Funchal & it's delights - Jardim Orquidea and the Botanical Gardens

The one thing that I really love is the flowers and gardens in Madeira. The best example for me is Jardim Orquida (see http://www.madeiraorchid.com/), which houses some of the most magnificent orchids that I have ever seen (or had the pleasure of photographing) I just wish I could have captured the scent of some of the orchids - it was truly knock out - especially the Cattalaya orchids.

The entrance to Jardim Orquida is nothing much to look at, on first glance. However, it's when you get inside that the magic really happens.

There were so many orchids (and I took so many photos) that it's hard to say what really caught my imagination the most. But the one thing that really stuck out for me, was the variety of orchids that were on display - including Vanda orchids that ranged in colour from a very pale blue/mauve to a rich blue (as in my photo below)

Some of the flowers were just weird (and I admit - I don't know very many of the names!)

Bu the one that did catch my eye, was a Dendrobium:

The one thing that did upset me, was the fact that some of the plants weren't labeled. When I asked why, I was told that it was for security reasons, as the plants tended to be the rarer varieties. This was because in the past, when they had been labeled, orchid collectors had stolen the plants.

The only thing I wanted to do was take photographs - and curse that I don't have the right cultivation conditions for these beautiful plants. But that doesn't stop me trying - OK - more to the point, doesn't stop Mum trying - she went and bought one of the plants that was on sale. A Dendrobium (don't think it was the one I liked though). She brought it back in her flight bag and it is now growing happily in the kitchen.

After we went to Jardim Orquidea, Mum and I walked to the Botanical Gardens. (See http://www.madeirabotanicalgarden.com/)  Ok - it's supposed to be 200 metres from where we were, but the trouble was there were no obvious signs and I guess that Mum and I walked more like 500 metres.  But as far as I was concerned, it was well worth it.  Why? Because we came in at the bottom end of the garden, near the Cycads.

Ok - I admit it - I have a real love of these facinating prehistoric plants, and everywhere that they grew, I tried to get photographs.  Don't ask me what species they were, because I honestly don't know.  But that wasn't the only attraction of the Botanical Garden for me. 

Whilst Mum was resting with a cold drink (she wasn't feeling too good) I made my escape and found all sorts of interesting things to photograph - including plants that I didn't even know flowered.  Why?  Because here in the UK, we treat them as foliage plants - things like the Swiss Cheese plant (Monstera Edulis)

The central spathe of this plant is edible, and is sold in the market as a fruit.  It's an aquired taste, I have to admit, but it was one that I did manage to aquire...

There was such a wide variety of plants that there is no way that I can show everything that I saw.  The one thing that I do remember (for a variety of reasons) was the carpet bedding display.

There are channels of water between parts of the displays, and the reason I remember this, is because they were covered with algae, and I had to warn Mum that they were not grass... 

However, someone also thought that they were grass.  I was photographing the Cactus display that over looks the carpet bedding when I heard a splash.  Yes, you guessed it, someone had tried to walk on the "grass" and fell into the water.  I'd be lying if I said I didn't laugh.

Aside from that, there were lots of things that I found facinating (apart from the cycads) - including a Ginger Lilly that was taller than me!

But the plants weren't the only thing that caught my imagnination.  The spectacular scenery was something that I just couldn't resist trying to get photographs of:

Aside from the plants (and spectacular scenery) the peacocks that strutted around the gardens seemed to show no fear of visitors.  I managed to get a couple of shots whilst I was taking a quick break (ok - I was seated reviewing some photos on my camera!)

However, the real fun came when I joined Mum at the coffee shop.  There were about three peacocks "mugging" people for crumbs (and larger bits if they could get them) and two of them were "scared" (I use the term very loosly) by one of the rangers who was near by.  The third peacock hid, and when the ranger's back was turned, made the most of the lack of competition!

But the others didn't stay away for long, and by the time Mum and I left, there were five peacocks - the other two had brought their mates with them!

Ah well - guess I should call this quits - I need to get some sleep as I'm back in the playpen tomorrow.

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

Starting the weekend...

Well, the plan to go to Ashwood nurseries went to the wall, simply because they were holding one of their "behind the scenes" weekends, and it had featured on Midlands Today - one of the local news programs.

Mum didn't feel too good, and was worried that my ribs and shoulder would get bumped and bashed, thus putting me in an evil mood, and that was something that she had no intention of doing.. Why, I have no idea, as I'm such a little sweetheart when I've been bumped and barged. Believe that, and you'll believe in the Tooth Fairy as well!

So, Mum and I headed to Merry Hill. Which should be re-named Merry Hell, as that was what Mum was playing about the parking. Because she's not too good when it comes to walking long distances,has what Dad used to refer to as a "park anywhere ticket" - i.e. a blue disabled person's badge, that allows her (in theory) to get parked in larger spaces, closer to the entrance of the shops.

