Ventnor Botanic Gardens, Isle of Wight

[Mrs Ava]

Just had a fab week on the Isle of Wight with the sproglets and the wonderful Ava and we had the most amazing weather!  We also visited Ventnor Botanic gardens, very close to where we were staying, on a less than sunny day. 
Had a wonderful afternoon, even the kids had fun running amongst the plants and enjoying the gardens.  Here are some piccies Ava and I took.  ;D

Daffs had all but finished, but the Tulips were looking sexy!

[Mrs Ava]

[Mrs Ava]

These forget-me-knots just looked super, pink and blue mixed like that.  If anyone has any pink seeds, I would love some to mingle with my blues.

And a very unusual way to cut a tree, fanning it out to see so you have to scarmble along the coastal path to see it.  Mind you, don't the bones look great!

[Mrs Ava]

Some views.  ;D

[Mrs Ava]

There was a big drift of these lovely little iris in the japanese terrace garden.

[Mrs Ava]

Camelias everywhere of course.  Wish I could grow them!

And Magnolias of course.  On my wish list, and now I have seen lots of teeny ones I think it could be a possibility! ;D

[Mrs Ava]

And found these pixies lurking under the bushes!  ;D

Not sure what they had carved at the bottom of their totum pole!  ;D ;)

[Mrs Ava]

They are in the process of building a Tasmainian/Australian garden and just look at these tree ferns! Thought of you Roy!  There were loads more behind us.  Must have been a good couple of thousand pounds worth of ferns here.  Will look stunning when all the fronds come as it is in dappled shade and it looks as though they are creating a stream to run beneath them!

[Mrs Ava]

No idea what this wonderful tree is called.  Sadly not all the trees and plants had labels, impossible to do I guess, but it was smothered in these sunshine bright yellow flowers, which the bees loved, and smelled great!

[Mrs Ava]

And just for you Roy, their palm garden.  Very mature and statuesque.  ;D

[Glyn]

Lovely shots EJ. Noticed the "Totem pole" this shot is from the Ontario museum, and starts in the basement and rises to the roof.
                             
                             

;D ;D ;D ;D

[Roy Bham UK]

:o Absobloomin luvly :o and what beautiful sharp fresh pictures of the flowers too! My two Daughters and family are going to the I.O.W in August, wish I could hide in the boot :'(

Those Tree ferns will look gorgeous in August Too :'(

[Yellow Petals]

My husband and I visited the Botanic Gardens in June 03, they surely are beautiful.  We also did the prison/museum visit next door (and got caught amongst a pesky school trip!)

[ACE]

If you join the Friends of Ventnor Botanical Gardens you get a little catalogue each year with all the seeds that they have collected and as you see from the pictures there are som rarities amongst them.

I am glad you enjoyed the gardens and the weather, people thing I am lying when I tell them the weather is nicer, the plants grow better, but we can get very mediteranian in the summer.

   Simon the curator of the gardens is a friend of mine and his wife Debs is the head gardener at Osborne house. They often give very interesting talks and are both passionate about their work.

[aquilegia]

Ah - so that's where you've been. I was wondering where you were last week.

Photos look wonderful. Great to have such glorious weather.

I particularly like the totem pole!

[dibberxxx]

lovely pictures EJ looks real nice gardens to visit , used to go stay in ventnor on hoildays when we were kids never visted gardens just black gang chime,

[Moggle]

Those tree-ferns are lovely  :)

[Hot_Potato]

Emma - so glad you've all had such a great time. Wonderful photos, luv the totem pole too.

My friend and I have been contemplating a visit to Isle of Wight, so that we can explore it a bit - these pictures have helped me make up my mind.

H.P.

[lorna]

 Hi Emma I am going to Isle of Wight on Jume 11th with my youngest daughterr (34 next week) her partner and my Grandson (10) We have never been there before but after looking at your pics the Botanic Gradens are a must for me. I will take pics but I am sure they will not be as wonderful as yours. I will probably go on my own as unfortunately my Grandson is terrified of wasps and bees, (We are working on  that problem) Thank you so much for sharing those pics with us Regards Lorna.

[Mrs Ava]

Thank you for all the kids words about the pics.  I am a lousy photographer most of the time, my darling Ava is the whizz with the camera. 

And thanks to Gillyflower for letting me know that the gorgeous yellow tree with the big buzzy bee on it is the pagoda tree or Saphora.  I am really tempted, but just don't know if I can squeeze yet another tree into our already woodland garden!!! ;D