I have been on my travels, and I’m not talking about trips down the stairs off my feet. I have been visiting my homeland; I’ve been to Cornwall. Unlike today, when the rain sheets and the wind joins the party, the weather was for the most part good. I am a simple soul and any journey that involves good food, wine, exemplary company and a few gardens is the recipe for a fine meal. It will not surprise you that many plant photos were taken, too many. Which is why, this week, I have decided to share a few with your good selves, six to be precise. When I say precise, I mean “roughly”. I have struggled to whittle my pictures down to the golden number. For that I would need six hundred on Saturday. I am saving more for next time. Before I shimmy on, I must point you in the direction of our mentor and spiritual guide, The Prop, here you can enjoy his and all the gang’s gardens. Shall we make haste?
Our B&B was sublime. We have stayed there several times before, but there is always the worry of The Returners’ Curse. We had nothing to fear. Great hosts, fabulous rooms, amazing food and a floriferous welcome. Perfect.
My hedychiums were either hidden out of view or are reluctant to flower, they are known sulkers when moved. Although many in Penlee Park had gone over, there were a few in bloom to remind me just why I love them. Whilst I was in Cornwall I saw no plant labels. Not one. You are at my mercy.
In a small park opposite Jubilee Pool there are several large stands of Fasicularia bicolor. Perhaps a little indelicately, I peer ed into rosette after rosette until I found just what I was looking for. Fantastic.
Another Penlee Park beauty, the highly poisonous but downright beautiful Cestrum parqui. Night scented, moth pollinated, worth the jeopardy.
Behold, a phytolacca fruit stalk! As I was photographing this wonderful plant, a women pulled up on her bicycle and asked if I knew what it was called. She explained that she cycled past it every day and had always wondered about it. I told her and we had a bit of a chat. I was then taking some photos of the nearby tulbaghia and the couple on the bench asked if I knew what the purple berried plant was. I told them and we had a bit of a chat. I think they need labels. Although I do enjoy a chat.
Also in Penlee Park is Colquhounia coccinea, a great favourite of mine. I left mine in North Devon, it had never flowered, although I am sure it is blooming its blooming head off now. In the small walled memorial garden it had grown to a tree. I was jaw droppingly impressed, as were the bees.
I don’t have the best eye sight, but I can spot a plant table at 100m. Wandering around the back streets of Newlyn, I spotted a suspicious blur in the distance. I did not raise my hopes, having walked past one in St Ives selling aeonium cuttings for a disgraceful £12 for a small pot. No such nonsense here. I was jubilant; a jade plant, a hottentot fig and, joy of joys, a small variegated agave. £8 for the lot and all for a children’s charity. Add to this the cuttings that our lovely landlady took of all her succulents and we had a nice little box to bring home. Happy, happy, happy.
What do you mean seven? Surely not! Let us move on swiftly and say our goodbyes. ‘Til next time.
Off The Edge Gardening 
My thoughts are with that bee. Given your usual luck when trying to photograph them, the poor thing must have been superglued into that flower.
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As if!
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Fasicularia bicolor is difficult to grow but quite a few people in the UK manage it so I think you should be successful! Give it a try?
You saw some great things and brought home a good batch of succulents that I’m sure will be well cared for in your home.
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I grew it at Cliffe and it regularly flowered there. It is tempting, but then so many others are too! Thanks Fred, I will do my best for them.
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My perfect sort of holiday, and you must share the name of the B & B, perhaps private message me, or else I won’t be able to book in! Sounds like a lovely area.
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It was really lovely. I’ll message you x
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The steps of that B&B are fab and the bee photo is great (superglued or not!) The Cestrum parqui remind me a bit of blackcurrant fruit gums – good job my mum didn’t have any in the garden when I was a child. Glad you had a good break.
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Ha! The bees are more relaxed in West Cornwall than South Wales. It was great, thanks Graeme.
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Those steps are fabulously colourful – I wish mine would look like that, I might have to take copies. You certainly were in my neck of the woods! I love a nosey in the Penlee Memorial Garden and Morab. As you say not much in the way of labels. I do have a photo of that pokeberry – a fabulous, if deadly, plant. ‘Fascicularia Bicolour’ is like a weed down here. But it does look exotic. Nice photos! And next time you must pop in for a coffee. I could do with some expert advice… 😉
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It would be lovely to meet you, next time we shall make it so. We went to Tremenheere for the first time and I was very impressed. Hopefully, another blog for there!
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I think our last visit to Tremenheere was early June – without the car most of the summer we have barely been anywhere this year.
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Those steps to the B&B are amazing what great hosts. Were the plants in posts or growing in beds next to the steps? Great garden tour too, many thanks for the photos.
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They were in pots, I think the landlady had to do lots of watering and feeding!
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I like your idea of a good holiday and what wondrous plants you encountered. What is in the pots on the steps?
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I think they are mainly marigolds and bidens and argyranthemum. A fantastic display!
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Fantastic, indeed. I had to look up the Argyranthemum, seems they would do well here? Another plant to try.
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Looking forward to seeing your purchases in place in your garden. Those “park” plants are most unusual.
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What a wonderful holiday you must have had, so many gorgeous plants! Love the B & B steps!
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It was fabulous although exhausting!
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Hey, I was traveling also, which is why I neglected to see your Six on Saturday. I get the impression that Hedychium gardnerianum and other species are uncommon there. If so, is that because they are aggressive? They are not as common here as they are down south, and down south, they have become less common as overgrown colonies that were removed were not replaced. (I remove overgrown lily of the Nile, African iris and canna to replant with fewer of their own rhizomes. It renovates the colonies and promotes more uniform growth. The scraps go live somewhere else.) Cestrum parqui is available here, but I have never tried it. I prefer Cestrum nocturnum because it is what I am familiar with in Southern California. I can not imagine any Cestrum that is better. Carpobrotus edulis and Carpobrotus chilensis grow on freeways here, and even more so down south. Your Six are quite Southern Californian.
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