Fine in theory, but Merry Hill doesn't seem to have enough parking spaces full stop, let alone enough disabled slots, thus meaning that we had to park at the bottom end of the car park, and take a very slow walk to the entrance of the shopping centre.

Once we'd gotten over that hurdle, it was a case of seeing if either of us could find anything for my cousin's October wedding. I was tempted by this beautiful ice blue dress, but even in the petite (ok - short) section, this damned dress was nearly floor length - which went down like a lead balloon with me.

My mood wasn't helped when the smarmy sales assistant said that it would "look better with high heels." That was not the best thing to say to me, as I loathe heels, and Mum was sniggering at the thought of me wearing a dress. So, I've decided that I'm going to look for a dark coloured trouser suit, and have a brightly coloured top underneath the jacket.

We got several bits and pieces - but nothing for the wedding apart from a few ideas, and headed for home, where I was able to check my 'phone. I'd got a couple of missed calls from my friend (who was working - I gave that up as a bad job when I joined my present company!) He was his normal mickey taking self, asking me if I'd left my 'phone on a high shelf again, and would I call him when I got chance.

Not a problem - I just made myself scarce (the excuse being that I was going to watch the rugby on BBC1)... I called him and he asked if I was ok, and I could tell that he was worried I'd been horse riding - without my body armour.

Ok - I'm dumb, but I'm not that dumb, and I told him that I'd been shopping with Mum at Merry Hill, and that I was going to go back to the saddler's next weekend to see if the body armour fitted, and if it did, I could contemplate starting riding again.

He didn't sound too keen on that idea, but I think he's realised that there's not a lot that he can do if I do decide to go riding - apart from lecture me, which I'll just ignore as per my usual trick!

Time to call this quits - my damned mobile's ringing...

Back when I get chance.

Karen
Learning to fly, but I don't have wings

What a weekend....

Saturday was quite good - I went into Coventry and met up with Carole and Amber - who seemed determined to play up - at least whilst she was with her mother! In the end, Carole got so fed up with her, she detatched the wrist strap from her arm, and said "here - you look after the little monster".

As soon as I put the strap around my wrist, Amber was as good as gold, walking along, sucking her thumb, and clinging onto me for grim death! (I think it might have been something to do with the fact that I promised her a Thornton's chocolate lolly!)

I left the pair of them later in the afternoon and got my hair cut / coloured, and got myself seriously relaxed, as I was going to be driving down to RHS Wisley - to see my daft friend.

I was supposed to meet up with him at 10:00, but I managed to get caught up in the aftermath of an accident on the M40... He called me at 09:35, and said that he was at Wisley, and wanted to know where I was!

Answer - belting down the M40 towards Princes Risborough, at a rather rapid pace (ok - about 90mph!) and was doing my best to get to Wisley with a clean driving license!

I got to Wisley at 10:15, and got parked, and walked up to my friend - who called out across the carpark...

"So what time do you call this, lover?"

I just grinned, as I saw the look on people's faces - they just didn't know what to make of the pair of us, especially as he hugged me - and to be honest, I thought he was trying to break my ribs - it was like a bear hug! I didn't object, as I knew that he didn't mean any harm, and that it was just his normal way of greeting me.

We walked across to the entrance of the gardens, and as I was smart enough to have grabbed Mum's RHS card, we got in for free - pest and guest!

The first thing that you see when you walk in, is a water Lilly pond, and there was a suggestion that I was used as a depth gauge - as in throw me in to see how deep it was! I pointed out that any attempt to do that would result in him being pulled in with me!

That made him laugh, and I suggested that we went to get a coffee - my treat, by way of an apology for being late. We sat talking, and it was like I'd only seen him a few days ago - I felt so relaxed in his company.

We decided to take a walk around the gardens, and swapped jokes and stories, and generally got to know each others' likes and dislikes... What I didn't realise was that he is very keen on roses - and I've suggested that next rose season, we head up to Austin Roses at Albrighton.

What I didn't realise at the time, was the fact that we share a similar outlook on life - as in there are friends that you trust to a certain extent, and then there are the friends that you trust implicitly - and would move heaven & earth to help.

I know this sounds silly, but this fella is one of those people that I would gladly drop everything and help - even if it was only just to provide an ear for him to bend, and a shoulder to fall apart on. Equally - I know that it works the other way, as he was the one who stopped me from calling it quits earlier in the year.

As the gardens closed at 15:45, we decided to go to a nearby pub (The Anchor - just outside Wisley village) where we just sat chatting about all sorts of things, and generally putting the world to rights once again.
When we finally decided that we could do no more about the world, we called it quits - with promises of not leaving it so damned long before we met up again, as the pair of us had really enjoyed spending the day together.

