To be truthful this was on a Saturday as this particular garden isn’t open on Mondays. Despite the cold wind blowing down from the Arctic the sun was shining as I headed to the Helford River and Glendurgan Gardens. And yes we’ve been here before. And in Rhododendron time, but I know how much Jo loves her rhodies so how could I not go back and take another look at this lovely garden. So very different to her Algarve home and its native spring flowers.

As soon as you enter the garden and turn the corner you are hit with a slap of vibrant colours. Dark reds, pinks, purples and oranges. Clashing and contrasting magnificently.

Last (or first) View

What did surprise me though was the number of bluebells in bloom. All over the banks and mixing prettily with pale yellow primroses and creating a blue backdrop to the many Azaleas and other flowering shrubs. We have obviously been too early or too late in previous years.

Magnolias and Camellias are the stars of March and April, but late April and May belongs to the Azaleas, Rhododendrons, bluebells and blossom. Everywhere you look there are bright splashes of colour. And as the paths wind up and down in this deep valley location you have views over the tree tops, or from under the canopy.

Rhododendron

Rhododendron

Grevillea

Deep pink blossom

Azalea

Rhododendron

As usual I wandered along the top paths down to the beach in Durgan village where some young children were enjoying running in and out of the waves as the tide came in. A bit chilly I would have thought, but kids don’t seem to notice the chill. Unusual to have such waves on this river too, but this April has been unusual in many ways. On the way back I was happy to see my favourite bench empty so I could sit for a while and look over the pond and the maze (still closed) which is looking the best I have seen it.

The Gunnera manicata  (Giant rhubarb / Chile rhubarb or dinosaur food) is beginning to unfurl its large leaves again, looking like aliens emerging from the bog garden. It really is a brute of a thing with leaves over 6ft across. Kids love to walk under them, though they do have some rather lethal thorns.

My favourite bench

Magnolia and bluebells

Davidia involucrata

On my way out I was happy to see the path across the meadow was open again so I was able to get up close to the Handkerchief tree (Davidia involucrata) also known as Dove or Ghost tree. The showy bracts which look like hankies are pure white in late spring and summer, but right now these are a beautiful lime green, blending in with the vivid green heart shaped leaves.

This beautiful Erica is simply stunning close-up as was a white one nearby. And if you go back to the first gallery you will see it in situ and echoing the pretty lilac colours of an enormous Rhododendron.

But I will leave you with what I think has to be one of the most gorgeous coloured Azaleas I have seen.

Jo’s Monday Walk

And I am hoping there are enough details in this post to satisfy Patti this week. After all it is the cumulation of the details that create the bigger picture.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #146 | Details

(And if you are wondering what the difference is between an Azalea and a Rhodie then please visit this earlier post.)