Spring is late but it is coming. The Royal Botanic Gardens’ Rhododendron Dell is alive with the mad chirruping of escaped pet parakeets while the massive, waxy petals of azaleas compete in colour and magnitude with the nearby camellias. Combine this fabulous flora with the combative fauna that are the wildfowl on nest patrol and there is no better time to wander Kew for a day.
Kew has housed a settlement since Palaeolithic times due to its prominent position on a bend on London’s River Thames. The gardens at Kew took seed during the reign of Henry VII (1457-1509) but only bore real fruit after 1759. The 300 acres of colour, peace and beauty at Kew received UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2003.
Along with the natural sciences that it extols, Kew too is an organic being, ever growing, evolving and expanding. Riverside Kew Palace, built in 1631 and later used by George III as a royal residence, has reopened after extensive restoration. Even if you don’t visit the small house itself, do explore the therapeutic herbs in the Queen’s Garden. The other major constructs in Kew are of course for plant life rather then human life. The tropical Palm House, the enormous Temperate House and the newest addition, the Princess of Wales Conservatory hold thousands of species, common and endangered, native and foreign, colourful or just plain green. And don’t miss the tiny, hardy specimens in the futuristic-looking Davies Alpine House or the gigantic pads in the Waterlily House.
It is of course the tranquil gardens that truly soothe the soul at Kew from the carpet of bright bluebells to the swishing lullaby of the Bamboo Garden at the Minka House. Soothing isn’t quite the word at the moment however as you stand on the Sackler Crossing watching the ducks, geese and swans get territorial as laying season hits full stride. One swan actually chased a Canada Goose not just away from his mate’s nest (near the Plants + People Exhibition) but completely off the water. The dapper, two-tone tufted ducks charge around, ducking and diving as the coots and moorhens take turns guarding their large island nests. The glorious peacock called out in his haunting and rather plaintive cry but remained alone as he sat serenely in the shade of a tree.
And so to the trees, which arrest visitors continually on their way from, say, the Japanese Pagoda to Europe’s largest compost heap. And so they should. Heritage trees such as Wollemi Pine (discovered in 1994) to the fabulous twisted camouflage of the Black Sally eucalypt are natural wonders that too many of us in this digital age just walk past. Benches litter Kew’s grounds, donated by thankful professional as well as amateur naturalists to provide restful vantage points to take in the wonders of these fantastic grounds. Opposite the southern end of the Sackler Crossing sit two fabulously and suitably droopy Weeping Eastern Hemlocks. One nestles a bench dedicated to one Dillis ‘Phyllis’ Schub upon which a better or more sheltered vista could hardly be seen.
Kew is enormous and a sit down every now and then is very welcome. Food options in Kew are tasty, freshly made and fairly cheap. For families with boisterous kids, the best bet for lunch is at White Peaks, where the adjacent climbing frames and playground are an excellent source of exhaustion. For a sedate meal but one still entertainingly interspersed with the opportunistic diving of pigeons, head to the glorious high ceilinged and beautifully lit Orangery. But, to take full advantage of all Kew has to offer, carry a picnic and find a sheltered spot under your favourite tree and relax among the bird song. If you have a large appetite or just don’t want to walk all day long, there is a hop-on and hop-off tractor trailer affair available.
And if you can’t make London, then why not visit Kew’s sister establishment in Wakefield in West Sussex. Wakefield’s 188 hectares of woodland, gardens and houses provide the natural backdrop for the Millennium Seed Bank, the largest plant conservation project in the world.
Most homeowners have probably spent hours looking at the different types of garden seeders. You may have even come across…
When it comes to vehicle lovers, cleaning their cars on a regular basis is essential to maintaining the paint job's…
Gas chainsaws are the perfect tool for a variety of outdoor tasks, including chopping up logs for firewood, clearing brush…
A home can be a daunting project, one that takes some time and energy to maintain. With hard work, determination,…
Today ginger is grown all over tropical and subtropical regions in Asia, in parts of Africa and South America, and…
Onions are one of the most popular vegetables in the world, and growing onions is a snap in the home…