Bottlebrush plants, bordering walkways through La Orotava Botanical Gardens in Tenerife. Photo courtesy of my friend Rosalea Congdon.

Pathway through La Orotava Botanical Gardens in Tenerife. Photo courtesy of my friend Rosalea Congdon.

La Orotava Botanical Gardens in Tenerife. Photo courtesy of my friend Rosalea Congdon.

La Orotava Botanical Gardens in Tenerife. Photo courtesy of my friend Rosalea Congdon.

Sheltered pathway through La Orotava Botanical Gardens in Tenerife. Photo courtesy of my friend Rosalea Congdon.

Large beautiful tree at La Orotava Botanical Gardens in Tenerife. Photo courtesy of my friend Rosalea Congdon.

Sheltered pathway at La Orotava Botanical Gardens in Tenerife. Photo courtesy of my friend Rosalea Congdon.

A large bottlebrush plant alongside a path through La Orotava Botanical Gardens in Tenerife.

This colourful tree was outside the main entrance to La Orotava Botanical Gardens in Tenerife.

This snake was on my blindside as I left La Orotava Botanical Gardens in Tenerife. It made me jump as I turned around to talk to Rosalea. Luckily she wasn't there & didn't see me jump at what turned out to be a stick. Sssshhhh don't tell her I was scared of a stick.