We had a day for exploring at Mevagissey, and were spoiled for choice for gardens to visit. Nearby is the Eden Project, a big and interesting garden. It also has a big price and would have had big crowds on Bank Holiday weekend. Even nearer to Mevagissey is the Lost Gardens of Heligan, another likely to be busy. And it turned out that the Lost Gardens featured New Zealand plants so it was close to home in several ways. We settled on Trelissick House, with more park-like gardens. It’s close as the crow flies but the road takes the long way around. It gave us a nice relaxing day which was just what we needed after a couple of days moving around.
Trelissick Manor is near Truro, in Cornwall. It was home to the Copeland family, who owned and managed the Spode china factory. The gardens feature many rhododendrons and azeleas, which do well all round Cornwall. Much of the china produced by Spode used paintings of flowers grown at Trelissick. The property was given to the National Trust by the last of the Copeland line.
Trelissick House is a work-in-progress.
The house was built to take advantage of the views down the Fal Estuary towards Falmouth. The vista reminding me of the Auckland harbours and Gulf and the Auckland Regional Parks.
There’s nothing quite like a nice chandelier to set a room off …
Spode china with Trelissick flowers
The stylish conservatory at Trelissick House
Bird of Paradise plant in conservatory at Trelissick House
Handkerchief tree in Trelissick Garden – also called the dove-tree
The handkerchief tree has an interesting history. Follow the link to read of the adventures of the early botanists who sought to bring specimens back to England.
Handkerchief tree
Rhododendrons in Trelissick garden
We enjoyed a lovely picnic lunch in the park-like gardens
Beside the Trelissick Gardens, the Fel River is crossed regularly by the King Harry vehicle ferry, which hauls itself back and forwards on two huge chains. We took a trip across and back, because we could.
King Harry ferry landing Fel River. Spot the chains. Obviously there has been a ferry here for quite a while.
Rhododendrons in the Trelissick Gardens
Eventually we wandered back through the gardens, and made our way back to Mevagissey. It was a lovely relaxing day in a beautiful setting. Just what we needed.
I have seen the lost gardens of heligan on tv and they remarked on the nz plants. I imagine the climate is similar to ours as I have seen a ghost tree at the rhododendron gardens out of palmy. Beautiful pics
Thanks Gay. Yes, the climates must be similar. We saw rhodies everywhere around there. And NZ ferns in a few places. And I’ve just realised why those trees are also called ghost trees. I’m now seeing doves, handkerchiefs, and ghosts!
We also have a handkerchief tree in Seymour Square in Blenheim and I always make sure I visit it when the white things are in full view and on the ground so I can pick one up. I love it, actually the thought did cross my mind to plant one here.
Maybe that’s where I’d heard of them before. I reckon you should go for it. I wonder how long it takes before they flower?
Well, that is the first time I have heard of a handkerchief tree!! The English do gardens rather well, don’t they!! Well, captured Ross! Lovely photo of you, Wyn, with the red Rhododendron. Colour co-ordinated 🙂
Thanks Suzanne. And yes they do don’t they, I guess they’ve had quite a lot of practice? I do love the way the rhodies carpet the ground underneath with colour.