Tresco Abbey Gardens

 Tresco is truly the perfect place to wrap up my program.  The island is not the easiest place to get to but after a train ride, plane ride, and a ferry ride I arrived on this enchanting island.  Working at the gardens has been amazing.  The garden is so gorgeous; the plant range is so incredible.  Right now all of the proteas, leucospermum, lampranthus, and puyas are out.  It is incredible that this climate allows the garden to grow plants outside that you wouldn't typically see outside apart from in a conservatory or in their native habitats.  I have been learning lots of exotic plants like the Araucaria heterophylla Norfolk Island Pine from the Norfolk islands and the Silver Tree Leucodendron agenteum.  Some of the Meterosiderus were coming into flower before I left and there was quite the buzzing from all the bees swarming the trees.  While at Tresco I mainly worked in the garden doing lots of bed maintenance.  I also had the opportunity to work with the propagation man and the vegetable garden man.  Both days were amazing I learned some of the germination techniques for more exotic seed as well as a walk around the garden explaining about some of the plants.  While in the vegetable garden I did some grisellinia hedge cutting, cleaning of a polytunnel, daily caring of the chicken, and planting lettuce.  I really enjoyed island life but I don't think I could do it long term I might go a little island crazy.  They are quite a few activities to keep you busy on the island though.  I was able to watch my first cricket match I had someone to explain to me what was happening but I still struggled to follow it.  Every week there are gig races usually you could see them from the island.  At the community center a few nights a week they had table tennis so I went to that trying to improve my table tennis skills.  Of course there was always the beach most days after work I would go sit on the beach if the weather was nice.  The beaches were soft white sand making it feel like paradise unfortunately the sea didn't match that is was a bit chilly to go swimming but I did dip  my feet in the water.  I had such a nice stay at Tresco and really hope I can go back there some day the garden is incredible and island life is so relaxing.