Ken-Caro Garden near Liskeard
Although Ken-Caro Garden is open from March for snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils and camellias, followed by March and April magnolias and rhodos, we feel that this is really a summer garden. So we made our first visit in late July 2006, the time of year when the hostas, astlibes, day lilies, ligularias, hydrangeas and herbaceous plants have come into their own.
Kenneth and Caroline Willcocks (hence Ken-Caro) started their garden in 1970, planting trees and hedges for shelter on this high windswept site on the very fringes of Bodmin Moor. Since then they have steadily extended their garden to the point where it now covers four acres - it seems more, thanks to cunningly winding paths on the sloping site. Superb views into Devon, north-west to Kit Hill and Dartmoor, south-west beyond Plymouth. This is a delightful garden, enhanced by three ponds, thoughtful planting and quite unexpected juxtaposition of strong colours. Maintenence is good, thanks to one full-time and several part-time staff. It surprised us that we were the only visitors on a warm sunny day. Ken-Caro garden deserves many more to enjoy its charms. There is a pub just down the road in St. Ive but we preferred the Crow's Nest near Trethevy Quoit.
Acid soil produces very deep blue hydrangeas
House sold in 2012 but apparently still open 2020
More in Gardens
Ladock House Garden
We don't usually review private gardens that open only on one day a year (open also for groups by appointment) but we were so impressed by the garden at Ladock House, not far from Trewithen Garden, that we just had to include a description and a photo. The occasion was a late April 2007 opening under the worthy National Gardens Scheme. When the Holborrows came to this former rectory in the 1960s, it wasn't only the house that was in need of loving care. The garden was something of an overgrown jungle and, in due course, the woodland was thinned and scrub removed. This being Cornwall, and the soil somewhat acid, major planting was of rhodos and azaleas. Paths lead through what is now relatively light woodland, revealing all the time more enticing views of the fine collection of rhodos and azaleas. Thanks to a few hedges, the impression is rather of a compartmented garden, though much less so than Sissinghurst or Hidcote. The range of colour is surprisingly wide, and there are even several yellow rhodos, amongst our great favourites. Timing of this opening was good, not just for the shrubs but also for the bluebell walk, still lovely if rather colonised by white alium. We spent over 1� hours wandering then enjoyed a good tea, and a pleasant chat with the owners, in the sheltered courtyard.
Lamorran House Garden
The jewel of Cornish coastal villages, and a long-standing favourite of ours, St. Mawes is an attractive small sailing resort on the Roseland peninsula, with its own sheltered harbour at the mouth of the little Percuil River. The village is bright and colourful; white-washed cottages under roofs of slate or thatch, and flowers everywhere, enhance its distinctly Mediterranean charms. Above the village, at its western end, one of Henry VIII's coastal castles looks across the broad waterway of Carrick Roads to its twin atop Pendennis Point by the busy port of Falmouth. Just up the hill from the castle is lovely Lamorran House Garden. Created since 1982 by the Dudley-Cookes, it too has a distinctly Mediterranean feeling with terraces, statuary, mock temple ruins and exotic planting. It also has a very secret feeling as narrow paths wind down through luxuriant growth: Chusan palms, Himalyan fan palms, brilliant azaleas, rich succulents, bright acers, agaves, aloes and mesembryanthemums - and water features. At its best early in its season; later it gets over luxuriant but less colourful. If we have a complaint it is that Lamorran opens too infrequently.
Lanhydrock Garden
Because, when we go to Lanhydrock, we usually go to walk the estate - in woodland and by the River Fowey - we tend to forget how lovely the garden is in spring. But on May Day 2006 we also paid due atention to the garden which really comes in three parts. Above the house is a Spring Hillside Garden, full of fine rhodos, azaleas, camellias and magnolias. At the level back of the house and church are more spring shrubs and new herbaceous beds. At the front and side of the house are lawns, clipped yews and seasonal formal beds. On our visit the beds set colourful tulips within drifts of forget-me-nots, a delight. As ever with the National Trust, maintenance is immaculate, despite the numbers that come to enjoy the house, garden and estate. If you do visit, allow time not just for house and garden but also for a walk down the Avenue and along the river from Respryn Bridge. There is a restaurant, entered from the courtyard at the side of the house. In the same courtyard there is also a caf�. Car parking is quite some way from the house though disabled drivers can park nearer. At one time there used to be a vintage chauffeur driven Rolls Royce which operated a shuttle service for a small charge; now a buggy provides regular service btween house and main car park.