One of the many highlights of our recent holiday in Cornwall was a trip to Varfell Farm near Penzance. Home to the National Dahlia Collection since 1998, the current custodians, Winchester Growers, have created a two acre display garden that features over 1600 varieties.
Having seen my parents’ photos from a previous visit, I knew we were in for treat, but nothing could have prepared me for the riot of colour that greeted us as we arrived at the farm.
So, here’s a little dahlia-related trivia to dazzle you:
Within the UK, The National Dahlia Society issues a ‘Directory of Dahlias’ with classifications relating to flower and petal formation. These are further sub-divided according to flower style.
There are 9 dahlia formation classifications and each dahlia variety within the Collection is identified by Catalogue No, Name, Formation, Colour and Flower Size. My favourites definitely come from the Pompon, Waterlilly and Semi Cactus classifications.
For the green-fingered among you, the dahlia garden provides an opportunity to browse the beds and order some of the new varieties for delivery the following spring. Alternatively, your chosen flowers may be available to buy in a pot right away.
I’ll be honest though, I was just there for the pretty pictures!
The Collection regularly exhibits at the RHS Chelsea, Hampton Court, Tatton Park and Westminster Shows and has achieved Gold Medal Awards at all of them on more than one occasion. As you stroll along the flower beds, past towering blooms with delicate, perfectly formed petals, it’s easy to see why.
It felt quite magical exploring row-upon-row of beautiful flowers in the sunshine, each bloom more enchanting than the last. I asked the children to seek out a few favourites for me to photograph, but their list was soon 15 strong!
Stand in just the right spot on a clear day and you’ll be treated to a dreamy view of St. Michael’s Mount beyond the flowerbeds.
The dahlia garden at Varfell Farm is open daily between 9am and 5pm from mid-July to the end of September, usually on an ‘open but unattended basis’ at no charge. The opening period is sometimes extended into October, pending weather conditions and the dahlias remaining in flower.
After our visit, we headed five minutes down the road to Tremenheere Sculpture Garden which is also well worth a visit and an ideal spot for lunch. Tremenheere Kitchen is open all year round, seven days a week, and while we didn’t eat there on this occasion, the food being delivered to tables as we wandered past looked delicious.
A savvier blogger probably would have posed among the dahlias in a pretty frock or some other high-end ensemble, but alas, I was in my beach clothes, ready to spend the afternoon at Praa Sands. {And yes, jeans and a comfy jumper totally count as beachwear. We were holidaying in Cornwall, not the Costa del Sol!}
Have you been to Varfell Farm? Do you love dahlias as much as I do?!
Love Audrey xxx
