I love this painting by my namesake, Rachel #Ruysch, at the #Rijksmuseum in #Amsterdam. I marvel at how so many paintings have survived from the 1600s in NL. It was like visiting a street photography exhibition from around 400 years ago.

Here's my top 10 spring bulbs. Happy to answer any questions after the video. youtu.be/GgE6dtqUTUY #hyacinth #iris_reticulata #chinodoxa #tulips #daffodils #fritillaria #snakeshead_fritillaria

Some flowers for sale in Amsterdam, including glorious #proteas with oak leaves and autumn foliage.

This is a glorious South American beauty with an unpronounceable name. Here in #Madeira it grows outdoors whereas in Ireland it suffered for many years in my greenhouse. Poor thing. But isn't it a beauty! And, now for the name... #Megaskepasma erythrochlamys. 🤣

Oh to be able to grow #cymbidiums outdoors like this, under a simple shade cloth! Unfortunately it was a little early to catch most of them in bloom Monte Palace Madeira #Madeira. #orchids

Vanda " Okinawa" in full bloom. Sweetly scented too.

Great to see my Darwin #orchid (Angraecum sesquipedale Crestwood "Tomorrow Star") still in bloom after my travels, with its four flowers. #Angraecum #AngraecumSesquipedale

#Cycads being propagated at Monte Palace Garden, #Madeira. Monte Palace Madeira

A beautiful example of an #agave. I love how it seems to wave in the breeze. At the #Palheiro Garden on #Madeira.

A wall of beautiful #begonias in Quinta Vigia, the garden of the president of #Madeira. #QuintaVigia

A shot from above at Boa Vista #Orchid Nursery, #Madeira #BoaVista

The glorious climbing jade vine (#Strongylodon macrobotrys) at Boa Vista #orchid nursery on #Madeira. Do you like the colour? It's not for everyone but it is definitely a colour that's unusual in nature. #BoaVista #StrongylodonMacrobotrys

I'm always on the look out for good #camellias, like this one. They need to be floriferous but also to drop their fading blooms. Unfortunately there was no label on this bush in #Palheiro Gardens on #Madeira

Ever wonder how much I spend on my #garden & houseplant collection in a year? It can be a loaded question for some, one we don't want to answer, but I kept a record for one calendar year and will share my findings with you in Sunday's video. See you there! tinyurl.com/douentza1

Some of my #furcraea bulbils, doing well in the glasshouse.

Here are six of the best winter garden trees, all with stunning bark. Enjoy. youtu.be/Opc_DvVgBhM #Acer griseum (paperbark maple), #Betula utilis (Himalayan birch), strawberry tree (#Arbutus andrachne), Tibetan Cherry (Prunus serrula), #Luma apiculata & #Stewartia monadelpha.

This is the iconic photo of the gorgeous botanic gardens in #Madeira that everyone takes. I didn't feel like I should be the exception! #Jardim Botanico da Madeira #Funchal

I always associate early spring gardening with the #robin. He is so friendly and attentive as I weed that it's easy to believe he is loyal to me alone ❤️ #Erithacus

Here's a video all about propagating gorgeous orange tiger lilies from bulbils youtu.be/HhacU_3CeRs #TigerLily #LiliumLancifolium

Three giant urns at the Monte Palace Garden, #Madeira #MontePalace