Hydrangea valley 'flourishing' despite dry spring

Hydrangeas are flourishing in a Cornwall garden despite a very dry spring, according to staff.

The shrubs were originally planted at Trebah Garden, Falmouth, to supply cut flowers to London's Covent Garden Flower Market in the 1950s.

Gardeners said although the flowers were no longer sent to Covent Garden, they still travelled well out of the county to go on display at various different shows and events.

Thousands of visitors also visit Trebah each year to see its display of hydrangeas.

Head gardener Darren Dickey said: "Although we have had a very dry spring and early summer, the Hydrangea Valley at Trebah is thankfully still looking glorious.

"In a normal Cornish summer, they would have benefitted from the odd misty or damp day, but not this year.

Trebah Garden's hydrangeas are flourishing despite lacking the normal rainfall

"Due to the prolonged dry spell, we have resorted to irrigating them using water pumped straight from the large pond that they border.

"This is unprecedented and something that, in the 34 years I've worked at Trebah, we have never had to do.

"We are fortunate that this pond is constantly fed from a natural spring that flows down from the top of the garden.

"In recent years, we have also installed a water pipe that runs down the east side of the garden in preparation for hotter summers."

After the summer season, the remaining hydrangeas are hand-pruned in January, ensuring the next year will bring an equal display of blooms, gardeners said.