This monkey's gone to heaven
Hello m' monkey chops,
Some gardens just bring out the inner monkey. Penjerrick Garden is one of them. This fifteen acre lush, sub-tropical jungle valley, can be found on the outskirts of Falmouth, between Buddock Water and Mawnan Smith. Only intrepid explorers with machetes and Rambo headbands need tackle this one. Even with a map to follow, we lost the paths as we climbed over fallen trees and waded through overgrown foliage. The kids and I were simultaneously terrified and enchanted.
The valley was purchased by the wealthy quaker Robert Were Fox, for use as a summer abode, in the early 19th century. Today, Penjerrick could be thought of as is the hidden relation of two better known, nearby gardens. Robert's brother Alfred Fox purchased Glendurgan Garden (now National Trust) in 1820, and brother Charles Fox started developing Trebah Garden from 1838. Penjerrick was left to the National Trust in 1990 but the endowment was not considered large enough, so was turned down.
Perhaps the family got a bit competitive over the Rhodededrum breeding (? ) Penjerrick's head gardener, Mr Smith, bred Rododendrum 'Glory of Penjerrick' (1903) and 'Penjerrick Cream'. This was after Robert's death, when the estate had passed to his son Barclay. These beauties can be found at Trebah (not sure about Glendurgan - I haven't visited for a bit - maybe that side of the family owed some ale).
Looking online at the description and pictures, the flowers start off strawberry red, then become a deeper pink, so I'm not sure. I suspect I may have captured one on camera at Tremough Walled Garden though back here.
By the time we got down towards the lower pond, we understood why there'd been a sign saying 'gumboots advised'. It was gloriously muddy despite the dry, sunny weather we've had all week.
Giant Gunnera -
Up by the 1930s slate hung house, there is the remains of a covered fernery and grotto.
This is where the honesty box can also be found for garden entry payment
(2021 prices: £3 adults / £1.50 children/ Gardeners' World 2-for-1 card valid)
Apart from a couple of small walking groups, we didn't see anyone else.
Owner Robert Were Fox was a famous geologist and natural philosopher of his time. He was known to have carried out scientific experiments in the acclimatization of plants. Robert is credited with naturalising more than 300 species. He formed a lasting friendship with the German polmath, geographer, naturalist and explorer, Avon Humboldt. Interestingly, Avon was the first person to describe human-induced climate changes, all the way back in 1800 !!! and again in 1831 ! - based on his observations during travels.
Now, I wonder if either of them had anything like this...
Following my last post here, you might have had many sleepness nights deliberating what the mystery glass object could possibly be! ;) There were some
fantastic suggestions in the comments section.
I can now reveal it is a..... Storm Glass Barometer
Ol 'glass eyed Mumrah picked it up on her wombles and posed the question on the Glass Message Board. This seems to be the go to place for weird glass identifications. This is what one Swedish member wrote -
'This type of barometer used to be a signature product at Skrufs glasbruk, Sweden. They named it a "pee barometer" (when air pressure sank, it could "pee"), also "thunder barometer". I'll try to find the advert showing one with blue dye in it. I think it was about half full of liquid".
So there you go! I have filled it with blue tinted water and hung it in the downstairs khazi. Now I shall sing 'It is time for stormy weather' by the Pixies, if the barometer starts to pee.That is actually the only lyric for the whole song, so I can't go wrong.
Here's a more lyrically clever song from the Pixies, and one I steal as the title for this post -
Monkey gone to heaven...
...where Neptune gets ' killed by ten million pounds of sludge from New York and New Jersey', and 'the creature in the sky' (God?) gets sucked into a hole (Ozone layer I presume?). Only the Pixies could make environmentalism ROCK back in 1989!!!! Check out how incredibly cool Kim Deal is on bass, ahhh my all time favourite lady in rock.
Hope you are well. I will be doing a big blog catch up reading session soon, so look forward to seeing some of you there...
Lulu xXx
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Love the feel of this garden - have put it on my list of places I have to visit. Reminds me of the jungle section of the Lost Gardens of Heligan with those magnificent ferns, bamboo and Gunnera - wonderful. All good wishes ~ Mike.
ReplyDeleteFunny that the website says it get more and more overgrown throughout summer - and it was already pretty jungly when we visited. Think some Tarzin ropes might be needed Mike! Take care, Lulu xXx
DeleteI need to ask did you shout'' Who's that trip trapping over myyyyyyyy bridge when you crossed that bridge... I know I would have been tempted.
ReplyDeleteHaha, yes I should have done Cherie! It was quite nerve wracking as a sign said 'Warning: Slippery - cross the bridge at your own peril'! Lulu xXx
DeleteDear Lulu
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful garden to explore - quite an expedition!. I visited Cornwall a good few years ago and went to Trebah, Heligan, Trewithen, Eden project etc, which were all lovely, but we didn't make it to Glendurgan. My favourite garden was Trevarno, for its wonderfully romantic atmosphere, sadly long since sold off, I believe.
