Sunday 30 August 2015

The Gardens Of Selwyn College


Just behind Selwyn College's Chapel there are gardens to explore. These were laid out in the Victorian era, soon after the college was founded, so the gardens and particularly the trees have had time to mature into the lovely retreat we can wander through today.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Now, I think we have to venture through this gate and descend the steps....



From the lawn at the base of the steps you can look across to the rather prosaically-named "Victorian Beds".



That shadow which you can see encroaching at the bottom right is being cast by one of the corner spires of the Chapel.



There's a wonderful display of Dahlias at this time of year. We now take them to be "typically English" but they originally came from Mexico where they were eaten as food (!). Apparently the gardener stores the tubers under the Chapel to over-winter.



As you wander around the bed you'll find it's an "island-bed" in that it's completely surrounded by lawns. From the far side there's a view back to the Chapel, which misleadingly looks as though it's atop a high hill from this angle. The island-bed also starts to look as though it's a tropical island! 



The garden also has a pond whose mirrored surface was reflecting the summer skies....



....at least it was till the interfering foot of the photographer produced these lovely ripples.


Turning back to our island I investigated the gravel path leading through this tropical wonderland. Could this really be in Cambridge, England?



I'm not sure how I could have lived all my life in this area without ever visiting, or even hearing about, this wonderful place. If you ever visit Cambridge and want to see for yourself you'll find it's not far from the touristy areas and is right next to Newnham College which we also visited recently. Incidentally don't be misled by a nearby residential street called Selwyn Gardens.




Take care.



22 comments:

  1. Wonderful gardens and so to are your photographs, thank you for sharing.

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  2. Some of those trees look like palms. If so, how do they keep them from dying in the winter?

    "That shadow which you can see encroaching at the bottom right is being cast by one of the corner spires of the Chapel."

    There's something symbolic in that! :) Maybe though the heat of the day is harsh and heavy, the shadow of calm and rest reaches for us.

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  3. So very beautiful. Thank you for sharing!

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  4. So colorful and serene. I think I would bring a book along and find a bench to enjoy it for awhile.

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  5. Lovely gardens. I really like the tropical feel of the last three photos.

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  6. Banana trees, palms, lush tropicals-- not how I picture an English garden!
    There is always something to learn.

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  7. John -- I have found that sometimes a great scouting area is right under our nose. This is quite a beautiful garden to discover. Feels very park-like. Learning from you that dahlias came from Mexico is a new discovery for me. Never thought they were edible. Enjoyed -- barbara

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  8. Excellent, John. The walk though the gravel path must be very special. It looks like a path in a beautiful Florida garden.

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  9. Wow! I cannot believe the Tropical Garden part...it is wonderful. I did not know dahlias were from Mexico, either.

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  10. Always nice to discover a new interesting place.

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  11. What a beautiful garden, I must seek that out next time we visit Cambridge:)

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  12. I have really enjoyed these strolls around Cambridge John.

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  13. Fabulous place, I had a place at St Catharines once upon a time (missed my grades) and out of all the main drag colleges, that was the uglies. Didn't even have a proper quad!

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  14. Oh how beautiful! I love your first photo of the colorful flowers.

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  15. Wonderful colours and shapes. It does look very tropical, the dahlias fit in to that rather well.

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  16. What gorgeous shots!

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  17. Your photos always surprise me by how lush and full of color it is there. Such beautiful gardens.

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  18. As you said yourself - it looks very, very tropical. You are lucky to have such a Garden and public too.

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  19. Lovely garden, great inspiration for me to go outside and pull a few weeds. ;)

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  20. A really great garden! Are those banana trees? The gloriosa daisies look so good with the purple salvia in the first photo. The last three photos show a fantastic scene- so many colours and textures. Nice natural little pond, too.

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