The focus of my trip was Tresco Abbey Gardens, but first, a history lesson. (Do I hear a groan or 2?)

In 1843, Augustus John Smith, bought the lease of the Scilly Isles from the Duchy of Cornwall, becoming "Lord Proprietor of Scilly". Fortunately, this fiefdom was owned by a guys who had only 2 interests - his garden and his tenants.

Tresco was the site of a Priory, built in 946AD, which evolved into the Monestry of St. Nicholas. At some point, before Henry VIII's dissolution of the Monasties, it was abandoned, as it was regularly being raided by pirates. The ruins, a couple of arches and a few part walls, are now part of the Gardens.

Augustus Smith saw the potential, and the wind. He started to create wind breaks using Pinus radiata (Monterey Pine) and Cedars from the coast of California. Some still survive, but most eventually gave in to the wind. The main windbreak tree, today, is the Metrosideros excelsa (Pohutukawa or Iron Tree) from New Zealand, appears to be the winner.

Exploring the Gardens was magical. I needed a lot more time. Every path you went down led you to swathes of plants from Australia, New Zealand, Southern Africa, the Americas, etc, etc etc.

Anigozanthos flavidus (Tall Kangaroo Paw)

Dasylirion acrotrichum (Great desert spoon)

Agave parryi

Sonchus arboreus (Tree dandelion)

Echium x scilloniensis A natural hybrid, Echium pininana x E. webbii

and lots I don't know.

Watch this space.

Fof