepeta and vibrant Ranunculus.

How I wish those Peonies had been a bit further on - there were hundreds of buds in different shades and they are one of my all time favourites.

Again the textures were fabulous - strappy leaves with vibrant pompoms of Marigolds' and green patchworks of House Leek rosettes, feathery Santolina and Gold Oregano.

Greenhouse envy!

The beautifully tended vegetable beds with their recycled roof slate paths and sunflower edging.

Then on up the lane to the next part of the garden, glancing back at the entertainment through doors in the great grey granite walls.

Double, no triple rill envy!

Oh for a garden that is not so sloping that any sort of rill would be more of a waterfall. Amanda's rill meanders around the garden and out across the lawn in a way that makes my heart sing. The pools were also full of tadpoles.

The borders surrounding the lawns were stunning, layer upon layer of gorgeous plants and shrubs.

On the upper lawn was more music, although the band were having a break as I wandered past.

Pimms, tea and cakes were available on the terrace - we sadly didn't have time to partake.

Some of my favourite combinations?

Stands of tall Geranium Maderense underplanted with more Geraniums and Purple Aquilegia with purple Heuchera.

A dark Cotinus with a golden Euonymous(?) in front.

Pops of stunning magenta against the green with Clematis (possibly Ernest Markham?) and Gladioli byzantium.

A tree covered in the most amazing Lichen and Moss with a delicate Clematis twining up through it. The tree showed no sign of growth or life, but even as a structural feature it was amazing, the perfect foil for the Clematis.

A delicate and whimsical combination of Aquilegia and Geum that reminded me of the Flower Fairies books by Cicely Mary Barker from my childhood.

From the delicate details to the more solid and sweeping.

The wonderfully trimmed rounds of hedging in the cottage garden, stretching down to the view of the river, and yes that is just a hint of blue at the top of the picture, better late than never.

Our visit was sadly short this time as it was also the day of a celebration in Falmouth that we had to attend, but even the hour that we managed was memorable. It would have been heavenly to sit on a blanket and listen to more of the lovely music, sipping a Pimms and eating cake *sigh*. 

Could you do it all again next year please Amanda and I'll get better organised and spend the whole afternoon, and get to buy plants, cake, Pimms and EVERYTHING!

Well done and congratulations on a great afternoon.

xx