Herbaceous Border Gardens of Heligan
Within another enclosed wall, this formal garden was once deemed Britian's finest example of herbaceous borders at the end of the19th century and is being restored to once again claim excellence. My spring visit misses the floral exerburance of this, 'The Sundial Garden' which contains hundreds of old varieties and more than 75 shrubs. The central sundial is the original, as is the surviving Handkerchief Tree (Davidia involucrata) rising above the back wall.
Within yet another enclave, the Italian Garden features its restored reflecting pond as viewed from the renovated summer house which is still graced by the original kiwi vine, one of the first to be brought to England.
Heligan
Wild : A Year of Nature in the Lost Garden
by Colin Howlett