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Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Gunnera

People laugh at the British for always talking about the weather, but that is because it is so unpredictable and becuase we have now travelled to places that actually have more than 2 consecutive days of sunshine. We have now had over a week of sunshine so it is a good time to go a visiting.

Cornwall is a great place to visit in the sun and, as it seems to have its own micro-climates, it has some interesting gardens open to the public. Plant collectors have planted many exotic plants, not normally associated with our less than exotic climate.

This was a "forest" of Gunnera, the plants reaching about 2-3 metres or 7-8 feet in height. The leaves were a bit like a city road map gone mad when viewed close up. The new growth looked slightly sinister, like a giant Venus fly trap, with spikes on the stem. Unfurled they are quite majestic.

More commonly associated with South America they were thriving in this English garden.


9 comments:

Laurie said...

What wild and beautiful plants.

I love the detail of the texture in the top shot.

Excellent.

Dave MacIntyre said...

These are fabulous Jasp!! The first shot of the leaf detail is incredible.

Anonymous said...

Very nice series Jasp. The sunlight on the leaves does the trick! and the upper one is like a map of an undiscovered country.

tony.unwin said...

we saw a good few of these on our recent trip to Cornwall... though not quite as much sunshine, but it was a bank holiday...

micki said...

Fantastic details!! Lovely images, and good to hear about your great weather!

Nicola said...

I especially like the first shot in this series - looks like a landscape.

Bethany said...

Wow, glad your enjoying the weather. These photos are awesome, especially that macro of the leaf textures. I love that one!

Anonymous said...

i too have one in my garden (grew it fro a little 'un, & it has flowered for the first time this year) .. they are amazing beasts & do indeed seem to love it down here (although like Phil says, i protect mine over the winter, whilst it's still young)

as for your shots .. nice .. especially love the top macro shot - simply amazing! (something i keep meaning to do as well!!)

laters
;)

A. B. Chairiet said...

Hi Jasp!

I hope you're doing well. Hope you're happy, somewhere lovely. Taking pictures. All sunlit and warm. :)

I love this last shot here, the light shining through the green...makes me smile. Think of springtime, or summer.

Your pictures are gorgeous, as always. :)

Happy Tuesday!
~ Ash