Dede Sophie

It gets close to 6000 mm of rain every year. It is home to a pristine ecosystem consisting of tropical rainforests, tropical evergreen forests, medicinal plants, medicinal herbs, reptiles, mammals, birds of paradise and many waterfalls, streams and rivers. It is a hill station and a lesser known monsoon giant. I am talking about the Devimane Ghat in Uttara Kannada that falls on the Sirsi-Kumta highway of Karnataka. A elephant hundi with an upswept trunk (donation box) catches your attention along with miles and miles of lush green and rows of mountain ranges. This is the location of the Durga Devi temple and the Devimane ghat view point. From here, the road dips and curves towards Kumta and the rest of the Karavali coast. Hence, people stop here, seek the blessings of the goddess, offer their donations to the elephant, enjoy a hot cup of tea or coffee while enjoying the lovely view and continue their way down the ghats towards Kumta or up towards Sirsi. But, there is so much more to De

Join horticulturist Simon and Lorna as they take a walk around the S’Hort del Rei in Palma, Mallorca (Majorca). We wouldn’t say that this was a flourishing garden or even one that is particularly well-maintained, but it is undoubtedly hugely historic and sited on the outskirts of the superb Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma and 13th century Palace de l’Almudaina. The very name of S’Hort del Rei means King’s garden so you are literally walking in the footsteps of  Royalty! The problem with this garden as well as the other public gardens and spaces in Mallorca is that they are not valued, maintained or respected by those responsible. So while the original design of the gardens is truly lovely and clearly thought through the grounds have not been maintained and left to degrade (hence the number of fenced off areas). The borders are not finished as shown by the exposed irrigation pipes and dead plants are left in the displays However by comparison to the other gardens we visited it is stil