Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Kew Gardens

The Kew Gardens (as in Royal Botanical Gardens) was about a 15 minute walk from where Robin was attending class at The National Archives. I wandered around the gardens until Robin got out of class.

The oldest tree in the gardens is this 300-year old Sweet Chestnut. It has seen nine monarchs rule over England.  I can't wait to see my seedlings in Santa Fe get this old.

It’s too early for some blooms, but the daffodils are looking good.


A view from the balcony of the Temperature House.


The Japanese section of the gardens.


The Palm House. Lots of palms, ferns, and tropical stuff in here, including heat and humidity.


I see they use the Williams Method for pruning here. It seems to be working pretty good here for the past several hundred years so I guess I’ll stop doubting Robin when she pulls out the garden shears.


A view from the balcony of the Temperature House.

A Tree Top Walk.

A view of the Temperature House and the Japanese tower from the Tree Top Walk. 


This Cyclad in the Palm House was brought here in 1775.


To get to The National Archives building, you walk for 10 minutes from the train station through a lovely little upscale neighborhood in Kew. You might notice that upscale doesn't mean big yards.

I’ll bet it doesn’t take all day to mow this lawn. Not if you have a riding mower.



Nice picnic potential.


The stairs to the balcony of the Temperature House.

This little excursion has given me lots of ideas for the Mermaid Tavern Gardens.
 Probably not a Tree Top Walk though.