Madeira Series: Palheiro Gardens

Madeira is full of beautiful of gardens, in fact you can even argue that the entire island is a garden. The Palheiro Gardens, better known as Blandy's Garden is one of their more popular public ones and is also known for it's quintessentially English style. Owned by the Blandy family since 1885, it has a sunken garden, topiaries, and an overall planting scheme that is more reminiscent of traditional English gardens spiced with a few exotic plants dotted all over.

This garden could have well been in England...

It was February when we visited so deciduous trees haven't leafed out yet

Underplanted with Farfugium japonicum 'Aureomaculatum'

Beautiful views of the island from the garden

Did I mention topiaries? They have some very interesting ones there...

We don't know what this is supposed to be apart from what the imagination implies...

These are supposed to be chickens...

We don't know what this one is either. Upturned nose?

The overall style and planting scheme of this garden may be English, it is still Madeira and some exotics plants were integrated into their borders and large specimens can be found dotted all over.

Where England meets Madeira...

Agave attenuata

Yucca rostrata

Euphorbia stygiana

Aloe brevifolia

Protea cynaroides

This garden is such a 'mixed bag' yet is pleasant enough to visit and spend some time in...






It may not be one of our favourites but we'd still say it's a must to visit this garden when in Madeira for a few days.

Even if it's at least to see their quirky topiaries!

Mark :-)