Celebrating Agapanthus in Falmouth
FalmouthEverywhere you look in Falmouth right now, you'll be treated to a flowering sea of blue, as beautiful agapanthus burst into life all over town. Here's why we love them, tips to grow them, where you can see them, and why they're so famous in Falmouth...
Fresh from winning Falmouth in Bloom last week, we've been creeping through the hotel's gardens taking snaps of our blossoming agapanthus flowers. Check out our Flipagram video below to see our celebration of the 'Lily of the Nile":
We also spoke to our victorious gardener Richard on how to grow your own. He said: "Agapanthus thrive in any sunny position in the garden, but remember they'll need a lot of space as they bulk out. They're pretty happy in a hot summer climate and can tolerate less watering than many other plants. It's also really important to prune them by trimming off the flower heads after they've flowered, so they can store energy for the next flowering season. Commonly you'll find them in shades of blue and purple, but white and pink ones can also be spotted all over Cornwall."
We'd love to see your photos of agapanthus flowering in Falmouth on Instagram - just use the hashtag #agapanthusfalmouth
We have plenty of free gardens in Falmouth for you to stretch your legs and amble through. Here's our top three...
1. FOX ROSEHILL GARDEN is just a five minute saunter from us – a peaceful hideaway which is a legacy from the Fox family who gave part of the garden for public enjoyment at the end of the Second World War. Find lemon and banana trees amongst eucalyptus, bamboos and dappled palms.
2. KIMBERLY PARK is a seven acre oasis, home to many fine ornamental trees and formal bedding areas. It has helped Falmouth win many Britain in Bloom competitions. The gardens at Kimberley Park pre-date 1877 and are named after the Earl of Kimberley, who leased the parks to the Borough of Falmouth. The variety of trees are much admired by horticultural buffs, including staff at Kew Gardens. The walk here from St Michaels Hotel is just 15 minutes.
3. QUEEN MARY GARDENS are literally steps from us. Peaceful, relaxing, and framed by Monterey Pines, the gardens provide a perfect retreat from the energy of Gyllyngvase beach. Opened in 1912 to commemorate the coronation of Queen Mary (the wife of George V), the gardens are renowned for their sub-tropical species thriving in Cornwall's milder climate. Dive under gigantic Gunnera, get lost amongst towering Echium, and admire the blooming Agapanthus.
Or if you fancy a longer stomp, Glendurgan or Trebah gardens are perfect day trips.
Darren Dickey, Head Gardener at Trebah, said: "The agapanthus are actually part of the onion family and their origins date back to 1629 when they were first introduced to the UK. Called the Love Flower from Africa, they would have been highly desirable and only affordable by those who had deep pockets. Their exotic look with striking dark blue to creamy white star-bursts would have attracted a lot of attention as there would have been nothing quite them flowering in August."
"Cornwall's mild maritime climate, and its coastal gardens like Trebah, suited this tender perennial. With its ability to tolerate salt and thrive in poor soil, it would have grown out of every available crevice - even colonising the sand dunes of Tresco in the Isles of Scilly. It wasn’t until the twentieth century when hybridising took place – a particular favourite of mine at Trebah being Agapanthus ‘Navy Blue,’ developed by the then Treasurer of the RHS, the Honourable William Palmer."
VIEW OUR PINTEREST BOARD AND INSTAGRAM IMAGES TO SEE A PLETHORA OF CORNISH AGAPANTHUS.
