Wisley gardens

Welcoming pumpkins

For the past few years (starting with a delivery that needed picking in the middle of nowhere so why not find something fun to do while there), I have been going to the Taste of Autumn Festival at Wisley Gardens. They have around 35 stalls set up with various food vendors selling everything from Gin and vodka to cheese, bread and cakes. They also have this amazing linseed flapjacks for sale so I have some happy snacks for this week. This year they had the apples for sale. They had none last year due to a bad year and I think a bug hitting the orchard, but they were back so I also have a bag of apples of sorts I have never heard of before.
Before going to the food stalls, I took a walk around while it was still quiet. The weather was really cold but sunny, and later on people showed up in droves, which it why I got there for when it opened and left early.  

Main house. 

Love this bench 

Formal garden 

Secret pond. 

I want somewhere like this.

I had fun wondering around taking photos. I haven't really played with my camera for quite some time so it was nice just to take the time. And I have spent the past week in training in a windowless room so it was really nice to be outside and see the actual sun.

Start of fall colours

This year I went a different route to normal, mainly because they are doing some construction and really needed to loo (which have moved) so ended up a little lost. But it was good. I found a giant lake I had somehow missed before.

Lake.

I also played around with black and white to get some drama!

I have never seen bright purple berries like this before but they were everywhere. Not a clue what they are (and probably couldn't spell it if I did). 

Holly.

Green house.

I had a walk around the green house. It is huge. It took about 5 mins for my glasses and camera to de-mist in the first section. I hate wearing glasses sometimes.

Furry flowers

Orchid photos for mom.

But in the second, inner area, it was more tropical. And there was no de-misting. At least not as long as I could be bothered to wait. I had a walk around and still nothing. Some of the photos turned out cool though. The rest were a little too steamed.

Steamy!

I didn't spend as much time as I planned in the green house as my camera really wasn't de-misting and I was starting to get a little worried I had steam and therefore water somewhere inside as I couldn't see any mist on the lens or view finder. 

So I headed out for a cup of tea and sat outside in the sun and let my camera recover. Which happily it did. 

Enjoying the view

I wondered to the rock garden through the wooded area in the centre of the park. I love the colours out in the park.

A champion tree though no explanation as to why.

At the rock garden I emerged into the noise. I get that kids want to have fun and that's ill fine. But I don't see why parents think it is ok to let their children run around, screaming, bumping into other people and just generally making a noise and disturbing the peace. What happened to manners?

I tried to avoid them as much as possible while taking my photos.

Lily pads.

There was still a lot of dew around so I got to play with my macro tubes (I can't afford a macro lens so I have to make do with the cheaper extension tube version). I didn't quite get the photos I wanted (I was trying to get the 'world in a dew drop' type photo) but I couldn't stand the screaming any more.

Amazing tree.

I toured the food stalls and brought some cheeses, flapjacks and chutneys. And some non-alcoholic ginger wine. I am trying to be good this month and not drink and so far so good. I don't feel any different and it is costing me a fortune in squash but I'll save on the wine. Until the next time I go home. I am sure it will be all over then. 

Santa Cruz, La Palma

This morning, Dario and I flew to La Palma (another of the Canary Islands) to meet up with Rui and go observing for the night. As we got in at about noon (and had conveniently forgotten to book the taxi from the airport), we grabbed the bus and went into Santa Cruz for a look around and lunch. There are a lot of places called Santa Cruz and the one on La Palma is much pretty than on Tenerife.

Heading up hill

Half way up (we didn't get any further)

Church spire.

headed back down.

We had a quick look around the church but the outside was so cool. Every building should have gargoyles.

Massive church doors

Happy Gargoyles!

The whole town was really pretty with lots of colors. (And a lot of poodle statues for some reason.) 

Poodles!

We had a great lunch at a Cuban place with a fountain/tree for a view. (Why choose when you can have both?)

Fountain or a tree or both?

There were lots of flowers around. I don't know if this is normal or not as there was a large holiday on Saturday for the Patron saint of the islands. So they may have been extra dressed up for that. But still works for me.

Hanging basket.

More flowers.

Cacti (I will leave to your imagination)

Window view.

Lots of overhanging balconies. 

And more.

Officially the largest cactus I have ever seen.

We walked most of the town front, along little streets. Unfortunately our timing was off and most things like the castle were shut. 

Castle.

I love all the colors of the houses. 

Cheerful.

Even brighter.

Even the German consulate was dressed up.

And there is a (slightly) random ship. It is a replica of one of Christopher Columbus' ships which stopped here (I forget which). I am not sure why it is on land but it was interesting. They have turned it into a naval museum which was of course shut. And there was no information as to when it opened. So we just wandered around the outside.

Ship in the road.

Anchors.

Shiny.

Captains quarters.

Everywhere there are pictures and statues of this little guy with his hat. I have absolutely no idea who he (or in some cases she) is but he/she is a "typical La Palma thing" I am told. I just think it is cute! So I got a magnet with him on.

Cute.

Even cuter.

In front of the ship

We intended to get a taxi at the far end. But the map lied and there were no taxis. So we had to walk all the way back along the sea front. It was very warm! But we got a taxi (with air con) that would take us up to the observatory.

I'll post those soon. Possibly tonight as thanks to the weather, it looks like we might not be doing much in the way of observing! The clouds have started to arrive and it is extremely windy!