To Eden and beyond
The Eden Project
Like The Lost Gardens of Heligan, The Eden Project is one of our most frequently places, not just because it is one of the largest indoor splaces in Cornwall but because it always has something new to see. (note too self stop taking pictures of that waterfall)
It may seam a bit strange to start this section with a picture of a mushroom but this was one of the first images I took at Eden on this trip.
Growing in the woodchip in one of the beds this is most likley the Chip cherry or redlead roundhead (Leratiomyces Ceres) As here often found in beds mulched with woodchip.
As well as the natural beauty at The eden Project there are Lots of sculptures throughout the site.
This butter fly is seen against one of the biomes.
Before we move inside just one more phophotograph showing the natural beauty of one of the more wild areas of the site.
Semi hidden behind the Hub this area is used for educational visits by the looks of it in the warmer parts of the year.
What struck me was the late autumn colours, while most of the leaves had left the trees back in hampshire this protected part of Cornwall ment that ther ewe still some amazing colours in the leaves.
Inside the Rainforest Biome
Billed as one of the biggest indoor rainforests in the world the Rainforest Biome is an amazing place to explore and has the massive advantage of being accessable.
One thing to note especially in the winter going from the outside to the much warmer air inside a good lens cloth is a must.
As you would expect from any good rain forest there are streams and pool throughout the Biome, giving lots of opertrunities for both reflection and movement images, but if you are using the fences for a tripod look out for ants 😉
No matter what time of year you visit you are garanteed to see some amazing plant too some easier to spot than others.
As well as the Ants mentioned above the Rainforest biome has other wildlife naimly Roul-roul partridges while hard to photograph they have amazing colours on their plumage. Depening on the time of year you may find them with their chicks.
So what of that waterfall? well right at the top of the biome there is an amazing waterfall, even better for the photographers amongst you the path at its base is not as such a bridge but a solid path so long exposure images like these are much easier even when there are lots of people around.
Mediterranean Biome
The smaller of the two biomes the Mediterranean Biome covers California, South Africa and Western Australia.
it is much cooler then the Tropical Biome but has an interesting of plants including fruit and vegetables, not to mention some not so mediteranian wildlife.
This amazing display of sqashes was in the Mediterranean garden area, no matter what time of year you fisit there always seamse to be the most amazing vegetables on dispay both on the plants and picked and stored ready for use in the resturants.
While the flowers in the Mediterranean biome are not as large as those in the tropical biome they are still spectacular.
One last image from the Eden project before we move on. while the tropical Biome has its wildlife, the Mediterranean Biome has a few less exotic wildlife in this case a robin
Trelissick Garden
Another visit we made while in Cornwall was to Trelissick Gardens. Situated on the river Fal not far from Truro the estate dates bake to the 1750’s.
Like many National Trust properties the house is open seasonaly so we only visted the grounds as the house was closed for christmas preperations.
The Trelissick estate and garden are situated on their own peninsular in the Fal river and estuary.
We visited Trelissick in November and the Camellias were in full bloom. This one ‘Snow Flurry’ stood out against the dark foliage of the bush
Another Camellia in full bloom possibly “Sasanqua” again looking spectacular against the dark foliage
The Autumn Colours at Trelissick we absolutely, this maple in the middle of one of the lawns realy stood out.
Due to the geography of Cornwall the air is very clean being in the west of the country with just the Atlantic to the west, this means that lichen grows in abundance in this case on the trunk of a tree.
This macro image was shot freee hand.
Whilst walking round the gardens we noticed large leaves from one of the trees, not the water droplets
For more images from Trelissick Gardens take a look at my FlickR album
Weymouth by night
There was one last stop on our tour of the west and it was a little closer to home. On the way back from Cornwall we stopped the night in Weymouth in the county of Dorset.
Not only does it boast a beautiful sweeping bay with sandy beaches but its historic harbour is photogenic both day and night.
We were lucky enough to arrive at Weymouth bay at golden hour so the first few images we took were of the setting sun over the town.
The old town and harbour
The old town and harbour area is amazing both day and night, one little point of interest in the last image is the Heron stood on the landing stage waiting for its fish supper to swim by.
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