Monté Tropical Palace Gardens

Having seen the damage that was done in Monté, I will admit to being slightly apprehensive about what I would see in the gardens. So, Mum and I decided to go and visit the gardens and the museums.

As we entered the gardens, and walked across to the massive 1,000 year old olive trees, there didn’t seem to be any visible signs of damage, and the trees looked as robust as ever:

1000 year old Olive trees.



Then it was down to the museums. As normal, Mum and I went our separate ways, as she’s not a fan of the African sculptures. I am, and am quite content to take photos of these extraordinary figures.

After I’d been in the African gallery (and changed the batteries in the camera), I walked down the path to Mum and head into the other museum – the one that holds all the beautiful geodes. Admittedly, most of them are Amethysts of varying quality, but the way that they have been displayed is quite spectacular.

After we’d taken the photos, it was then time to head down into the gardens themselves. Again, we were wondering if there would be any damage visible, as we’d both seem the damage that had been done in Monte. But at first, the only thing that I was really interested in was the tree fern:

But just after I took this photo, I was stopped in my tracks by damage that had obviously occurred in the February storms:

This then lead me to move lower down, to where Monte’s version of the terracotta warriors had been…

At first glance, aside from the red and white tape, there didn’t seem too much damage done.  But a little further down, past the tape, the damage was quite obvious:

But what really made me smile was the damage hadn’t affected the Buddha statue.  Divine protection perhaps?

But this seemed to be the only area that was damaged, and as per normal. Mum and I separated, as there were bits that I wanted to see – including more cycads.  But what I didn’t expect to see was a robin perched in the cycad.

It stayed long enough for me to take the picture, and when I tried for a close up, it flew off. Ok – no worries, as it made me stop long enough to have a look around…I spotted a sort of hidden walkthrough…

I entered, and got the fright of my life when the lights came on, and something growled at me! When I had recovered my scattered wits, I saw what had scared me so badly. There was a motion sensor hidden in a sculpture:

There were three sculptures in all, but unfortunately, I couldn’t get them all in one shot, so I had to make do with individual photos:

As I went to re-join Mum, I stopped on the top of the waterfall that overlooked the main lake:

Once I had joined Mum by the lake, there was something that really made me giggle.  It was a seagull perched on the top of a statue in the lake.

The other thing that always stands out in my mind about the lake is the largest pot in the world.  No, I’m not joking, this is listed in the Guinness Book of Records:

It was then time to head to the coffee shop for a drink, as both Mum and I were in need of a sit down and a drink.

As we walked along, there was more evidence of the damage that had been done to the garden:

Once at the coffee shop, we chose a seat in the shade, and I started looking through the photos on my camera (deleting the ones that were obviously no good) when this sparrow hopped onto the railing beside me:

Then it hopped onto the table, with a determined glint in its eyes, as the previous people who had sta at the table had left crumbs from their cake…

Ah well, guess I should call this quits - I've got bits and pieces to sort out. Back later is I get the chance.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

Jardim Orquídea and the Botanical Garden

Mum and I decided that one of the places that we really wanted to revisit was Jardim Orquídea. So, as it was quite a walk (it’s a fair way out of the city centre and is up some tremendously steep hills) we decided to take a taxi.

Now normally, this isn’t a problem, but the taxi driver seemed only too keen to wait for us, telling us that we wouldn’t be there that long, and that he would drive us to the Botanical Gardens.

We politely declined the offer, and walked into Jardim Orquídea, with me carefully taking my camera out, ready to start taking photographs of the fabulous plants. As per normal, Mum and I split up, meaning that we both got different photographs of the various orchids (most of which I cannot identify to save my life!)

I can recall that this one is Macropelata ...

Paphiopedilum (I think)

No idea - think it might be a Miltonia...

No idea.

Think this one is a Dendrobium

Cymbidium

Phalenopis (no idea of variety)

Vanda

Think this one is a Cattalaya

In total, Mum and I spent about 2 hours there, walking around, taking photographs (and I was cursing the fact that I don’t have the right environment to keep some of these beautiful plants.) However, Mum fell for a plant and bought it. I think it was a little Cattalaya, but I know that it was only €12.

It was then time to head to the Botanical Gardens, which is allegedly 500m from Jardim Orquídea. What the guide books don’t tell you is that you almost need a mountain climbing kit, and the agility of a mountain goat to get there.

Because Mum was (and still is) suffering from Sciatica, we stopped halfway there (ok – we sat on a wall) to get a brief break before making the final ascent to the Botanical Gardens.

