Quite a morning

I was woken up by the bed shaking at about 4.00. 

I often wake in the night. It’s often when I do my Wordle or Nerdle. It seemed strange but I thought it was my imagination.

It wasn’t. It was an earthquake, about 40k south of Funchal. Fortunately there appears to have been only a little damage and no casualties. 

I had planned to go up to my favourite gardens, the Palheiro Gardens, also known as Blandy’s Garden as they still belong to the famous Madeira winemaking family.

I walked down to the 37 bus which races and rattles up the narrow roads. When I arrived the friendly lady at the gate stressed that most of the buses have been taken off, and she wrote very clearly, how I could get back down.

I started with the Camellia Walk, which I love. They are perhaps collectively past their best but I could marvel at individual blooms. I even retraced my steps on the way back.

It was eerily quiet and stunningly beautiful. The gardeners were working hard and gradually the sunshine strengthened and it was perfect.

I strolled down to the Tea Room, looked over the golf course, and returned in time for my bus.

In the past I’ve blipped the spectacular views over Funchal, so today I have tried to show the magic of some of the plants - proteas, magnolia and others. 

Well worth making the effort to get there.