Chilean Lantern Tree Crinodendron Hookerianum – sleeping walled garden
Striking Chilean Lantern Tree watercolour sketch today. The Chilean Lantern Tree though a beautiful specimen is not one from my garden. Sadly our exposed, windy garden would prove too much of a battle for this delicate stunner.
Penrhyn Castle – imposing structure
This Chilean Lantern Tree watercolour was inspired by a recent visit to Penrhyn Castle in Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales. The castle itself has a rather brooding and imposing presence, but stunning views of the Menai Straits and Snowdonia compensate. Penrhyn Castle has one of the finest art collections in North Wales, with particularly good examples of portraits by Rembrandt.
Penrhyn Castle is Neo Norman in style, designed by the architect Thomas Hopper. Thomas Hopper also applied this heavy foreboding style to the interior walls, doors and furnishings. Personally I found the style too showy and masculine, but there were beautiful chinese wallpapers in the bedrooms. Penrhyn Castle is also known for its one ton slate four poster bed. Created for Queen Victoria’s visit. Apparently, Queen Victoria was not amused (sorry, couldn’t resist). It felt very cold to the touch and more in keeping with a state funeral than a state sleep.
Chilean Lantern Tree and the Secret Garden
So after a quick meander through Penrhyn Castle, it was lovely to walk in the sunshine and explore the Victorian walled garden. Upon entering it left the impression of a sleeping garden, reminding me of the Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It appeared overgrown and abandoned, but with beautiful planting. A lot of pruning and weeding had already been done, but there is still more to do. Knowing how hard it is to bring a garden back to life, let alone maintain it, I couldn’t help but appreciate the efforts made so far. Though a part of me likes the idea of a sleepy, secret garden, where nature roams free.
Within the walled garden standing tall and proud is the Chilean Lantern Tree with its abundance of crimson lantern like flowers, hanging in groups suspended on long stalks, surrounded by dark shiny green leaves. It is a beautiful tree to behold and immediately catches your eye. I can imagine the Chilean Lantern Tree growing in Chile with the humming birds flitting their beaks from one dangling flower to another.
Chilean Lantern Tree watercolour sketches
I had my sketchbook with me so I drew a few of the branches of the Chilean Lantern Tree. Then I pencilled a few of the flowers and their leaves up close. I used watercolour pencils to recreate the raspberry red colour of the lanterns for my outdoor reference sketches. I also made notes of colours, shapes and texture of the flowers and leaves. Sometimes I’ll use these notes to help compose or incorporate a plant into a larger painting. It’s important to record first impressions.
This watercolour sketch has been created from the drawings and notes I made. If I had a sheltered walled garden, I would love to have a Chilean Lantern Tree. They are a delight to behold.