I still stand by what I said the first time that I met him - he's a really sweet fella, and if we were both single and lived closer to each other (he lives about 100 miles south of me!) I would seriously consider having a crack at him, as he's the sort of fella who I can relax with, and lose the hard nosed cow image....

And no - no matter what happens - I'm not going to let anything spoil my friendship - my other half knows damned well that there are some things that are non-negotiable -and this is one of them!

Suppose I should call it quits - I'm supposed to be working, not blogging!
Back tomorrow if I get the chance.
Karen.
I walk where others fear to tread

Exploring the gardens..

Friday, Mum and I decided that we were going to go to the Botanical Gardens, as the pair of us are into our exotic plants...

The entrance was by the cable car, and was fronted by a magnificent pair of iron gates:



There was a wide variety of cacti, that I had only see growing under glass .. Things like the magnificent prickly pear - complete with it's stunning flower:



The rest of the garden was filled with plants that Mum and I had seen as conservatory plants in the UK, and occasionally in the wild, on our various travels...



But the one image that sticks in my mind is the famous Dragon Tree:



The hibiscus was the thing that Mum fell in love with, and I threatened to put sticking plasters on her finger nails, in order to stop her taking cuttings!



The rest of the gardens were lovely, and there was a small garden area located by the cafe.. The plants there were all poisonous, and I was quite taken with the idea of putting the cafe by them!




Time to call this entry quits - I'm being summoned for something!

Back tomorrow...

Karen.
I walk where others fear to tread

Back from my travels... Part I - The road to Cornwall

Well, I'm back from the West country, and to be honest, I feel like my batteries have been recharged. The weather was quite good - apart from Monday, when it rained on the way down, as well as raining whilst Mum and I were at RHS Rosemoor.

As I took my new toy with me, there'll be loads of piccys - and I'll split the details of the holiday into three parts - this first part will cover the trip down south, as well as the trip to RHS Rosemoor.

The trip down was unexceptional - Mum and I stopped off at Street in Somerset - where the Clarkes Shopping Village is. (See http://www.clarksvillage.co.uk/ for details.)

There were a variety of shops - my favorite being the Cadbury's factory shop - but only because I was able to get my two favorite sweets - Cadbury's Finger of Fudge and Milk bottle gums - sweets shaped like milk bottles, and are made with - milk.

We then headed to Rosemoor. As Mum wasn't feeling too good, we had a coffee, and plotted the route 'round the gardens, taking in the bits that were of interest to us both...

This was the first part that we looked at - the so-called Modern Rose garden. Not really a very good description in my opinion, as there were the so-called Old Roses - things like Rosa versicolour:

The beds themselves were well planned, and the majority of the roses were ones that Mum and I had seen at David Austin Roses, in Albrighton (See http://www.davidaustinroses.com/).

Despite the name, the rose garden contained other plants - one of my favorites being the hardy Geranium:

We then walked through one of the paths framed by one of the so-called Long Borders...

This long border had a mixture of perennial and annual plants - my favorite being the yellow Hemerocalis - I've got no idea which variety it is, as there was no lable in front of it...

This then lead to the herb garden, where I saw the most magnificent display of poppies. Not just any poppies - these particular poppies were Papavier somniforum - more commonly known as Opium poppies:

But these plants were not being used for illegal drug production - they were being used to provide a stunning backdrop to other plants that were in the herb garden...

Suppose I should call this entry quits - I'm supposed to be sorting out my damned e-mails, not blogging!

Back with more info on my holiday later, if I get the chance!

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Another week begins...

And I'm knackered! Add to that, the mere fact that my shoulder feels like there's some little demon sitting inside, carving its initials and other intricate drawings in the joint tissue and you get an idea of the reason why I'm feeling like this.

I must look & sound pretty rough, as my boss asked me if I was ok this morning, as "you're not as chirpy as normal." For him to notice, I must be flat!

But, I'm going to see the doctor tomorrow, and that way, I can make sure that I haven't done anything major to the joint. Still, at least I can still type (and update my blog!)..

The weekend was quiet, and Mum and I went to Bridgemere Garden World near Nantwich. Mum drove, as her car needed to get a proper run, and my shoulder wasn't 100% pain-free. We got parked, only to discover that Santa had arrived just before us, so the place was full of spoilt little brats.

Needless to say, neither of us were very impressed, as the pair of us have very little time for kids. Don't get me wrong - I do have time for kids - but not when they're screeching little b'stards, with no manners.

