Trengwainton Gardens Re-Visited

Jo, Paul, Marg and Keith are staying in static caravans above St Ives for the week and we were invited to join them for a visit to Trengwainton Gardens.  The last time we went we were quite disappointed as there was very little colour but this time it was completely different. 

There was a new swing and Jo couldn’t help herself!

We continued up the main drive …

until we reached the terrace where we’d had our picnic last time …

More lovely flowers and greenery …

During our last visit we read in the booklet that a magnolia tree had been planted in the year that Pam was born.  We tried to find it but without success – until today! 

There were tadpoles in the pond – I promise they are there!!

When we left the gardens we headed for the cafe for coffee and cake.  On the grass, for the children, was a rocking horse which was very tempting for Jo who is just a big kid …

She hadn’t realised that she had an audience inside the cafe and they gave her a round of applause!

Third Time Lucky!

I’m really fed up with cameras.  I was so pleased with my new Olympus VR-310 until the third time I used it and connected it to my laptop to get the photos downloaded.  When I went to disconnect it the laptop wouldn’t let me do a safe remove.  I turned the laptop off and then removed the cable only to find when I turned the camera on again that it had reverted to Chinese writing and there was no way I could get it back to English.  I also had the shutter stuck out and a blank screen – not good.  I’d bought it from Boots.com so took it back to Camborne Boots where a lady was most helpful and got a replacement one ordered while I waited.  It arrived the next day which I thought was brilliant service – no complaints there – and I must admit I was a bit nervous of using it!  The photos taken at Tehidy were on the second camera and I put off downloading them when I got home but had to take the plunge and see what happened.  This time the laptop didn’t recognise the new software of the camera and so once again I couldn’t do a safe remove.  After chatting with Jo we decided the only thing I could do was pull the plug and hope for the best.  Well you can guess can’t you?  Yes we were back to Chinese writing again.  The next morning I rang Boots.com and explained what was happening.  As it was a replacement one they said I had to have a refund which suited me fine as I was not a happy bunny.  We popped it into Redruth Boots and they organised the refund and return of the camera.

So now I had to make a decision.  Did I order the same camera again or choose another model?  I really liked this model and the bonus was that it used the same battery as I had for my old camera.  So I ordered a black one this time instead of silver and bought it from Tesco.com for a change.  I’ve got a card reader and so I’m not going to link it up to my laptop.  I can charge the battery with my old charger or use the plug and cable provided for the battery to charge in the camera.

Mike and I went for a walk along the Tramway today and I took some close-up photos of the flowers in bloom along the way.

We turned round and headed back …

The card reader was used and thankfully I still have a camera with English instructions on it!  No laptop was used in the production of these photos!!

Mothering Sunday

My boys have done me proud this year as yesterday afternoon I received a beautiful bouquet of flowers and this morning I opened their cards that had arrived during the week.

We then walked around to Pam’s with her card and present – some of her favourite chocolates.  She wanted to take her buggy for a test run as she’s not used it for a fair while due to the operation on her knee.  She took it for a spin round Greenfield Gardens and then I captured a shot of mother and son on Mother’s Day …

Farewell to an Uncle

Today was the funeral of an uncle.  Vic was four years younger than my mother and he reached the ripe old age of 97 back in April.  I was very upset that we couldn’t get to his funeral and so I was determined to mark the occasion in my own way.  Hamish and I set off up the mule-track heading for Lighthouse Hill and on the way I picked a variety of wild flowers.  When we reached the road I crossed over and chose a spot on the cliff-top to sit and wait until one o’clock when I knew that the service was due to begin.  My intention was to cast the posy over the cliff into the sea but as the wind was blowing onshore the flowers would have blown into my face so I just left them on the grass.  RIP Uncle Vic – you were a lovely uncle who always made me laugh.

Trengwainton Gardens

Day two of the good weather (although not quite as sunny as yesterday), we were off to Trengwainton Gardens near Penzance and we took the dogs with us.  After sitting in traffic on the A30 we decided to veer off and take a back route to Penzance and avoid the hold-ups.  We parked in the overspill car park as the gardens were already very busy and then made our way down to the entrance.  I had a look at the map provided …

but Jo had bought a book which meant we could follow the routes from it.  Everywhere was very green!  There were a few hydrangeas in flower … 

but mostly it was ‘greenery’.  I think we need to come back at rhododendron time next year.  Don’t get me wrong, it was lovely greenery but I was looking forward to seeing some colour.  However we did find some later on.  We followed the track which took us to a little bridge by a pond and then we came out of the trees and saw the house …

Another little wooded bit with an interesting feature …

and then we reached the terrace with summerhouses at each end and agapanthus in abundance.

We took advantage of one of the benches to sit and have our picnic and the photo above was the view we had while we ate.  This was intriguing me …

so when I’d eaten I went to investigate and found this …

The arrows told me where different places were from where I was standing – clever!

After lunch we set off again retracing our steps at first then diverting off on a new route which took us over to the main drive …

and here there was more colour as we reached the bank by the stream …

We then reached some open grassland where this tree had been planted by The Queen Mum back in 1962.  Unfortunately a tree is a tree where Hamish is concerned and trees are only provided for one reason …

I loved this little nest hanging in a tree …

and a lovely little house …

We now reached the walled gardens which were really pretty with loads of colour …

Just one more bit to see which was the magnolia area but once again it was just trees in leaf!  Note to self – come back again but in the right season!

We wanted some coffee and cake to end the day and where better to go than Trevaskis Farm for very gooey chocolate cake!  Yummy!