22 ~ Sunshine for Breakfast

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.

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.

Although there are not many flowers in this garden, the ones that are there are mostly in shades of red and orange.

Clivia Nobilis

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

A cluster of small dates hangs on this Canary Palm.

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

Calliandra Haematocephala

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

Ficus Macrophylla

The lily pond shows a few buds about to open.


Here a mixture of shade and water plants.


More ferns in the shady fern walk.
Below is my favourite photo from yesterday.

A reflection of papyrus stems on the pond.

Cyperus Papyrus

Here a South African flower grows well.

Haemanthus Puniceus

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

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:

Goniophlebium Subauriculatum

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