Terraced Mediterranean slope
Holidays to Crete and Italy inspired this Cornish haven, filled with palms and hardy exotics. Owner Kathleen Ward reveals its highlights
There’s something distinctly exotic about this compact garden in Cornwall. Enjoying its own special microclimate on the Roseland peninsula, the garden offers such mild conditions that a wide range of tender plants can thrive here. For owner Kathleen Ward, it’s a private haven filled with her favourite citrus, olive and palm trees. “I had thought about retiring to the Mediterranean but chickened out,” she says. “I worked for 32 years as a primary school teacher in the north of England, and have always enjoyed holidays to Crete and Italy. I finally decided to retire to Cornwall in 2007, and I’m very glad I did.” Kathleen was attracted to the property because of its location. “The house was raised above the road and the garden was very quiet and private. It’s a warm and sheltered site, close to the River Fal, just five minutes drive from the coast. As a result, I can grow lots of tender plants outdoors all year round, including South African restios, red-flowered grevillea and kumquats.” The garden was mostly laid to lawn when Kathleen moved in. “While the house was being renovated, in 2008, the garden became HOLIDAY FEEL (clockwise from right) Views are framed by a slender Magnolia grandiflora, with rosemary, grasses and a red-leaved cotinus beyond; spiky trachycarpus with chamaerops and ferns; red grevillea; white iris ‘Moonlight Waves’; the top terrace, with potted citrus trees; palms, olives and a weeping Japanese pagoda tree, Styphnolobium japonicum a building site. It had to be completely re-landscaped afterwards, with three new terraces, two small walls and steps using travertine [a form of limestone] from Spain. I wanted to create my own little slice of the Mediterranean.” Having set the scene with her travertine terraces, Kathleen bought in some mature specimen trees and Spanish and Italian plants from her local nursery. “I bought 10 different olive trees in different shapes and sizes, trachycarpus and chamaerops palms, bamboos, and grasses to complement the olive trees. I always remember seeing an ancient Cretan olive grove in April surrounded by grasses and wildflowers and have tried to recreate the same effect here.”
Kathleen has removed all the original lawn grass and replaced it with gravel paths fringed by large white cobblestones. “I like to group the cobbles around plants to highlight them,” says Kathleen. “It creates the impression of a hot, dried-out riverbed and reminds me of walking trips along the Samaria and Imbros gorges in Crete, with the air full of the scent of herbs.” Each of the different garden levels has a separate seating area where Kathleen likes to read, relax or have lunch. “My dog Holly prefers the open top terrace, as the travertine absorbs the heat from the midday sun,” she says. “The lower seating areas are more shady, but wherever you sit you can enjoy glimpses of the garden through the grasses and bamboos.” This clever transparency effect is enhanced by trimming off the lower leaves of golden Phyllostachys aureosulcata aureocaulis bamboo, to reveal its greenishgolden stems. To help screen the house from the road Kathleen has planted four black mulberry trees (Morus nigra). “I keep them tightly clipped and have underplanted them with a blue haze of Verbena bonariensis, fragrant lavender and scabious.” Below the mulberries is a long narrow gravel path, lined with lavender on one side and rosemary on the other. “As you walk along you brush through the plants, releasing their scent,” says Kathleen. Lemon, orange and clementine trees grow in pots near the kitchen door. “I’ve only had them four years but they’re quite large and all of them fruit. Last winter I only had to cover them with fleece once.” Repeated use of statement plants and a controlled colour palette bring a sense of cohesion across the different garden levels. “I’ve used pink, blue, purple and white flowers, with a bright splash of lemon-yellow,” says Kathleen. “I love the fragrant yellow blossom of my mimosa (Acacia dealbata), which flowers from the end of January to the end of March. Then in summer I sit out under the lemon-yellow leaves of Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’ on my small chamomile lawn – I call it my golden umbrella!” ✿