68 FLOWERS AND GARDENS OF MADEIRA 



family continued to live there until the estate 

 changed hands and became the property of the 

 present owner, in 1884. 



Although on first acquaintance it is true that 

 the grounds suggest those of an English park, 

 possibly from the welcome presence of turf, and 

 also from the fact that at that high elevation the 

 deciduous trees are leafless throughout the winter, 

 like Mr. Driver, we shall very soon discover many 

 trees and shrubs that could not be grown in even 

 the most southern parts of England, though many 

 English shrubs and flowers flourish in the warmer 

 climate. 



There are two roads leading from the outer gate 

 to the house. The lower road winds through a 

 long avenue of camellia-trees, whose branches in 

 January and February are laden with their single, 

 double and semi-double blossoms, ranging in colour 

 from pure white, through every shade of pink, to 

 deep red. Along the higher road, beneath the 

 trees, broad stretches of the deep green leaves of 

 the Amaryllis belladonna give promise of beauties 

 to come. In summer all trace of their foliage 

 vanishes, and early in September the deep red 

 stems and sheath of their flowers begin to appear. 

 By the end of September their blush-coloured 



