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Counting numbers!

5/28/2015

 
Yesterday I was pondering on a possible focal point for my next blog entry when my mind wandered off to the fact that in September I will have been working on 'Bosvathick's open garden project' for 2 years. Time must indeed have wings!
However when I really start to think about all the new areas we have developed and the vast amount of plants we planted I realise that we have done tons of work in relatively a very short period and am actually quite proud of our achievements. It was team work that made it happen of course, but today I feel like giving myself quite a bit of credit too.
I have no formal training in gardening and so it was and still is hit and miss at times. For instance we are having a continuous battle with the rabbit species and have lost quite a few of our earlier planted perennials, many of which turn out to be on the rabbit's favourite meal list. Then again it turns out there isn't much the hungry rabbit doesn't like, so I guess we'd better pray for some more birds of prey.
Anyway, back to my point. I started to wonder how many shrubs and other plants we have put into this garden in the last 2 years and then, when today 2 lovely lady visitors were sharing their delight in finding such a lovely gem of a garden and were wondering about the amount of planting we have done, I made up my mind to do 'the numbers' for this blog. I hope you will enjoy these fun facts.

31 apple trees

3 Cherry Blossoms

2 Magnolias

4 Rhododendrons

26 Azaleas

26 Camellias

36 Roses (bush and climbing)

43 shrubs of all sorts

657 perennial plants (with an unnumbered amount of casualties due to the small mammals that belong to the Leporidea family of the order of Lagomorpha, (read: rabbits), some were lost to slugs and snails too)

125 Yew plug plants, to create our new focal point around the fountain pond (see photo)

198 begonia plugs (of which there are no survivors, they were all devoured by ducks)

many many annuals for our pot displays all around the main house,

and finally:

2415 bulbs, give or take a few.
All these were planted among the already amazing mature specimens of shrubs and trees, so you don't have to wait 10 years to see something exciting in our garden.

Colour palette and wafts of perfume

5/13/2015

 
One says that a picture is worth a thousand words. I like words and I like to write and though I am not trained in any way and have read skilled authors and poets who can paint a beautiful image with a pen, I still believe that the heavenly colours of a Cornish Garden in spring have to be observed to do it justice. How can one use names like cerise, ruby, rosepink, magenta or violet number 1,2 or 3 when one simply wants to describe how glorious a particular Azalea looks, displaying such a vibrant block of colour which in the right sunlight and perfectly contrasted with a neighbouring plant could almost pleasantly hurt your eyes? Shades that are changing in the course of a day because of a passing cloud or vaporizing morning dew or simply because of the ageing of the flower? It can't be done, though I'm sure some will disagree.

We have currently a couple staying in our B&B who are on the quest to find the location that inspired Thomas Wood Holgate to one of his bluebell paintings. It is believed it was painted here in the woods at Bosvathick. So it appears that not only Thomas was moved to try and capture what he saw on canvas but that a century later this particular painting brought two people back to Bosvathick to see with their own eyes what he saw. The power of imagery.

The same goes for scent of course. How blessed we are to be able to enjoy this world so much more because of our senses. One simply cannot explain the excitement that rises within when during a random stroll you suddenly find your face almost touched by a wonderful scented cloud that sets you on a quest to find its owner. Like a hide and seek game where a small breeze can easily set you off in the wrong direction it cannot be denied that a garden is an amazing place that brings joy to the soul, especially when you found your treasure and with your nose deeply pressed in a trumpet flower you inhale your prize.

I really love all the beautiful wafts of perfume and even though I walk miles through the garden on a working day and therefore know exactly where all the Lady Alice Fitzwilliams are and recognize the fragrance of the wisteria growing on the house or the viburnums which were planted last year, it remains and always will be a great highlight of my day.

Below some pictures to inspire your senses.

    About Frank

    A gardener at Bosvathick and family member.

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