For the last in her Morrab Miscellany series, Julia meditates in the serenity of a Zen garden, and selects spectacular flowering plants beginning with 'Z'
Julia recalls the dazzling yellow of chrysanthemums featuring in the Vietnamese spring festival, and returns to a chilly northern Europe for the mid-winter festival of Yuletide
Julia muses on the time Virginia Woolf spent in Cornwall - did she perhaps visit Morrab Gardens? - recalls the work of the visionary poet William Blake and gets some inspiration for the garden in Winter
Reaching V in her miscellany, Julia celebrates the work of Volunteers - in particular the Friends of Morrab Gardens who volunteer their time and skills to assist in the upkeep of the gardens.
Reaching U in her blog, Julia considers unwelcome visitors - both human and non-human! On a happier note we remember Reginald Upcher, who designed Morrab Gardens more than 140 years ago, and celebrate a garden writer who has provided her readers with a great leap forward in UNDERSTANDING how to garden better
Julia celebrates trees in some of the notable gardens around Penzance, takes a trip to Tresco and enjoys a fictional account of the life of gardener and naturalist John Tradescant.
With a reminder that the natural world is already preparing for spring, Julia considers the work and legacy of sculptor Barbara Hepworth, the symmetry of David Hicks' garden designs and a local example of sustainability in gardening.
In Julia's stroll through the alphabet we reach R and meet garden designer Humphry Repton who was famed for his Red Books; and Scottish poet Robbie Burns known for comparing his love to a red, red rose.
Reaching Q, Julia finds gardens that offer moments of quiet, celebrates a radio classic and recalls a poet and novelist who was known as ‘the greatest living Cornishman'.