Found Garden

I have been looking forward to visiting The Lost Gardens of Heligan for years now. Nearly 10 years ago, I read the book by Tim Smit about his discovery--along with a friend--of this estate hidden under plants neglected for nearly a century. I watched a BBC program about Heligan's commitment to sustainable practices. That's when the plan for visiting Cornwall took shape.

Ultimately, I was mostly captivated by the sad history of this place. My interest in it begins with my deep affection for Wilfred Owen's poetry, with my long-held belief that, at least in the US, World War I is a forgotten war. So few people seem to have any awareness of how the war impacted every part of life in the UK. Heligan's history illustrates that so well. Before the war began, 23 individuals worked on the grounds of the estate. So many proud young men signed up to fight for their country, and three years later, only eight of them were left.

The gardens are lovely. The memorials scattered throughout the gardens, however, serve as a powerful reminder of what exactly was lost.

I'll just leave you with photos from the garden and let them speak for the place.

At the entrance of the garden

The first of many memorials we saw today

The glasshouses in the flower garden house peach trees

I love the memorial plaque on the bench in this peaceful garden

One of many beautiful fanned fruit trees

This marks an honor bestowed by the
Imperial War Museum

Tools and pots left behind in the beautiful
potting shed, waiting for the gardeners

The spot seemed so peaceful

That's Diggory the Scarecrow in the
kitchen garden

Just one section of the long archway of apple trees

Another memorial in one of the glasshouses

Bluebells in the woodland

This gives me an idea...

We're off to church at Truro Cathedral tomorrow and to visit a few other spots nearby. Stay tuned.