Bosvigo Garden
It is relatively unusual to find a conventional summer garden in Cornwall. And there are very few town gardens open to the public. Bosvigo, however, is both summer and town garden, situated towards the western edge of Truro. The three acre garden, around a Georgian house, makes a pleasant contrast with the standard Cornish spring garden. Instead of the expected informal ‘Himalayan’ ravine, ablaze with rhododendrons in spring, Bosvigo is an orderly spring and summer garden whose style is of themed areas, walled and enclosed, intimate and precise. A ‘hot’ garden features red, orange and yellow plants; the Vean garden is of white and delicate yellow; elsewhere are areas of pink, mauve and purple. Though minor in its importance, this is a place of colour, vibrancy and profusion but, when we visited in 2003, maintenance seemed a bit disapppointing in places. Tucked away as it is, the garden is probably best found from the A390 Redruth road; turn down Dobbs Lane just after Sainsbury's and you will fnd it on the left when the road becomes Bosvigo Lane. The garden is easily accessible from most of Cornwall. As it is relatively little visited the small amount of parking should pose no problem.
Border by the tile-hung house
Bosvigo Lane, Truro, off Dobbs Lane, off A390 Redruth
May 2014 -Nicole Collis writes: The garden is definitely a Spring garden, commencing its 'open' season with a show of hellebores in February and following with delightful spring flowering perennials. A large variety of hostas, some in pots but most, happily, unchewed, in the ground. The owner has a gardener just for trimming hedges and cutting lawns, the rest she does herself. One of the gardens is dedicated to her late daughter and, I must say, is a credit to the creator. At the driveway entrance there is a little wooden sign inviting you to visit the garden owned by her neighbour. A complete contrast, brightly coloured flowers, a couple of ponds with giant Koi Carp too big to be poached by the visiting heron and a chance to buy small potted alpines. A warmth here that is not present in Bosvigo.
More in Gardens
Caerhays Castle Garden
This is Cornwall's most specialised - and probably best - spring garden. Open only mid-Feb to May it boasts the finest imaginable collection of camellias, azaleas, magnolias and rhododendrons. The problem is to hit it when at least two of these are in full bloom. We visited in February 2004 when camellias were at their best, magnolias just opening and Highland cattle grazing in the park. We returned in late March: magnolias were magnificent, rhodos and azaleas out. The castle also opens for guided tours but is very Victorian and not important. Two criticisms: a detailed plan may have good descriptions but numbering doesn't relate to plant labels - and the garden tearoom and the excellent beach caf� were closed on both visits! There is ample car parking by Porthluney Cove.
Carwinion Garden
In April 2008 we took advantage of a Western Morning News '2 for the price of 1' offer to visit a couple of spring gardens near Mawnan Smith in the general area between Falmouth and the Helford River. Neither Carwinion nor Penjerrick could be said to rate anywhere compared to nearby Glendurgan and Trebah. Carwinion is perhaps an acceptable 1� hour visit for its �4 entry charge. Penjerrick is very poor value even at its lower �2.50; more of that elsewhere. Carwinion was the creation of the cadet branch of the Rogers family of Penrose near Helston, now a lovely estate owned by the National Trust, and was laid out in the late 19th century. As is usual in these parts, the 12 acre garden runs down a valley from the house. Unusually, if you exit at the bottom, you can (as we did) follow a footpath down through woodland to the Helford River at Porth Saxon. As you might expect of a garden with a bamboo nursery, that plant rather dominates. There are, however, also some good rhodos, azaleas and pieris and, early in the year, swathes of bluebells, primrose and anemones. Ponds are fairly well maintained but feature gardens - Quarry and Japanese - are disappointing; the Secret garden is better. Keep an eye out for some impressive trees, good tree ferns and vast gunneras.
Chygurno at Lamorna
In May 2008 we had a busy gardens day. There are three gardens in the Lamorna Valley - Chygurno, Trewoofe House and Trewoofe Orchard - and, since we would be passing it on the way to Lamorna, we decided to include Trereife as well. Of the four, Trewoofe Orchard was the undoubted star, Chygurno the most remarkable, Trewoofe House pleasant but not outstanding, and Trereife a waste of time (with one honourable exception, the cafe)). A great bonus was that bluebells were everywhere.