I wasn’t expecting to see very much on a visit to the Godolphin estate at the beginning of August. Many of the NT gardens have been closed since lockdown and staff, many voluntary, laid off so a lot of the planting that usually takes place and the regular maintenance of the gardens have not been done. But it is one of the closest gardens to us and being tired of staying close to home, but not wanting to go anywhere that would be busy (i.e. beaches) we booked tickets for a day that was supposed to be sunny and bright with the intention of a quick stroll around the garden and then a longer walk up Goldolphin Hill.
It is one of my favourite gardens, though not as popular with tourists as it is very small and doesn’t take very long to walk around, unlike the big estates where you can spend half a day. I like it though because it has the sort of borders I could replicate at home with many plants that appear more natural and where hummocks of sprawling low-growing perennials like hardy geraniums and lavender and sedum intermingle with taller spires and spikes of purple loosestrife and hollyhocks and unshackled roses left to meander where they liked giving an artist’s impression of a soft and romantic look.
Cornwall in Colours 
Quite romantic! Not at al untidy, just a bit frowsy in August, like mine before triple-digit heat beats down even the perennials. Thank you for this little tour.
You are most welcome Jo. Triple digit heat sounds exhausting!
I love those Cornish – and English – gardens! They look so lush and green. And ever so colourful.
Yes, still very colourful here, but then we don’t get those brutal temperatures that have been affecting a lot of the country.
I prefer a relaxed garden with some character to the really grand gardens. You can relate to it so much more easily and enjoy the feel of it.
I definitely relate to this one. So many of the plants I can grow. Although I really fancied a more Mediterranean look I have realised that my plot is too wet and too windy for that, so a cottage garden feel is more realistic.
I’m at the opposite end of the scale here in Suffolk – Mediterranean for summer anyway – though the plants also need to cope with winter rain.
Yes, we are beginning to think we should have gone east not west!
Wow – looks like a lovely place to visit
Lovely and colourful.
We like it, though it is very small compared to most NT gardens in Cornwall.
I’ve only seen this garden in spring so thanks for the late summer pics.
It is very lovely in summer too, though we were too late for the meadow flowers, I think July is best to see that.
It’s a pleasure to imagine wandering down these paths in all the sunshine you’ve captured. I’m glad you decided to get out and had such a fine day for it too. The geranium looks very fine.
The geranium, possibly Rozanne, is delightful, and one reason why I had to buy one for my garden. I love the way it sprawls over the path.
I was trying to buy Rozanne locally last year for mum and ended up with Azure Rush instead. It is a similar flower and much shorter than I’d expected, but it has flowered really well and is a sprawler too.
I also have Orion, which is a similar blue, but it doesn’t flower as long, saying that after cutting it back it’s now having a second flush.
Heavenly, as are so many of your garden photos. May I use one shot for my screen saver for dark winter months?
Of course, but these are quite small files. Not sure if it will work.
Will try. Otherwise, enjoy here!
It’s always good to visit a garden with borders that could be replicated in our own – I feel that way about Barnsdale, Geoff Hamilton’s garden, which is fairly ‘local’ to us
Yes, it helps to see what grows, though they do have a lovely sheltered walled garden that I don’t have.
Ooh, a walled garden…I would love one of those! Perhaps that’s one of the reasons I enjoy adding brickwork to the garden at every opportunity…
This is really beautiful and looks well kept despite less staff and no volunteers. I have no idea when I can volunteer on Blakeney Point again. Somehow also the coming winter is going to be different.
Nothing is very certain at the moment is it? We are still not venturing very far.