As in 2011, we went back to Madeira because we needed somewhere we knew we'd be well looked after and where we could relax. The staff at Quinta da Casa Branca were as professional and friendly as ever and all was well with the world.

Please see earlier holiday photos for pictures of the island (in 2007, 2009 and 2011).

There are far too many pictures of the garden to be included on the holiday page but we still wanted to share them so I've put them on this page. As you can see, it had been raining when we went round the garden for the main photo shoot but we weren't put off by the weather. We enjoyed the hotel gardens between the showers (we could always run back inside when the rain started again). The gardens are beautiful and one of the reasons we keep coming back here.

Far left is a new pupa, still a milky green and yellow colour whereas the photo immediate left shows a pupa that will shortly become a butterfly (the green and gold one) and a pupa that is now over because it has "hatched".

There were lots of Monarch (aka Wanderer) butterflies around. Jonathon's challenge was to get me a nice photograph of one before the end of the week. Never let it be said that he doesn't rise to a challenge.

Not to be outdone, a couple of days later I managed to capture a few photos of them as well - in the sunshine so the colours really glow. The challenge is now on!

The reason we know all the above about the caterpillars is courtesy of Chris, seen here chatting technical camera stuff to Jonathon.

Back to the garden itself and you might have noticed that I'm experimenting with slightly larger "small" photos this year.

A bit of an experiment but quite pleased with it.

The building on the left is the posh restaurant.

 

The walk to breakfast (if we don't cut across the grass) is down this lovely path.

 

This is the bed just outside the Pavillion restaurant (breakfast and lunch). It was this bed that gave me the idea of our patio at home in a round about way - not the planting but the design.

 

The walk to the pool, lovely and shady on a hot day.

 

Hard to see from the photo on the right but there are lots and lots of these plants underneath the arches (all in pots).

This flower was on a tree. No idea what it is but it looked very striking.

These flowers were tiny, hiding amongst their leaves but they were spotted and photographed so no escape.

These flowers were also tiny and were being blown about a bit by the windy weather. They managed to stay still long enough to have their photo taken.

Jonathon's artistic photo on the right makes the plant look like glass.

So ... the gardens are as beautiful as we remembered, even in (or especially because of) the rain.

While we were waiting for someone to collect us for our boat trip on the Thursday, I trotted round the drive part of the garden for a few more photos.

Jonathon's favourite place for sitting and watching the world go by.

That's all for garden photos for this visit.

 

 

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