The Jardín de Cactus in Guatiza features around 4,500 specimens from 450 species, representing 13 cactus families worldwide. Designed by César Manrique, this unique garden integrates vibrant architecture with its diverse cacti. Recognized internationally, it stands out as one of the most significant cactus gardens globally.
Tag Archives: flowers
Gardens galore
Me and my gardening buddy headed to the NEC for the horticultural wonderland that is Gardener’s World Live! Here’s the Kings Meadow – a delicious tide of every shade of cornflower and other wildflowers. Me giving peonies the stink eye – I adore them but they utterly refuse to grow in my garden! So itContinue reading “Gardens galore”
Floral heaven
Madeira is known as a floral heaven due to its unique mild climate and you can’t move for a riotous bounty of colour and fragrance. The national flower of Madeira is the exotic and gorgeous ‘Bird of Paradise’, also called the Crane Flower and Strelitzia. The island is strongly influenced by the Gulf Stream andContinue reading “Floral heaven”
Floating in Funchal
We’re catching the Funchal cable car up to the botanical gardens. The cable car takes you 3200 meters upwards to the parish of Nossa Senhora do Monte, created in 1565 and now just known as Monte. Funchal shrinks into the distance as we head upwards. Resembling a tiny toy town way beneath us. Maderia isContinue reading “Floating in Funchal”
Valldemossa
We’re exploring some mountain towns today starting with the gorgeous flower festooned village of Valldemossa. There are a multitude of ornate hand painted tiles that grace almost every house. celebrating the only home grown saint on the Island – Catherine of Palma – who was a Spanish nun, born in Valldemossa and canonised in 1930.Continue reading “Valldemossa”
La Orotava
La Orotava is just one of the pretty little villages you can find in Tenerife if you move away from the crowded coast. The historic quarter stands at an altitude of 390 m (1,280 ft) and was declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1976. Its streets are sprinkled with buildings full of heritage. The typical balconies adorning the façades ofContinue reading “La Orotava”
Wildflowers
We’re stopping for a few nights in my old childhood haunt of Torquay now. Where I spent many a six week holiday growing up. The council have done a fantastic job of planting up the municipal borders with stunning wildflowers of every colour. We even spot a lil buzzy bee waving its fuzzy behind around.
Ventnor botanical Gardens
We’re discovering something new this time! With a trip to Ventnor Botanical Gardens. A trip around the varied flora of the globe without leaving the Isle of Wight! Being south-facing, and so close to the sea, frost rarely settles in the Ventnor Botanic Gardens, so they can grow a plethora of exotic plants year roundContinue reading “Ventnor botanical Gardens”
Sunflowers
Enroute from Bath to Stratford, way back in 2020 and we had pull over by the side of the road so I could enjoy this glorious field of sunflowers. Wonderful yellow bobbing heads stretched as far as the eye could see under a periwinkle blue sky. Even though it was during the pandemic, looking backContinue reading “Sunflowers”
Hello Hanoi!
Again! Back in the bustling chaos that is Hanoi. Bleary eyed after rolling off the night train at 6am and unable to check into our hotel until 3pm!!! So we while away a few early morning hours people watching. And Hanoi is very very full of people! Whether they are wheeling their fresh produce alongContinue reading “Hello Hanoi!”