The George V Memorial Walk in Hayle along the Copperhouse pool is a lovely level walk at any time of the year, but this is my first time during the winter months so I was keen to see whether anything was in flower.
So on 25th January this is what I found:
It was a very windy day, but at least the wind blew away the rain clouds and it wasn’t particularly cold in the sunshine. Not easy to take close-up photos though.
I was very pleased to see two of my favourite Antipodean plants in flower – the pretty pink and white Grevillea above and the lemon-yellow Callistemon (bottlebrush) below. I have visions of these in my garden, just where I can place them is the problem as I live on an extremely open and windy site and Grevillea in particular prefer some shelter.
It was a pleasant enough walk and although there wasn’t a huge amount of flowers, there were plenty of new leaves glistening in the sun, bright red and even purple berries, bulbs appearing along the grass verge by the pool and a delightful fragrance in the sensory garden created by the very lovely daphne. (Now this IS a plant I need to find room for – I think we are going to need a bigger garden…)
I am going to have to make this a regular walk to note what is in flower each month. And if you like a walk, long or short, then please visit Jo for her regular strolls in the UK and the Algarve and maybe you could join in too.
Paula ‘Lost in Translation’ has a wintry theme this week, but I’m sure these are not the type of winter images she had in mind.
Cornwall in Colours 
It looks so bright and sunny, a perfect winter’s day. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bottlebrush in that vibrant yellow colour. It’s beautiful. Perhaps you need to buy the next door neighbour’s garden so you can spread out a bit more. 🙂
There is a red flowering one too, but I didn’t notice that in flower. It was back in the autumn though. I’d like a red one if possible. As for the garden, I do have my eye on a plot of land unused behind the barn next to me. Make a nice area for a wildlife pond!
That sounds like a nice idea. We have three red Little Gem bottlebrushes together which have grown nicely into a hedge of sorts. They flower profusely and attract the rainbow lorikeets.
Sigh… I guess I won’t be able to attract those pretty birds no matter what I plant.
In 2007 Mum and I visited a very distant cousin in Cornwall and he proudly showed off his Australian plants. I was very surprised but also pleased that we had this connection despite the distance that separates us.
They do well down here because of the temperate climate and if you have some shelter from the winds.
What a lovely stroll with so much to see. I like the yellow bottle brush variety and grevilliea too, great planting.Daphne’s are wonderful, love the heady fragrance, but I’ve tried twice and failed, so I’ll just enjoy them in other gardens 🙂
Any reason for the failure? I know there are several varieties and I’d only want a small bush as I only have a small garden. The smell is divine.
Hard to believe it is January, looking at those photos, Jude.
Nice to live somewhere where exotic plants can flourish.
Best wishes, Pete.
My main reason for moving down here Pete was to try and emulate the South African lifestyle – OK we don’t get the heat like they do over in the Cape, but it is possible to have a Mediterranean garden. And it is lacking a mountain 😉
And baboons! x
Ah, well you can keep the baboons! Unless they eat slugs and snails…
😀
So colorful and lovely . . . and so different from the landscape right now, here in upstate New York!
Quite different to most of the UK at the moment too!
oh wow so much in colour . . . . .and with that glorious blue sky could be the Algarve.
When the sun shines in Cornwall it is absolutely stunning.
Been far far too long since I was that far west in England . . . .maybe we will make plans for the Autumn
Autumn can be lovely, but for the best of the Cornish gardens, spring is the time to visit.
I would love to but not sure the Algarve will let me go!
I can see that being a struggle 🙂
I can’t believe so many flowers are in bloom in January. What a pretty walk, Jude. 🙂
It was a pleasant surprise Cathy. I thought I’d take a look to see what I might be able to cram into my garden. If only I had this much space! I might see about volunteering here so I can get my Mediterranean ‘fix’
You should! As much as you love gardening, that would be perfect for you! 🙂
Paula would be delighted to see so much colour on a walk right now. I think it’s been pretty miserable in Zagreb. This is rather lovely. Thank you very much. I’m gently envious of your Grevillea and especially the Callistemen. Not familiar with the yellow form and it’s lovely. I think I might manage this stroll with you one day, young Jude 🙂 🙂
Fantastic pictures! It must have been a gorgeous day. Thanks for taking me with you,
Pit
Nice to have you along Pit, but I did have to dig you out of my comment spam folder! So I am not the only one disappearing it seems! Because of my disappearing act I check my comment spam regularly. Goodness knows why yours should end up there. Have you noticed your comments disappearing on anyone else’s site?
Love the bright Callistemon!
They have a lovely bright red one too which flowers in summer.
Ah, I think I might have seen one of those….