The last time I visited Heligan, one of the woodland paths was closed off because a new sculpture was being installed. Today I returned to see Lowarnes for the first time. Lowarnes is Cornish for 'vixen' and this 6m tall statue is a wonderful tribute to a beautiful creature. It has been constructed from a 150 year old 'Cornish Red' Rhododendron tree that fell in the gardens during Storm Darragh in December 2024. The rich red wood really does resemble the russet tones of a fox's fur, and the overall look is very effective. The sun was shining today and the glowing red wood looked stunning against the fresh Spring leaves of the trees surrounding it.
The woodland floors were awash with bluebells and dotted with clumps of primroses. The magnolias, rhododendrons and camellias are mostly in full bloom, although some have gone over now. In the Sundial garden, the handkerchief tree is at its peak, absolutely dripping with the white bracts that give the tree its popular name. Ghost tree is another name, easy to see why, and Dove tree, although its proper name is Davidia Involucrata. The wisteria growing around the walled archway into the garden is just starting to flower and will look and smell incredible in just a few days time.
Spring is also a great time to see the baby animals, and my favourites were the 3 young goat kids. Named Archie, Angus and April, these 3 week old kids were enjoying frolicking in their paddock and making friends with the neighbouring donkeys. Cute!
Heligan is a wonderful place to visit at any time of the year, there is always something to see and enjoy. But Spring is always a special season, and warm sunshine such as we had today really shows the gardens at their best.
Until next time!
Please visit The Lost Gardens of Heligan website for more info about the gardens, ticket prices, etc. The postcode for visiting Heligan is PL26 6EN.