Summer visits - Japanese Garden

On the edge of the airport doesn't sound like a great venue for a peaceful, zen garden but that's what we found when we visited the lovely village of St Mawgan recently.

Nestled in a valley between the airport and the coast, the picture post card village is home to the Falcon Inn (food definitely recommended), a picturesque river, a pretty church, a craft shop that advertises 'interesting things' and...

the Japanese Garden!

Through a small door in the side of the gift shop, round a corner and the garden is revealed -  an oasis of lush green filled with calm and serenity.

Over the bridge we went...

over a pool inhabited by very impressive carp...

after which we had a choice of meandering paths to explore further.

There were wonderful textures and leaf colours...

such a profusion of shapes and plant forms, it was a feast for the senses.

Mounds of two types of Ophiopogon...

both of them flowering,

and layers of luscious mossy stones...

trickling rivulets...

and impressive ornaments.

The use of water was lovely, from trickling water spouts...

tumbling waterfalls...



to reflective pools.

There were lots of peaceful places to sit and contemplate...

which Mum and I took full advantage of.

We visited twice this summer once with Mum and once with my Mother-in-law. Sadly the second time it was decidedly wet so the sitting down was a little damp. However the lovely staff came and found us with lots of large umbrellas so we could carry on wandering about...

and then the sun came out! The summer weather has been random at best.

There were areas of serene raked gravel...

and beautifully placed stones.

To finish off there was a shop full of the most amazing Bonsai trees. Oaks, Ginkgos, Azaleas, Maples, Firs, large and small. It was a fantastic display that illustrated the gardens beginnings 30 years ago as a bonsai nursery. They still offer instruction and every thing you need for the upkeep of your Bonsai, I bought a sweet pair of tiny leaf clippers - perfect for picking Sweet Peas and dead heading!

It's a lovely space, the garden's not too manicured but truly peaceful and, particularly after a lovely lunch at the Falcon, one of the best ways to spend an afternoon.

Lovely time spent away from the hubbub of the summer holidays.

The only thing that taxed me was making sure my zen-like photos didn't all get photo bombed by cheeky teens!!

xx

Pretty Posies

I decided to put together a collection of some vases of gorgeousness that have happened in the last  month or so, some I can take the credit for and some not!

This is a lovely posy that my Mum bought for me when she came to stay - look at those dark, dark Pelargoniums - they were just beautiful.

With Alchemila Mollis, Lavender, Geraniums, Pinks and so much more, it lasted long after she left.

Whilst she was here we visited the store where glamorous eldest teen works and discovered these.

Locally grown and very reasonably priced little posies of garden flowers which are different every couple of days. So much nicer that florist flowers and so much more sustainable.

And now onto my efforts.

My first home grown bunch of Sweet peas - it isn't that impressive but for me it is amazing! I have spent years struggling to get Sweet Peas to germinate, survive weather, avoid pests and actually grow to flowering - in fact last year I finally gave up. 

So this spring I handed all my seed over to the other half of the Daisy duo for her to sow on her allotment. However she grew them to about 6" and then gave them back to me with strict instructions. I have to say my heart sank - here we go again, they'll be gone without a trace within a week. But no, they are growing well and I have picked a couple of vases full already.

Please don't ask me what I did differently - they just had the Jayne touch!

and they smell divine!

This was a revelation. Action hero husband was reshaping the huge Magnolia Grandifolia in the front garden (under strict instruction you understand) and we ended up with this beautiful bloom.

It's 21cm across and is in a vase with lots of buds too. Our tree has never had so many flowers as this year, and will probably flower all the way until late October

And the best bit is that it smells wonderfully lemony. The flowers are all so high up we never get close enough to smell them.

Granted it's slightly weather blown (quelle surprise!!) but it's just lovely, and goes so well with my fireplace!!!