August Bank Holiday Monday 27th. August.
Sue and Stuart away at 6am.
Beatrice caught up on all the washing we had been accumulating and set it out to dry on yet another warm sunny day and I managed to catch up on the blog.
Caught the 1pm train to Richmond and then on to Kew Gardens. Neither of us having been there for many many years.
Booked for the 2pm walking tour guide so we could get our bearings and an introduction as what we can see and do during our visit. The guide being a very charming lady from Toronto, Canada.
We felt an affinity with the place as soon as we learnt that the Director of the gardens was an Australian.
We then spent the next 4 hours walking through the numerous glasshouses and gardens.
94% of every plant specimen in the UK has been collected here along with thousands of plants from every corner of the globe all being maintained by around 150 staff, whom also create and maintain the Gardens displays throughout the year plus 150 reserchers and biologists.
The history of the gardens mainly started with the collection that Joseph Banks returned to England with after his trip of exploration with Captain Cook in the 1770’s. The land having been given over to the nation over the years from various members of the royal family today makes up the 300 acres of Kew gardens.
It takes a good three hours to explore the whole of the Gardens and at least 40 minutes to walk the length of the Gardens .Of course you could take the explorer train or even a horse and buggy. However we decided to walk and went through the Palm House of tropical rain forests! The Princess of Wales Conservatory, The Temperate House and also stopped off for a cuppa at the Orangery. Too much to write about here, so check out the web site for Kew Gardens and read all about it.
You will also see that they have a Wollemi Pine here and sell small ones in their nursery to the general public for 95 pounds (about $220.00).Hope some of the money finds it way back to Australia.
Sue and Stuart away at 6am.
Beatrice caught up on all the washing we had been accumulating and set it out to dry on yet another warm sunny day and I managed to catch up on the blog.
Caught the 1pm train to Richmond and then on to Kew Gardens. Neither of us having been there for many many years.
Booked for the 2pm walking tour guide so we could get our bearings and an introduction as what we can see and do during our visit. The guide being a very charming lady from Toronto, Canada.
We felt an affinity with the place as soon as we learnt that the Director of the gardens was an Australian.
We then spent the next 4 hours walking through the numerous glasshouses and gardens.
94% of every plant specimen in the UK has been collected here along with thousands of plants from every corner of the globe all being maintained by around 150 staff, whom also create and maintain the Gardens displays throughout the year plus 150 reserchers and biologists.
The history of the gardens mainly started with the collection that Joseph Banks returned to England with after his trip of exploration with Captain Cook in the 1770’s. The land having been given over to the nation over the years from various members of the royal family today makes up the 300 acres of Kew gardens.
It takes a good three hours to explore the whole of the Gardens and at least 40 minutes to walk the length of the Gardens .Of course you could take the explorer train or even a horse and buggy. However we decided to walk and went through the Palm House of tropical rain forests! The Princess of Wales Conservatory, The Temperate House and also stopped off for a cuppa at the Orangery. Too much to write about here, so check out the web site for Kew Gardens and read all about it.
You will also see that they have a Wollemi Pine here and sell small ones in their nursery to the general public for 95 pounds (about $220.00).Hope some of the money finds it way back to Australia.
Wish we could have had time to look around Kew Palace but the last entry was at 4.15pm and we were too late. This was where King George lll was hidden when he went through his mad phase.
The floors have been reconstructed to look like when he lived there however the top floors were just as they had been left until 2004 after they had moved out, removed their furniture and shut the door two hundred years ago.
A very long day, so we were happy to get back on the train head for home for a glass of wine and as usual a great meal put together in rapid speed by Beatrice.
Needless to say we went to bed exhausted, as being a tourist is very tiring!
A very long day, so we were happy to get back on the train head for home for a glass of wine and as usual a great meal put together in rapid speed by Beatrice.
Needless to say we went to bed exhausted, as being a tourist is very tiring!
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