Best wishes
Ellie
Hello Ellie, I've just looked up Trevarno - what a shame the estate has been split up. You are lucky to have seen it before its demise. When I visited Glendurgan, I had to cut our visit short and carry our then two year old daughter (now ten) all the way back through a terrific thunder storm. It was really like being at Jurassic Park! We'll have to return but mazes terrify me - so I'll avoid that. Trebah, Heligan and Eden we've visited more recently and thoroughly enjoyed. Lulu xXx
DeleteHi Lulu, Penjerrick Garden looks interesting. Anything that suggests you need boots and has a wooden footbridge and a Gunnera gets my vote. There’s a certain frisson when you could slip and break a limb at any moment don’t you think? Love the storm glass barometer - the downstairs loo sounds like a good place to put one! Great to end on a musical note. Friends of ours are huge Pixies fans - I was a little late to the party, but really love some of their stuff now. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! x Claire
ReplyDeleteHaha, yes, 'frisson' indeed Claire! I'm hoping if the glass barometer starts to pee, it falls in the sink below, and does not streak the wall with blue piss. I discovered the Pixies some time around 1992 when I found out they were one of Kurt Cobain's favourite bands - and was excited to find out Kim Deal (whom I loved from The Breeders) played with them. Your friends have great taste. Lulu xXx
DeleteWhat fantastic gardens - that will go on the list for our next trip down to Cornwall!
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear it. Don't forget your boots and machette! Lulu xXx
Deletealexander von humboldt is my hero since childhood - since i read his south america diary the first time (later again & again).
ReplyDeletethe garden/park is stunning - what an adventurous place - especially for kids. and even better with not much visitors..... like the setting of a fairy tale or discovery story.
A BAROMETER!! of cause! please report what happens if a storm arrives at yours!
xxxxx
Oooh, the South American diary sounds interesting Beate, I shall have to look out for that. It is nice to feel like we're getting away from it all, just 20 mins down the road. I will be sure to report back on whether the storm barometer actually works! Lulu xXx
DeletePenjerrick Gardens look wonderful. What a brilliant price, too. It looks like a Jurrasic park set with all those tropical leaves and shadiness.
ReplyDeleteThe Pixies were supposed to be headlining End of the Road last year and Jon & I were dead excited, sadly it wasn't to be and they aren't able to get here for this year's festival. Boo! xxx
Yes, just needs some dinosaurs and Jeff Goldblum Vix! What a shame you didn't get to see the Pixies. I watched back in 2004 at Old Trafford and loved them. They are so good live! and funny too. Hopefully they'll make it back over at some point. Lulu xXx
DeleteI must go to Penjerrick - it's not far and am sure Lainy would love it. At least, I hope they allow dogs. Thanks for the tip Lulu! x
ReplyDeleteHello Sue, I've just double checked the website and it says 'Dogs on leads welcome', so Lainy can have some jungly fun in there! Hope you both enjoy it. Lulu xXx
DeleteWhat a fabulous place, with some weird and wonderful plants; I would love to go there when it's getting dark so I can get lost and have to stay the night camping. Never heard of a hanky or tulip tree, off to google them now, whatever they are I know I want one of each. that barometer thingy is intriguing, it reminds me of a dream I keep having where I find those beautiful enormous bottles they used to have on the shelves of old pharmacies, they won't let me take the one I have chosen and I have to leave empty handed - they are filled will varying amountsof blue liquid like your thingy! Need a dream interpreter - probably glass half full or empty type stuff.....
ReplyDeleteYou are brave Betty! Are you a dab hand with a Ray Mears style tree hammock? I was quite glad we were hours from nightfall. I think we would actually get lost! The handkerchief and tulip trees are both big beefy and spectacular. Oooh, what a weird dream. Wonder why the colour is blue too, hmmm, interesting.... Lulu xXx
DeleteOooh, I think I'd like to visit this place! Is it anywhere near Portreath as I'm going there in August. SO exciting and mysterious! Those Foxes liked their gardens and estates didn't they!
ReplyDeleteHello Kezzie, sorry I seem to have missed your comment at the time :0 It's not too far from Portreath - a 40 ish minute drive, traffic pending. I'll come over shortly to you blog and leave a message, just in case you don't see this. There are a couple of places closer to Portreath that you may like.... Lulu xXx
DeleteGlory of Penjerrick blooms around March 21 for the beginning of Spring. The original plant of Penjerrick may be lost. I was not able to find it. There is a huge Glory of Penjerrick at Trebah. The flower opens almost red and becomes paler much paler in the throat. The leaves have a typical gutter shape.
ReplyDeleteHello Yves, thank you so much for your help. That's very interesting. I have a feeling there may be one by the walled garden at Tremough campus, but haven't been able to confirm this. I shall have to visit Trebah next spring. I am long due a visit! Thanks again for the description and tip off. Lulu xXx
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