Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

The Great Pagoda at Kew Gardens – there be fearsome Dragons

Categories Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, General comment, Hydrangea, late summer border, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Plants for a shady garden?, Rhododendron & Azalea, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, shade, Summer garden, Travel broadens the mind2 Comments on The Great Pagoda at Kew Gardens – there be fearsome Dragons

The newly restored Great Pagoda at Kew Gardens, replete with fearsome dragons. Built in 1762, it was one of a series of oriental-inspired buildings smattered through these new gardens, though the only one to have stood the test of time. The dragons are beautiful, colourful, gilded and sparkling, and quite fearsome. On the lowest tier…

Continue reading ➞ The Great Pagoda at Kew Gardens – there be fearsome Dragons

Kew Gardens, Part One (there will be more tomorrow now I’ve actually booked for the Great Pagoda)

Categories Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Bedding, colour, conifers, Dahlias, dark foliage plants, David Austin roses, Dry Garden, evergreen perennial, Exotic, Fragrant plants, Friends, Garden Design, General comment, Grasses, herbaceous, House plants, late summer border, Lawn Care, Mediterranean Garden, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Roses, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Seasonal colour, shade, Shrubs, Summer garden, Trees for smaller gardens, Tropical, Water gardening, Wisteria, Woodland GardenLeave a Comment on Kew Gardens, Part One (there will be more tomorrow now I’ve actually booked for the Great Pagoda)

A first look at the newly restored and be-dragoned Great Pagoda. Of course I didn't think to book, so shall be returning tomorrow at 10.30am for that pleasure. I have ascended the Pagoda before, pre-restoration about what, five years ago? But the Dragons are new, 1.8m long on the lower level carved in wood, greatly…

Continue reading ➞ Kew Gardens, Part One (there will be more tomorrow now I’ve actually booked for the Great Pagoda)

A few hours at Kew Gardens – the newly re-opened Temperate House, Alliums on the Broadwalk, treetop walkway, the Hive, gorgeous Wisteria, a Rhododendron or three, and laburnum arches, waterlilies, the Davies Alpine House and Rock Garden, peonies galore, many remarkable trees, a Japanese landscape and the Pagoda … and much more-

Categories Acid-loving plants, Alpine, annuals, Architectural Plants, Exotic, Garden Design, General comment, herbaceous, Indoor gardening, Mediterranean Garden, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Rhododendron & Azalea, Roses, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Seasonal colour, shade, Shrubs, Trees, Trees for smaller gardens, Tropical, Water gardening, Wildlife gardening, Wisteria, Woodland GardenLeave a Comment on A few hours at Kew Gardens – the newly re-opened Temperate House, Alliums on the Broadwalk, treetop walkway, the Hive, gorgeous Wisteria, a Rhododendron or three, and laburnum arches, waterlilies, the Davies Alpine House and Rock Garden, peonies galore, many remarkable trees, a Japanese landscape and the Pagoda … and much more-

If a picture is worth a thousand words, here's a million. Kew Gardens today. Amazing, as ever -

Kew Gardens by way of Siberia … The Hive, Alpine House (naturally), a deserted Broadwalk, frigid (but pruned) Rose Garden, a short-back-and-sides to the Grass Borders and a remarkable tree or two –

Categories Alpine, Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Fragrant plants, Grasses, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Winter GardenLeave a Comment on Kew Gardens by way of Siberia … The Hive, Alpine House (naturally), a deserted Broadwalk, frigid (but pruned) Rose Garden, a short-back-and-sides to the Grass Borders and a remarkable tree or two –

Don't let all that Thailand stuff lull you into a false sense of security, warmth and vibrant-colourful-duvetness ... outside it is Arctic. The crump-crump of snow beneath your boots and the beautiful architecture of trees picked out in white. A lot to admire but even so, bloomin' cold so it was a quick trot back…

Continue reading ➞ Kew Gardens by way of Siberia … The Hive, Alpine House (naturally), a deserted Broadwalk, frigid (but pruned) Rose Garden, a short-back-and-sides to the Grass Borders and a remarkable tree or two –

A birthday treat to myself – a day trip to Thailand …

Categories Architectural Plants, Climbing plants, Flower Shows, House plants, Indoor gardening, Open to the public, Orchids, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew1 Comment on A birthday treat to myself – a day trip to Thailand …

While the Beast from the East continues to freeze and snow lies deep and crisp and even on the ground, I thought today would be a good day to find warmer climes - by way of the Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew - and explore the floral delights of Thailand. Their annual orchid extravaganza…

Continue reading ➞ A birthday treat to myself – a day trip to Thailand …

A little Kew Miscellany – everything else from a chill Tuesday in January (or Heraldic Beasts and where to find them)

Categories Climbing plants, Fragrant plants, General comment, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Winter Garden1 Comment on A little Kew Miscellany – everything else from a chill Tuesday in January (or Heraldic Beasts and where to find them)

Just mopping up with the remainder of the photographs taken last week when I headed off to Kew Gardens, warmed up in the Princess of Wales Conservatory and then joined the 'Meet the Experts' tour talking all things Snowdrop. A random selection though I wish you could take in the delicious fragrance from the Chimonanthus…

Continue reading ➞ A little Kew Miscellany – everything else from a chill Tuesday in January (or Heraldic Beasts and where to find them)

A ‘Meet the Experts Tour’at Kew Gardens – Snowdrops (Galanthophiles Rule OK) – and my first sighting of the newest species in the club, Galanthus trojanus

Categories Alpine, Autumn garden, General comment, Open to the public, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Snowdrops (Galanthus), Winter Garden2 Comments on A ‘Meet the Experts Tour’at Kew Gardens – Snowdrops (Galanthophiles Rule OK) – and my first sighting of the newest species in the club, Galanthus trojanus

Such a treat, earlier this week, attending one of Kew Gardens' Meet the Experts Tours. Every Tuesday throughout the year (or probably pretty much), you are delivered into the hands of one of their Experts for a private tour of one aspect of the work going on at Kew. This month they are talking everything snowdrops…

Continue reading ➞ A ‘Meet the Experts Tour’at Kew Gardens – Snowdrops (Galanthophiles Rule OK) – and my first sighting of the newest species in the club, Galanthus trojanus

Looking for a January Getaway? A tropical holiday? Try Kew Gardens

Categories Architectural Plants, General comment, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Tropical1 Comment on Looking for a January Getaway? A tropical holiday? Try Kew Gardens

  A dull day, yesterday, with a chill wind and a fine mist of rain oftentimes so it was glorious to spend a little time inside the Princess of Wales Conservatory in Kew Gardens - plenty of humidity and generously warm temperatures and what a collection of plants in the tropical section here - orchids…

Continue reading ➞ Looking for a January Getaway? A tropical holiday? Try Kew Gardens

The Rose Garden at Kew. Vital still in November ….

Categories David Austin roses, General comment, Roses, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew2 Comments on The Rose Garden at Kew. Vital still in November ….

Remember Remember the 5th of November, Gunpowder, treason and.... Roses? This floriferous rose garden certainly has other ideas about a quiet slide into senescence, leaf-drop and rose-hips - these are flower-packed shrubs with more to come. Colour, fragrance aplenty and fresh, clean leaves in abundance. A remarkable display given it really is November and hardly…

Continue reading ➞ The Rose Garden at Kew. Vital still in November ….