But, thankfully, the bits that Mum and I were interested in were well away from the screeching hoard. I treated Mum to a double flowered cyclamen, and a couple of amaryllis bulbs, as they're the sort of plants that she grows. Me? I bought myself a fern that will cope with drafts, and needs the compost to be kept wet, so that will survive on my desk (hopefully).

That reminds me - I did promise to keep this blog updated with progress reports on the cuttings... Well, the good news is, that they've all taken and there are now little Tradescantias all over the office - including on the boss's desk!

There have been jokes about me trying to turn the office into a greenhouse, but for me to do that, I really need to get a decent heating / ventilation system installed - then I could grow my real passion - Carnivorous Plants.

Yes - the things that eat meat - along the lines of the infamous Venus Fly-Trap in the classic musical - Little Shop of Horrors. (The plant was called Audrey II - the most memorable line from the plant was "feed me!")

Hmm - suppose I ought to call this entry quits, as it's nearly time to log off & bog off...

Back tomorrow - possibly.

Karen.
Do spiders scream when they see a big fat hairy human in the bath?

Tired - and I don't know why!

It's not as if I've pulled many late nights recently. If anything, I was flat out last night, before the end of Mastermind! I seem to recall waking about 23:30, squinting at my alarm clock, and then going back to sleep.

But, I had a slight lie-in this morning (I was up at about 07:30, instead of 06:30), so I guess that could explain the reason why I'm tired -too much sleep instead of too little! The reason why I managed the lie in, was because for three days this week, I'm working from 09:30 to 17:30.. The other two days, I work (or rather attend) between 09:00 and 17:00...

As I promised in a previous post, the cuttings that I took from my Tradescantia are thriving, as are the other plants. The only one that seems to refuse to do as I want, is the gloxinia - the damned thing just won't die down - even though I'm refusing to water it!

Having said that though, the other plants are thriving, even if my Sinderpuss did look a bit sorry for itself when I brought it in to the office... But, once I'd given it a damned good drink, it perked up no end!

Rats - being summoned to a meeting..

Back later.

Karen.
Do spiders scream when they see a big fat hairy human in the bath?

Getting into mischief... Or not as the case may be!

As you can tell, I'm getting bored. I've decided to take some cuttings of one of my plants - a Tradescantia. It serves two purposes - it makes the plant bushier, and allows me to propagate some more of the plant, so I can plant them into the same pot, should the cuttings take of course! I've also got another plant to bring into the office - a Sinderpuss aureus (Devils ivy). So, when this arrives on my desk tomorrow, the plant rota will read (for the winter season anyway!):

1 x Spathillium "Mona Loa"

1 x Chlorophytum verigata (a spider plant by any other name!)

1 x Tradescantia zebrina (Wandering Jew is this plant's other name - no idea why!)

4 x cuttings (not sure if these will survive yet - will keep you posted!)

1 x Sinderpuss aureus

The summer season will have the addition of the two Gloxinias - a Kaiser Fredrich (this is now called Emperor Fredrich for some reason!) and Hollywood.

They're all plants that thrive with me in the office, and in the summer, when I've got the other two plants (the Gloxinias), my desk tends to look like a jungle (or a greenhouse - depending on who you speak to!). Despite the comments, I find it rather relaxing, and have decided that what I am going to get next growing season, is some insect repellent sticks.

These ingenious little devices sit in the compost, and as soon as the invading greenfly lands, and decides to have a snack, it gets a nasty surprise - the plant has something noxious in its sap stream, and this does one of two things - either kills the offending aphid, or gives it such bad indigestion, that it goes elsewhere for lunch!

Hmm - looks like I'm about to get given some more work.... And I'm beginning to give serious consideration to swapping my in tray!

Back later.

Karen.

Do spiders scream when they see a big fat hairy human in the bath?

Bored [part 2]

Still bored. It’s at times like this, that I can see where the ideas for series such as The Bastard Operator from Hell: (http://members.iinet.net.au/~bofh/index.html) were gained! But, clock watching will do nothing at all. Well, it will do something – depress me!
There must be an EU directive against torturing staff – especially when we have to deal with idiots on the telephone. Sorry – I mean customers. No, I was right first time. But only for about 25% of the callers – the rest tend to be OK.

Mind you – I’m a tad mystified... How the heck did one of my plants [a Gloxinia] has managed to get greenfly [aphids] on it? Did some pervert bring a pregnant female greenfly into the office, spot my plants and carefully place it on there?

But, at the moment, I’m trying to contact people to let them know that their deliveries won’t be done today, due to heavy traffic... I just hope that they’re ok about it – people tend to get rather upset when they don’t get the tyres for their cars!

Suppose I'd better get on with the calls...

Back later.

Karen.

Do spiders scream when the see a big fat hairy human in the bath?