This is the last post from me about the Scillies. We were lucky with the weather on a few days while we were away and the good weather lasted into the evenings with some wonderful sunsets. Having dinner each night in our hotel, it was a question of rushing out quickly to find a spot before the sun went down. This first photograph was taken from the quay where our ship came in.
Another evening we managed to get further round the coast to the west.
A very still evening gives beautiful reflections, just one little boat crossing the water. This evening I was so tired after all the walking we had done, so the undergardener very kindly whizzed out and took a few photos for me.
There are still more flowers for me to show you and a garden in the centre of St. Mary’s which is open to the public which might interest you.
This garden, Carreg Dhu Gardens, is a community garden where volunteers come and work, there were even a pair of gloves , a bag and little fork and trowel left on a ledge so that visitors can do a bit of work if they feel like it!
To start with, the garden had an exotic look to it, not unlike Tresco with Geranium Maderense on the left side and lots of palm trees, but then suddenly……..
…….we turned a corner and we were into an English bluebell wood, with wild garlic of course !
They looked lovely but as I have said in a previous post, they aren’t english bluebells but spanish ones, I wasn’t aware of any perfume like I am when in an english bluebell wood, still pretty though.
Just a couple more sunsets.
Almost time to leave, Scillonian 111 is just arriving with the next lot of holiday makers. We had a super lunch at Spiro’s little restaurant on the sea front, the best fish and chips I have ever had, the lightest beer batter and melt in the mouth cod caught that morning. The sweet of chocolate brownie and clotted cream was absolutely wicked!
Walking back , the planting on the sea wall caught my eye, all plants that we would have as either bedding or in pots and hanging baskets. A thrush was very busy, it knew that in amongst the planting were loads of snails, it must have had at least 10 while we watched!
While waiting until it was time for us to board the ship, we climbed, well the undergardener climbed and pulled me up a little hill overlooking the bay, where we sat for some time in the lovely sunshine.
But who is this little stowaway that I found in the rucksack once I was on board, I will have to smuggle him home somehow!
Almost back to the mainland, the sea is now the usual grey, not the lovely blue/turquoise/green that we have been used to for the past week. But the best was yet to come, our ship overtook 4 pods, or are they schools, of dolphins. I just wanted the ship to slow down, the dolphins were so quick leaping out of the water time and time again, and not knowing where they were going to surface made it impossible to catch a photo of them, but it was …..wonderful!!! The perfect end to a super holiday.
What a wonderful vacation, complete with gorgeous sunsets and delicious local food. Wish I were there.
It was a lovely week Carolyn, seems a long time ago now though! The plants were so unlike anything that we can grow here, even though it was only 30 miles off the coast of England.
I feel drawn back to Scilly after seeing all your photos, the islands really do feel special. I remember those gardens on St. Mary’s. Amazing how much was in flower for your trip and just shows what a difference their climate makes.
Wonderful WW, that you feel like going back, they are really lovely islands and are relatively quiet. They certainly are lucky with their climate, but I don’t think I would like to be there in the winter with the gales and storms! We hoped that we had gone in time to see the spring wild flowers and we certainly had a colourful carpet spread in front of us. The gardens are amazing, unbelievable that they are so close to the mainland.
Thank you so much Pauline for sharing your wonderful holiday, when it is so hot here in August I would love to go to see all the islands but I know all the wild flowers would be over and it wouldn’t be the same. I do remember the snails though, when we used to stay on the north Cornwall coast, hundreds it seemed up all on the stems of every plant. Christina
They are a lovely group of islands Christina, we have been twice now and will hope to go again some day. In August the wild agapanthus would be flowering everywhere with other flowers too, the first time we went it was in September and there seemed to be plenty of flowers to see. We have our own share of snails here, they keep the blackbirds and thrushes very happy!
Wonderful sunsets, Pauline, and such emotive description of your holiday. The teddy reminded me of school projects where a teddy is taken to all sorts of different places so he could have adventures that the children could make a display of. Did he tell you if he wrote any postcards home?
It was a good holiday Cathy, but as we both agree, it’s lovely to be back again! The sunsets were beautiful, we weren’t the only ones out photographing them, everyone was admiring them. Teddy was given in exchange for a donation to a children’s hospice and has been enjoying life since he got here, he’s never in the same place 2 days running so I must ask him if he has written any postcards!
The sunsets are beautiful. There is something special about the sun setting over the sea. And I’m still a bit envious you saw the dolphins, it is some years now since I’ve seen some and I remember how exciting it is to watch them come alongside a boat.
The colours in a sunset are amazing aren’t they Wendy, and so different each evening. The first time we went to the Scillies we went by helicopter, but unfortunately that doesn’t run any more. I had heard that dolphins are quite often seen between Land’s End and the Scillies so we opted for the boat this time, definitely the best decision, it was wonderful having so many sightings of them!
Thank you for the lovely photos. For a nimber of years we used to go over for the pilot gig championships which my husband rowed in and stayed on afterwards for a short holiday, so it has brought back lots of lovely memories!!!
Lovely to hear from you Helen, we saw them all practising in the evenings, coming back rather tired, as we sat by the window in the restaurant of the Atlantic Hotel! We were there just a week too soon for the races but saw them back home on our local TV news. So glad I was able to bring back happy memories!
Pauline, so glad you had a great trip. I’ve enjoyed reading about the Scillies and seeing your fine images. The bluebells are so charming, but my mind is now stuck on the chocolate brownie. Susie
Susie, the Scillies are a lovely group of islands just 30 miles off the coast of England, but you could be somewhere exotic because of the planting which wouldn’t survive the winters on the mainland, mind you, the wind tells you that you are still in the UK! I like to think that I make a rather good chocolate brownie, but this one was divine!!
What a lovely holiday and a lovely series of posts!
Thanks Lyn, we really did enjoy it and just wanted to share a very special bit of the UK with you all.
Have really enjoyed your series of postcards from the Scillies Pauline and really hope to get there one of these days. Hard to believe that is so close.
So glad you enjoyed your virtual trip Anna, at times it was hard to believe that we were still in the UK, the wind kept reminding us though! Hope you do manage to get there one day, I’m sure you would enjoy it, anyone who loves flowers and plants would.
Your photos are amazing, I feel rested just looking at them.
Thanks Charlie, glad you enjoyed them.
Sounds like you had a super holiday Pauline. I wonder if I would get anyone to help with the gardening if I were to leave a pair of gloves and a trowel by the back gate? LOL One day when I have more time it would be fun to be part of a garden worked by volunteers.
It was wonderful Jennifer and so close to the mainland but so different as they hardly ever have frost! We could try leaving out some tools, but I would worry someone would pull out precious plants!!