Kew Royal Gardens
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| The Palm Palace |
Our last Group outing was to the Royal Kew Gardens. If you aren't into flowers and trees, there will be waterfowl at Hyde Park! The garden is made up of 250 acres. On our way out to the gardens, our first stop was this tent of amazing baked goods they were just setting up!!! Yum!
We had an hour tour with a guide and then went off on our own. Many students left immediately but some stuck around to explore. There is so much to explore!
In 1987, a big storm destroyed 1,000 of the 17,000 trees at Kew Gardens. All the wood was saved and sent out for many art projects and to different educational programs. This sculpture uses all 22 types of trees that were destroyed.
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This amazing sculpture--represents all aspects of Kew.
Made by a 16 year old! |
The Palm Palace is one of the many original glass greenhouses at Kew Gardens. It houses palms from all over the world. Hot, steamy and beautiful contents inside, the outside is gorgeous.
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| Inside the Palm Palace |
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| Ceiling view |
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| Scooby Doo? Nope, The White Greyhound of Richmond |
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A member of Griffindor?
Close, the Griffin of Edward III |
These are two of the Queen's Beasts. Ten heraldic figures replicated by those at Westminster Abbey for ER's coronation and placed here in 1956. They each represent part of her lineage/coat of arms.
The pagoda was built in 1762 as a surprise for Princess Augusta. It was originally brightly colored and had 80 gilded dragons---that disappeared in 1784. It was at the time, the only other accurate representation of a Chinese building--although it has an even number of floors. Not acceptable in China.
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| The pagoda |
The Xstrata Tree Top Walkway was designed to let everyone walk around the top of the forest. Designed by the creator of the London Eye, it is based on the Fibonacci ratio--based on creative sequences in nature (like the channels in a nautilus shell). It was quite a trip up and a nice stroll across the treetops. What's a few more stairs in London?
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| Tree top walk |
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| Nice views |
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| The Temperate House-built in the late 1800's |
The scent from all of these roses was divine!!! 10 different beds of all types
including hybrids.
Mad Hatter's Tea Party--with all edible plants on the table.
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| Nailed down of course! |
Built in 1631 for a rich merchant, this house was leased by the royal family in the 1700's. It became home to three of King George II's daughters. A second house, the White House was built and where George III (Referred to constantly in the UK as "the king who lost us the colonies") was raised. Later in his life, George III bought Kew Gardens and demolished the White House. This home is where King George and his family (15 children) attempted to retreat from public view as George was suffering his "madness."
Behind the house, is a 17th century style Queen's Garden.
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| Queen Charlotte's bedroom |
The note in the black chair?
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| A bit morbid but... |
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| Such a humble tea service. |
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| Can't have a 17th century style garden without lavender and hedges. |
So many kinds of plants are a part of Kew. One of the more modern buildings, The Princess of Wales Conservatory houses 10 different environments from dry desert to rainforest and a huge collection of English orchids.
This entire facility hosts cacti of many varieties, carnivorous plants, orchids and all kinds of climate controlled species. This building is the most modern of the greenhouses and is completely sustainable...water drains off the roof and into holding cisterns.
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| Desert |
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| These orchids have camouflage...can you see all if it? |
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| These orchids are about the size of fingernail. |
This is an interesting plant...The Titan Arum comes from Sumatra--each year it only grows one leaf, as big as a tree (6 m tall). It makes up for the lack of leaves by flowering --but that only lasts 48 hours. Something else--the flowering structure heats up to human body temperature to broadcast its smell like a chimney. The horrible smell attracts insects that will pollinate it. One scientist described the smell like "a rotting animal in a pan of sauerkraut." Yum!
Below is a link to pictures and a lapse time video of the blooming.
Watch the Titan without the smell! (click here!)
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| Baby pineapples |
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Lotus blossom...not a water lily
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Speaking of Water lilies---these are amazing!
Just so you can get a sense of proportion. One of our students in the background.
Here are some random shots around the Gardens.
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I know this is some kind of aster but I LOVE
daisies and this looks like a shredded one! |
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| Still fuzzy! |
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| Pitcher plants--there were so many cool carnivorous plants! |
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The theme this summer is edible plants---so most of the
typical flower beds are veggie beds! |
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| One of the oldest trees in the park. Beautiful. |
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| Japanese Pagoda tree (although it's Chinese) planted in 1760. |
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| Baby artichokes |
Kew was an amazing experience--and I hardly glossed the surface! Highly recommend!
My last trip to Hyde Park. This time I skipped the outer walk and I didn't spend time at Diana's fountain...but focused on the Serpentine and the wildlife and views. The pictures are in reverse of my trip. I ended at the Italian fountains.
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| The Italian Fountains |
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| A coot nesting...and I can't tell if that is a baby or visitor to the left |
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| Peter Pan...if you can't tell, not the best light |
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| Ready for a meeting? |
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No swans attacked when taking these pictures!
And I was careful--those "dears" can be mean! |
Hyde Park...from one end of the Serpentine to the other.
Well, that is all I have to report. This marks the last week of normal classes and we are now onto our finals week. Hard to believe.
Cheerio! (although no one cool says that anymore!)
Toni
Wonderful photography! Enjoyed it very much.
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