“It’s like a holiday within a holiday”: TV gardener David Domoney visits the Canaries’ secret gardens

There’s something rather appealing about setting sail from an English autumn or winter with a coat and umbrella, knowing that, a few days later, you could be stepping ashore in Madeira in shorts and a T-shirt.

For David Domoney, though, the attraction of Saga’s Best of the Canaries cruise goes beyond escaping the cold. With their extraordinary gardens, exotic plants and wildly different microclimates, the Canary Islands and Madeira offer a botanical adventure in their own right.

“A visit is like a holiday within a holiday”

The TV gardener has filmed in both Madeira and Gran Canaria for ITV, and it’s the gardens that have left a lasting impression. Part of their magic lies in the extraordinary variety of plants they can support.

“The Canary Islands’ gardens are important for plant conservation, habitat protection, and scientific research,” David explains. Their diverse microclimates also mean they can support “an incredible range of plants”.

For anyone who loves gardening, that makes exploring the islands rather special.

“It is a beauty to behold, with rare and exotic plants full of structure and shape, colourful foliage and mesmerising flowers,” he says.

And you don’t necessarily need to be on a dedicated garden tour to appreciate them. David says that even simply wandering around can reveal something unexpected. “Embrace every opportunity to visit the gardens on the tours, but even when walking through the streets and parks, you will be immersed in beautiful plants,” he explains.

Perhaps that’s why his favourite memories of Madeira and Gran Canaria aren’t simply about individual gardens, but the feeling of stepping somewhere completely different.

“Visiting these gardens takes you to another world,” he says. “A visit is like a holiday within a holiday.”

The plants you didn’t know were so clever

During the cruise, David will be giving a talk based on his book Plants with Superpowers, exploring some of the remarkable abilities of plants, including a few species you might already have growing in your own garden.

“We have plants that have memories, some that can even count,” he says. And it gets more extraordinary from there. Among the plant superpowers David will be revealing:

• Plants that fight back: including one that can even change the shape of its leaves into spikes when it’s attacked.
• Nature’s clean-up crew: one plant can help purify toxic soil.
• A helping hand with ageing: some plants produces fruit which, when eaten, can help reduce the effects of ageing, while another can help you look younger.

Confessions of a TV gardener

We’ve all seen Love Your Garden, but what happens when the cameras stop rolling?

David will also lift the lid on life behind the scenes in his second cruise talk, drawing on his years working on shows including Love Your Garden, This Morning, 60 Minute Makeover and James Martin’s Saturday Morning.

“It’s a wonderfully entertaining show full of anecdotes and amazing pictures,” David says, promising stories of “how the programmes are made, including how they go right… and what goes wrong”.

In other words, expect a few surprises.

From coats and umbrellas to shorts and T-shirts

There’s another attraction to heading south by ship at this time of year: you get to watch the weather improve as you go.

“At this time of year, it’s a great experience setting sail from England’s cold and rain, then feeling it become warmer as the ship sails south, right up to the first port,” says David.

And for David, there’s something particularly enjoyable about returning to places he already knows.

“I have visited these islands many times before, and the many enjoyable experiences I’ve had there are exactly why I am so excited to go back.”

“Like meeting old friends again”

David has plenty of experience of Saga cruising, and it’s the welcome back on board that he particularly relishes.

“There are many reasons I enjoy Saga cruising,” he says. “The team on board are some of the friendliest, most helpful and most professional in the business.”

For David, it’s a feeling that goes beyond good service.

“When I come back on board, it’s like meeting old friends again, with such a warm welcome,” he says.

He also praises the standards on board, saying they make the trip “so smooth and comfortable”. The result, he says, is “such a pleasant and friendly environment” – a place to return to after a day exploring the gardens and landscapes of the islands.

Sail away with David Domoney

Join TV gardener David Domoney on Saga’s Best of the Canaries cruise and discover the gardens, landscapes and plant life of the Canary Islands and Madeira.

As well as exploring the destinations, you’ll be able to hear David’s talks Confessions of a TV Gardener and Plants with Superpowers, packed with gardening knowledge, fascinating plant facts and behind-the-scenes television stories.

Best of the Canaries sails 7 December

The 15-day cruise sails Portsmouth 7 December and returns on 20 December, the perfect time for a bit of winter sun to leave you feeling rested and refreshed in time for Christmas.

The first stop is in Funchal, the capital of Portuguese Madeira, where you can go star gazing – the region is renowned for its starry nights – and moves on to the jaw-dropping volcanic scenery of La Palma, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote islands.

There are plenty of fantastic excursions en route such as Funchal’s Botanical Gardens, an orchid garden in Tenerife, and incredible volcanoes, craters and lava fields.

On the way home, the ship stops in lively Lisbon, giving you the opportunity for some last-minute Christmas shopping, and to visit famous landmarks such as the Castle of Sao Jorge and the Terreiro do Paco square.

Find out more about the Best of the Canaries cruise