Please, just take this time to relax for a minute, and enjoy a few photos from Kew Gardens. Kew, as nearly everything in England, goes back centuries. In this case, roughly 1299, when King Edward I decided to move his court to this bucolic neighborhood. I can't say I blame him. It's beautiful here.
So far, England has been a delight. I've noticed that the parks and gardens have been filled with families simply enjoying the out-of-doors. Kew is no exception, although today it seemed more a place of mums and grand-mums with their little ones--perfectly put together in pastel sundresses and little ironed shorts. Most of my views have resembled a large painting I wouldn't mind hanging on my wall. How lucky!
This is the Palm House, our first stop. We've passed through the Victoria Gate with Cousin Gaynor and are planning our day. The Palm House is all glass (hand blown) and wrought iron, humidity and equatorial forest. It's been here since the 1840s, and the plantings are lush. There is actually a much larger glass house on the property--The Temperate House--but it's currently closed for renovations. In the meantime the Palm House does just fine.
Yes, we have some bananas, although they're a bit smallish. At least, they look like bananas. Kew lacks a bit in little signs which might help us identify many of its plants. I think we're supposed to be smart enough to know. But we're not.
We've moved beyond The Palm House and I don't have a clue what this might be, but I like it. If I weren't in this English climate, I might pursue whether or not it could live in Arizona. Common sense tells me NO.
One last flower photo. I promise. I'm just so excited that my mystery flower and its little bees are in focus--more or less--that I wanted to show you. It is a unique flower and coming from Arizona, where all of our bees are Africanized to some degree or another, it's nice to watch these calm little fellows gather their goodies for the hive.
Here is Kew Palace peering over or, perhaps lurking behind the rather sinister Medicinal Herb and Plant Garden. Wandering through a medicinal garden makes me extremely grateful to be living in today's world with Walgreen just down the street. The English of the 1800s were incredibly strong. And trusting. I saw plants that could kill or cure. Learning the difference might take a toll. This humble palace was home to George III and his family, one of a number of homes they claimed. And, yes, I mean THE George III of American Revolution times. You know, the one who was ever so slightly barmy.
Lovely vignettes abound at Kew. One could wander for days here. During our few hours, we actually covered only about a fourth of its 300 acres.
BC is taking a breather in this shelter formed from the branches of a mysterious plant (I can't find it's name) that has a tendency to twist and twirl as it grows. And it appears to have been growing for decades. I'm sure it's partially trained and partially natural, but it's time for him to move on before a leafy tendril reaches out for that wayward arm.
These were a definite hit. Found, appropriately enough, in the Water Lily House, these back-yard-kiddie-pool look-alikes are just that. Lily pads. I'm not sure if the small wilted one toward the center is still coming or just going, but they are fascinating. We just looked at each other and laughed. Lily pads make everyone happy.
We thank Gaynor, our delightful shirttail-cousin, for our day at Kew. She had visited our Desert Botanical Garden this past spring where, unnervingly, a most social King Snake took an immediate liking to her. Fortunately, she's not a scaredy cat like I am, and took it all in stride. Even more fortunately, Kew Gardens snakes (if any exist) stayed somewhere else during our visit. Thus assuring that my day was lovely. Thank you, Gaynor.
That unique plant sure looks like a blooming artichoke to me.
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