The magnolias and camelias have been great this year with wonderful shows of colour in the Garden shining through the continued grey and wet weather. The occasional spells of sunshine highlight them beautifully and as I write looking down the valley I can see the whites and paler pinks of the taller magnolias along with the deeper pink shades of early rhododendrons being lit up after a break in the clouds. It’s a great time of year to be in the garden whatever the weather. Underneath that canopy of colour in the centre of the garden the gunnera is sprouting and it feels like spring and the main growing season is on the way.
Trebah’s Garden Shop and Plant Centre re-opens for spring on Monday 4 March, so if you want to take some colour home to add to your own garden then there are plenty of home-grown plants from our nursery available. Next weekend brings Mother’s Day of course, and along with offering Mum’s the treat of a hearty roast dinner option in Trebah Kitchen we are also re-opening the boathouse next weekend (weekends only during March) and for the first time we’ll have hot pasties available daily.
Thanks to those of you who attended our talks by Charles Fox and Charles Dowding recently. Feedback tells us these events were well-received and there are more to come this month. On Friday 15 March, Sacha Dench will tell us about her astonishing journey para-motoring over arctic tundra from Russia to the UK, following the Bewick swans along their migrational flight path, crossing 11 countries along the way. On Wednesday 20 March, Gary Long, Garden Director at Trewithen Garden will tell us about his trip to the Yunnan province of South-west China in 2012 to follow the exact route that the great plant hunter George Forrest took in 1932 on his last expedition to China. You can book for these and other upcoming events here.
Looking away from Trebah for a moment, the Cornwall Garden Society’s Spring Show takes place on the weekend of 6 & 7 April this year at Wadebridge. I met the new show director, Mark Holman, last week who told me that the show – known to some as the ‘Chelsea of the South West’ - will have a different look and feel for 2024, including an immersive Cornish garden that will showcase sustainability and a ‘grow your own’ space for families. Definitely worth a visit if you’ve space on your calendar.
Easter falls early this year and we’ve been working with Cornish firm Josh’s Chocolate to offer young ones (and any paying adults!) taking part in our Whose Nose Goes Trail a very tasty prize from 29 March onwards, so something to bear in mind if you’ve got little people to entertain over the Easter break.
For further updates on what’s happening in the garden, with events - and also some fascinating short videos the team have created to give an insight into Trebah’s history - please follow us on social media.
Thanks as ever for your ongoing support as Trebah members. I hope we can welcome you to the garden soon.
Best wishes, Jon
