Spring Archives - Page 13 of 13

Apr 212014 0 Responses

The gardens of Cordoba

Today is Monday here in Cordoba. No matter where you are in Europe, Monday is never a good day to be a tourist as so many attractions close on a Monday – however Gardens don’t so we had planned to visit the Alcazar today come rain or shine – luckily it was more the latter.

Cordoba is obviously immensely old, has amazing Cathedrals, Mosques and Museums but alongside them the most memorable thing for me were the old Orange trees that studded the narrow streets and filled the gardens with their glistening leaves. Read More…

Apr 152014 0 Responses

Thyssen to Tulips

Today was quite a mixture. First up – Sandemans Free Tour of Madrid which I can highly recommend. 3 hours of history which gave us a very basic grounding – basic because I can remember only so much! After 5 kings called Philip and two called Charles I lost the plot.

After a quick refreshment Phil and I chose to try the Thyssen Museum of Art where I again managed to soak up only so many Rubens and Goya, Philistines that we are.

Luckily for us the Madrid Botanical gardens were right next door and oh so much more familiar. We are here just at the right time. The first of the Old Roses are only just opening. The tulips (Attila) are just finishing, the peonies are just starting as are the first of the Savias.

If you want a display of Tulips like this in October – NOW is the time to plant!

Apr 152014 0 Responses

A scene from Singapore

Today we visited The Gardens On The Bay which had been highly recommended to us by like-minded friends who had been pretty amazed.

The gardens are only five years old and have two Domes – one The Cloud Forest and the other The Flower Dome,

The Flower Dome was full of different styled gardens from around the world with the most impressive being the one containing huge gnarled olive trees. They were something like you would see at the Chelsea Flower Show.

The Cloud Forest was incredible with an enormous, absolutely enormous man-made mountain in the middle whose structure was completely covered by Bromeliads, ferns, orchids, Vireya Rhododendrons and an array of exotica. It was simply incredible. The range of plants, the lush foliage and the colour was pretty impressive and mind blowing. There was a walk way that began half way up and enabled you to get right up to the plants as you went higher and higher. We were very impressed.

If you’ve been to Gardens on the Bay share your impressions with us.