Thursday, February 12, 2009

22 ~ Sunshine for Breakfast

reflecting pool Reflecting Pool at Botanical Garden

(click photos to enlarge)

No, breakfast wasn't being served in the Botanical Garden but on my back patio, seeing as the sun was out and it was a beautiful blue sky day. I had black coffee and a raisin bun while the blackbirds behind me were eagerly picking the dry cat food from the tray hanging in the tree.

breakfast So it didn't take much effort to get out into the street for a walk around with the camera, ending up in the Botanical Gardens.
Botanical Garden
Botanical Gardens Although there are not many flowers in this garden, the ones that are there are mostly in shades of red and orange.

clivia nobilisClivia Nobilis

The sunlight is stronger each day and makes interesting patterns of light and shade on leaves in this tropical garden.

pleated palm leaves A cluster of small dates hangs on this Canary Palm.

date cluster A bright red pom pom is an invitation for a closeup photo.

calliandraCalliandra Haematocephala

The giant Banyan tree makes a focal point in the centre of the garden.

banyan tree Ficus Macrophylla

The lily pond shows a few buds about to open.

lily pond
water lily Here a mixture of shade and water plants.

shade & water plants
More ferns in the shady fern walk.
Below is my favourite photo from yesterday.

shady ferns A reflection of papyrus stems on the pond.

papyrus Cyperus Papyrus

cyperus papyrus Here a South African flower grows well.

haemanthus Haemanthus Puniceus

A screw pine is such an unusual little tree that it has its own display area.

screw pine Pandanus Utilis Bory

While in the garden I had a chance to go to the botanical office and inquire about the scientific name of a beautiful fern which is so commonly seen hanging on porches and patios in the Canary Islands. This fern is so treasured that it is often passed down from one generation to another. I know that in Spanish it is called 'helecho de metro', meaning that it grows a meter, but it is also seen with trailing fronds of up to two meters or six feet in length.

I have asked in garden centres but no one so far could give me the name until yesterday, when with the help of their computer and data base, the staff could find it and tell me that it was native to India and South-East Asia. The examples in the Botanical Garden have not such long fronds as others I have seen in private patios, but here is the photo I took there along with that elusive name:

helecho de metro Goniophlebium Subauriculatum

It was time to leave this shady oasis of tranquility and return to the sunshine.

exit garden

4 comments:

Real Tenerife said...

Lovely photographs. I love spending an afternoon wandering around the Botanical Gardens.

Jo said...

Ohhhhhhhhhh ..... Those photos are SO wonderful. You must live in the most beautiful place on earth.

I love looking at these photos. I can feel the warmth right through to my bones.

Omigosh!!!

Cheers!
Jo

The Ortega's said...

Stunning photos!!! Is this the Botanical Garden in Puerto? What is the name?

Canarybird said...

Thank you Real Tenerife, Jo and The Ortegas for your kind comments!
Yes it is the Botanical Garden in Puerto de la Cruz and I should have put the full name of the garden in there. I had taken a photo of the sign at the entrance so have now incorporated it into the blog.
'Jardin de Aclimatacion de la Orotava'.
Cheers,Sharon.

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