Once there, it was a case of walking to the coffee shop / café, where I left Mum and made my escape around the gardens. I know it sounds awful that I left her on her own, but she was quite happy as she had a couple of guide books and the paper to read. Me? I escaped with my camera, spare batteries and a bottle of water as it was quite hot - I think it was about 27 degrees Celsius (no idea what that is in Fahrenheit)

So, it was off to explore, and in my case, head straight for the Cycads.

These plants are the remnants of the mighty plants that were munched by the plant eating dinosaurs in the Jurassic age. Me? I adore them, as I think that the actual structure of the plant makes for some really stunning photographs.

 

Aside from the Cycads, the Botanical gardens are a real treasure trove of plants and flowers – everything from the traditional endemic plants found on the island, to the commercially important crops (such as apples and Monstera delicosa) to flowers such as the Hibiscus and quite a wide range of cacti.

The flower of Monstera delicosa

 The one flower that I was really pleased to be able to finally get a photograph of, was the White Bird of Paradise:

 

Strelitzia nicolai

Other things that caught my eye weren’t actually the plants – they were animals. As I was photographing the Cycads, I spotted a white peacock. It was a true white, as opposed to an albino, as the eye was black.

 

But the one thing that really made me smile was a lizard. Yes, a lizard. I’d stopped for a drink, and was sitting on a wall when I spotted this lizard cautiously sitting near me. Because I found it hot, I let a couple of drops of water land near the lizard (I didn’t want to scare it off) and was rewarded with the lizard staying put, allowing me to photograph it.

The one thing that did make me go green with envy was the bougainvillea that was scampering up the walls near the coffee shop. The colours were superb, and seemed to glow.

Ah well, guess I should call this quits for now – I’ve still got stuff I need to sort out for tomorrow!

Back when I get the chance…

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

The triffid has landed

Ok – more precisely, an Amaryllis. My desk has started to look like a miniature jungle again, with two amaryllis, a cactus and a peace lily.

The one amaryllis has refused to die down, so is still in full leaf on my desk. I doubt if it will flower this year, but at least the new one will. This one is a green flower (I’ll post a photo when it flowers) and at the moment, just looks like a giant onion bulb.

The cactus is something special. It’s Mammillaria compressa "Yokan" and according to my colleagues, it’s weird.

Me?  I think it's normal, and looks surprisingly good on my desk, where I jokingly refer to it as "Spikey" as it's covered in small vicious spines that are surprisingly hard to see and remove.

Ah well, guess I should do some work, but I'm suffering from TNFI, and it's only Tuesday!

Back later.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

Monte Tropical Palace Garden

As I said in previous posts – this garden merits a post all on its own, simply because it is such a spectacular place.

This garden is one of those places that takes you all over the world in horticultural terms, and also houses two beautiful museums. The first museum is devoted to African Art. Ok – I know it’s not to everyone’s taste, but the sculpture was really something special.

The second museum is the one that really catches the eye, simply because of the exhibits. They’re various geodes and other items that have been collected over the years, and are displayed in such a way that you just can’t help but be in awe of the wonders that nature produces.

The majority of the displays are amethyst geodes from Brazil, but that didn’t lessen the impact that they had. Some of them ranged from a fairly pale purple, though to the rich almost imperial purple that you associate with top quality amethyst.

 

However, the real reason for going to the garden was just that – the garden. This has all kings of exotic flora from my favourite cycads, to typical plants from the Madeiran archipelago, including the Bay tree (Laurus Azorica), Canary Island Juniper (Juniperus Cedrus), to the almost common Agapanthus plants.

Each area seemed to have a distinct theme, and one of my favourite areas (aside from the cycad area) was the Japanese inspired garden. Why? Because the walkways and bridges that link this area are painted a bright red, which stands out magnificently against the lush greenery.

 

 

Aside from that, the scenery is just spectacular, and the little café has some of the most special memories for me. Why? Because of a cheeky little chaffinch. There was a lady sitting behind Mum and myself, with a cake of some description, and the chaffinch kept perching on the back of the spare chair, eyeing up the crumbs, if not the cake itself.

It seemed to get braver the more time it spent looking at the crumbs, and finally ended up hopping onto the table itself!

When it saw me with the camera, it seemed to turn around to me, and say ”oh, yeah? And what’s your problem, mate?” I just couldn’t resist the chance, and snapped the cheeky little thing.

But the patience was rewarded – it got the crumbs, and even hopped onto the edge of the plate to make sure it didn’t miss anything.

When the chaffinch flew away (I’m amazed it could fly, the amount that it had eaten – greedy little thing.) I decided to see what I could see from the little viewpoint. I wasn’t disappointed, as I got the most fabulous views of the western side of Funchal.

Ah well – time to call this quits – I need to get some sleep, as I have an early start tomorrow.

Back when I get the chance…

Karen


Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most