Lost Gardens of Heligan 8th july Cornwall holiday 2013

After a superb 1st day in Cornwall on Hollywell beach HERE  and getting really badly burned legs/feet!   but not blistered thankfully   Jan , myself and the two dogs are going to the Lost Gardens :)
Unfortunately we followed the "SHORT" route on sat nav!   we are driving down lanes so narrow ,each side mirror is brushing the hedge either side!     I think we are the ones Lost!!!!!
Eventually we have come to the entrance to "The Lost Gardens"    the temperature is 24 degrees at 10am and is going to be a scorcher .

There are two separate areas, the Northern Gardens and "the Jungle"     we are walking through the northern gardens first, quite open with Chusan palms and Dixonia tree ferns everywhere. separate flower and vegetable gardens with greenhouses and Melon houses  , a Italian garden and Crystal Grotto which are really nice , but I really want to see the Jungle gardens.

                                                                  "Crystal Grotto"

crossing over into the Jungle side of the garden, we are now walking in the woods and come to this Plant sculpture.  entitled "Mud Maid"

Coming out into a clearing and a steep downhill path with fields on the right hand side, a wild flower meadow has been planted but just a singe poppy is open :(

                       at the bottom of the path we have finally arrived at the entrance to the jungle garden

                                                The huge tree ferns are amazing!     wow!

The paths are well maintained, with handrails of bamboo and rope , its so hot here in the micro climate that all these sub tropical plants thrive in.

                         it is so hot the water plants are all wilting ,  think its ligularia "rocket"

            This is the middle pond , with huge Gunnera , tree ferns and Chusan palms everywhere.

The path takes us over a bridge and onto a high walkway with large areas of banana plants

View full size pano  HERE

After taking a rest by these Bananas we continue down to the bottom pond , on the bridge is a thermometer which is reading 42 degrees!     its baking hot!!!!

fortunately the path up the opposite side is in the shade , climbing up among yet more tree ferns and huge Rhododendrons i think they are with amazing trunks

the views looking down on the valley are superb , the Dixonia tree ferns are amazing!

Having climbed up out of the Jungle we have made our way back to the tearoom for real Cornish ice creme  , the dogs are suffering in the heat, Chester especially so :(

My legs are in a lot of discomfort but i want to see everything here , so the " lost valley" is the final area to walk around,  its late afternoon now and we have just over an hour before closing time . so its going to be a fast ish walk unfortunately.   

its very quiet down here , but not much to see . just a nice walk along the lake side and through woods, but we have come out near a charcoal sculpture

the last image of the day , Tomorrow we are going to another beach for the day