Cornwall in Focus News

From Chelsea to chutney

Published 23 May 09 11:50

Whether you have acres or window boxes, the Chelsea Flower Show rarely fails to excite even the most reluctant gardener. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Cornwall is blessed with a sub-tropical climate and has a variety of gardens to visit. From the much publicised Eden Project, with its own agenda, to the Lost Gardens of Heligan with a story to tell, hinted at in its name. For the more adventurous there is the Abbey Gardens on Tresco, one of the Isles of Scilly, which can be reached by the Scillonian ferry or helicopter from Penzance. Fly by Skybus from Bristol and Southampton as well as Land's End, Newquay and Exeter.

The majority of National Trust Houses also have spectacular gardens which can be visited separately from the houses. Perfect for picnics on sunny days. As you wander through these places of peace and colour you can imagine your very own 'corner of Britain' flourishing in this way and return home with determination. Plants are usually for sale at any gardens you visit, but do take advice from the assistants. What flourishes in Cornwall may not be so happy in the soil and climate of the West Midlands.

If it's too soon in your holiday, or you have too far to travel to consider a purchase, make a note of the plant name and call into a Garden Centre later on. After all, who wants to fly back from Tresco nursing a 1.5m potted palm?.

Eden and some of the RHS and National Trust Properties also have kitchen or vegetable gardens. Ideas for variety, layout and interspersing veg. and flowers can be found here.
So many vegetables, especially salad types and strawberries of course, spring to mind and can be very successfully grwon in tubs and window boxes. Nothing beats picking the lettuce for your lunch about 5 minutes before you eat. Children too love the quick growth of such plants and to be able to eat them is great. The big houses often use their produce in their restarants and you may find some for sale in the shop. Home-made jams and chutneys are often found too.

Should you be inspired to bottle your own preserves, there is always the 'Pick Your Own' for all kinds of seasonal produce. Farmers Markets offer quality seasonal local products, available in abundance.

This can give a cheap productive day out for the family and then delicious jars of jam or chutney for months to come at home. Ideal for unusual gifts for that person you are stuck to buy for.

Recipe inspirations can be found in a multitude of easy to follow cook books and hopefully you can find some ideas there to fill those "I'm Bored!" days in the school summer break that will soon be upon us.

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