We have been away. Down to my spiritual homeland, Cornwall. We met up with old friends, which involved a combination of reminiscing and catching up on news, accompanied by much laughter and carousing. We revisited old haunts of mine, after all these years now shared with OH, retracing younger steps with more scuffed shoes. As luck would have it, our holiday rental in Penzance was a mere stones throw from the marvelous Morrab Gardens. I couldn’t have been happier. My six this week are all from this splendid public space. Our SoS leader, Jim, will, I’m sure, forgive me for going off piste. Shall we get on, I’m late enough already!
First we have the bandstand and a handful of the large exotic specimens that make Morrab so special. West Cornwall is particularly clement weatherwise and I was reminded how much more they can grow compared to us, just up the road, in South Wales.
Fuchsia splendens was flowering well. Since we left, there have been several days of heavy frost and freezing temperatures and I wonder how this lovely fuchsia has fared. Still, it was protected in the shade of a mature tree and I am sure it will recover, however crispy it might be now.
I was thrilled when we first arrived to see the flowering spike of Furcraea longaeva heavy with mini-me plantlets on a border just before our rental home. I gave it a surreptitious shake and filled my pockets with the resultant pennies from heaven. Later, I noticed they were reproducing in planting schemes throughout the town and further. Not so special after all! Planting these little ‘uns is on the list of things to do.
One for Jim here. There were lots of camellia, but this little one caught my eye. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a label. Any idea, maestro?
I am guessing this is Grevillea rosmarinifolia, the most amazing, perfectly arachnid flowers.
Finally, a real showstopper. Again, no label, but I know that my friend, Tiny Tim, will be able to tell me. Banksia? Possibly. Fabulous? Definitely.
There we have it, Six on Saturday. Hope you are all keeping safe. Us in the west of the UK must batten down the hatches once again for Storm Isha on Sunday night. Fingers crossed.
Off The Edge Gardening 
What a wonderful six. I do like that Camelia.
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It is lovely, quite small flowers but a really nice form and colour. Perhaps Jim will know which cultivar it is.
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Such pretty plants! I couldn’t imagine such exotic plants there. Banksia yes the last one, but which one?
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Quite! Hopefully Tim will read this and let us know. It was looking so beautiful in the winter sunshine. You still got snow?
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yes but it’s melting… Very slightly positive temperatures since 1 pm and it’s almost over. Frost again until tomorrow morning and then mild weather and wind ( a storm is coming – for you too?
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Yes, another storm. 😦
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Arachnid flowers. Hmm! What pollinator is it attracting.
Be safe.
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A very clever pollinator!
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I’ve been to Penzance quite a few times but never visited Morrab Gardens (I’d never even heard of them until HeyJude mentioned them once – I think). I really must go next time I’m in Penzance – they look very impressive.
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A favourite place for me when I go to Penzance.
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It’s a joy to see your photos from Morrab Gardens – the plants, flowers and colours must have given you such an uplift (as well as enjoying time with old friends!). I’ve certainly enjoyed seeing them, and I’m sure our illustrious host, Jim will too. 😊
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Irrespective, we must acknowledge a six from South Wales before you returned to South Wales (look it up, Philistines). 🤣
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WOW! Quite tropical for the UK.
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What a treat to visit such gardens and find lovely treasures in the middle of January: lovely grevillea.
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Very pretty, the banksia and grevillea are both wonderful.
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What a lovely six, so unusual! This is not a garden that I have ever visited and I’ve been to a lot in Cornwall. Love the camellia, the grevillea and banksia, lovely to see them growing outside in this country.
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Lipstick, Sundae, possibly Bokuhan. Banksia integrifolia? One day we must have a holiday in West Cornwall and do all these various gardens. We tend to go once a year for a day and stick to the very obvious ones.
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What a lovely place! When I visited friends in England, we visited Somerset, but did not make it to Cornwall due to car trouble, but if we manage another trip, we will definitely go there.
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We almost bought a house overlooking these gardens, sadly we were gazumped shortly before exchanging contracts. I often visit, but obviously not in January as I don’t recall Grevillea or Banksia.
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I hope Isha passed without damage. I see Jocelyn is on the way.
Happy planting with your pennies from heaven. Manna, so to speak.
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?! That is interesting? South Wales is more interesting! All sorts of species that need more chill perform well there.
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