This year it has not been possible to hold Falmouth's Christmas Tree Festival as we usually would at Princess Pavilion and Gyllyngdune Gardens, but we were determined that this much loved event would still be celebrated, albeit in a different way. The Festival itself has gone virtual, although The Mayor of Falmouth, Steve Eva, has kindly donated a beautiful tree to display at Gyllyngdune Gardens grown locally by Paul and Joy Watts on their Christmas Tree farm down the road at Playing Place, so that there is still a little bit of actual Christmas sparkle to brighten people’s day. Community groups, families

Sedum Spectabile Common name:StonecropsGenus:SedumSpecies:SpectabileExposure:Full sunHardiness:HardySoil type:Neutral to AlkalineHeight:45cmsSpread:100cms A clump forming perennial with upright, unbranched green stems, which originates from China and Korea. It can tolerate the severest of continental climates, including exposed upland locations in the UK, withstanding temperatures as low as -20°C (-4°F). It prefers well drained, dry, poor to moderately fertile soil, producing flowers in dense, flat cymes to 15cm (6in) across. These attract bees, butterflies and hoverflies, providing food late into the year. These beautiful plants can be found in the parks and gardens in Falmouth and along the seafront.

ANIGOZANTHOS flavidus Common name:Kangaroo PawFamily:HaemodoraceaeGenus:AnigozanthosExposure:Full sunHardiness:Semi-hardySoil type:Well drained/ sandy loamHeight:180cmsSpread:60cms Originating from Southwest Australia, this perennial plant forms a clump of strap-like leaves growing from an underground rhizome, which has evolved to allow the species to regenerate after drought or fire. When established each plant can produce over 350 flowers on long stems, which can grow up to 1.8m in height. The tubular flowers grow at the end of each flower stem in groups of six and have pointed lobes, which curve at their tips giving them a paw-like appearance, hence their common name of ‘Kangaroo Paw’. Tiny hairs cover the flowers,

Agapanthus are summer-flowering plants, grown for their showy flowers which are commonly in shades of blue and purple, but also white and pink. They thrive in any well-drained, sunny position in the garden, as well as in containers and can be seen in all of Falmouth’s parks and gardens, as well as along the seafront.

https://youtu.be/Dm043jAyKhI WELCOME BACK! Falmouth Library is now open with temporary reduced opening times in place as we slowly get back to normal: MONDAY – FRIDAY9.30am – 1pm To keep both staff and customers safe an easy ‘click and collect’ borrowing method has been devised. You can order books browsing online and return books you may have been looking after for many weeks. Some of our services, including computer access and printing will be temporarily unavailable but we are working on bringing them back as soon as it is safe to do so.

Echium pininana Common name:     Pride of Tenerife Family:  Boraginaceae Genus:   Echium Exposure:  Full sun Hardiness:  Half hardy Soil type:  Well drained/ light Height: 400cms Spread:  90cms Echium pininana is a stunning plant for any sheltered border providing a tropical touch to the summer. It is commonly found on the Canary Islands where its flower heads can be seen growing out of the lush undergrowth. In its second year Echium pininana suddenly spurts into growth and prodcues a single 4m (13.1ft) high flower spike festooned with blue, funnel-shaped flowers. After flowering the plant scatters its seeds and dies. In Cornwall these will germinate where they land, but in colder areas seeds should be