Around the gardens …

Today is our last full day, and as tomorrow will be spent touring the east of the island before our late flight home, we’re spending our time relaxing around the hotel. 

The gardens here are beautiful, offering so many opportunities for photography. I’m thrilled to spot a monarch butterfly flitting round a scarlet bottlebrush tree. I’ve seen several during our stay, often gliding gracefully rather than the usual fluttering, but this is the first chance I’ve had to actually capture one coming to rest and feed.

The tree is also home to lizards soaking up the sun. Lizards are everywhere, of course, the undergrowth alive with their skittering - far too quick to actually see, or if you catch a glimpse, too fast to photograph.  On his branch amongst the leaves, this one obviously feels safe; statue-still, basking in the sun, his scales shimmering with copper iridescence.  

Then there are the flowers. We’d talked of revisiting the gardens at Monte on this visit, but then decided a full exploration would probably be too much. And on this island, there are flowers everywhere; the formal gardens can wait until our next visit. 

Thank you again for your continued visits to my journal - your comments, stars and hearts. From Tuesday, I hope that ‘normal service’ will be resumed!