UK 2014, National Botanical Garden of Wales

Christine and I sat and planned the possibilities for the 3 days I am here. She has to work Wednesday so I'm on my own that day. We settled on the Botanical Gardens for today, its just a short drive from Pontyberem.

In Welsh - Gardd Fotaneg Genedlaethol Cymru (at this point the only word I recognise
is Cymru which means Wales)

The garden has been created on the site of Middleton Hall and the hall and associated farm buildings are still there, some repurposed.

My first british robin.

We walked around the Double Walled Garden where a brick wall(inside) and a stone wall create a warm little ecosystem and they have some tropical grasses and palm trees as well as a vast selection of flowers, bushes, trees and vegetables. In that area there is also a large greenhouse with more tropical plants.

Some of the leaves are changing colors but Christine says its been a really warm summer and there's
been no frost yet so they may just turn brown and drop off. About 14 degrees or more today with
occasional drizzle.

From this area we walked up to the Apothecary building with its displays of local and international medicinal plants and an apothecary that was moved and rebuilt in the building. Then to the café for lunch, had my first jacket potato of the trip. From there through the Wallace Garden by the old house (which is now used as a conference centre)

From the top of the hill there are lovely views across the valley to rolling hills.

Across the valley, Paxton's Folly.

The Great Glasshouse

 

The largest glass span house in Europe. There is a Mediterranean climate inside (hot, dry summer
cool, wet winter) with plants from all over the world.

Its a huge area, manned by volunteers, with plans for more acreage. This is a little creek that runs down the walkways
and feeds the fountains along the way.