Lamorran Gardens
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Beautiful Lamorran Gardens is situated off the Upper Castle Road in the small town of St Mawes on the Roseland Peninsula.
The stunning and inspiring four acre sub tropical garden at Lamorran House has a diverse range of plants from locations all over the world. The intention was to create an intimate garden very much in the mould of Mediterranean gardens with water ever-present both as a backdrop to the garden and with running water featured in the many pools and streams.
The garden is set in a stunning position on the side of a hill where sub tropical plants flourish, and offers superb sea views to spectacular St Anthony's Head and its lighthouse. It was featured in the Nation's Favourite Gardens programme by the BBC in 2002.
The water gardens at Lamorran are in Mediterranean and Japanese style settings. The Japanese garden has a grotto and a waterfall. The Mediterranean-style garden exhibits innovative terrace-plantings in the style of the great gardens of the Italian Riviera.
When owner Robert Dudley-Cooke moved to Lamorran House in 1982, he brought many varieties of rhododendrons and evergreen azaleas with him. The garden now boasts over 500 varieties of azaleas. It is said to be the most northerly Palm Garden in the world possessing over 35 species of palms as well as an extensive collection of tree ferns.
Above a wall of bougainvillea stands a small temple while a Venetian styled bridge which provides visitors with views out to sea. Other features are a Koi pond, waterfall and wishing well.
There is an extensive collection of tree ferns, Dicksonias and many Cyathea species. There are also areas of the garden dominated by Southern hemisphere plants from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Chile.
The garden is open to the public April to September, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10am to 5pm.
Directions
On approaching St Mawes, after the concrete water tower turn right and follow brown tourists signs for Lamorran garden.