UK Trip 2005

Another late start to the day, but this time for several good reasons, meant that by the time I had finished at the Steam Museum I had to hightail it down the road in time to catch the 2pm guided tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Made it just in time, thanks to the very helpful driver of the 65 bus. Admission to Kew Gardens now £10. Pete staggered, and he's a member! Thank goodness for the ol' L.P. once again. Guided tour ran for an hour and only could scratch the surface of 300 acres of amazing plantlife in that time. Spent several hours there afterwards wandering on my own, and even with a map and a brisk walk it takes some time to even begin to cover the ground adequately, especially when the Kew Country Fair turns out to be on in the grounds at the same time, and seeks to seduce you with live displays of birds of prey and longbow-making. Arrived too late in the day to see any longbows actually being used, sadly, and Kew Palace is closed for restoration work. Was so busy snapping away with the camera that I managed to kill the batteries stone dead before I got a shot of the Palm House. Bypassed the Nash Conservatory and only saw the Japanese Pagoda in the distance. And I strongly advise anyone going there to walk down Syon Vista, an amazing avenue through the trees from the back of Palm House through to the Thames...because I didn't get to, only saw it from each end. Even so, there was plenty covered in the hours I was there. Here at the end of April, in one of the large conical holly bushes behind Palm House, I saw my first holly berry ever in the flesh, as it were. One solo berry left on this bush so late in the year. The camera had packed up by then, which was a pity. The perfume from the masses of flowers in front of the Palm House almost knocked me over. Left the badgers to Sett on their own, while mobs of other people did their best Here's One I Disturbed Earlier routines. And it's a very pleasant experience having coffee and cake on the forecourt of the Orangery once the sun is beginning to set and the crowds have ebbed a little...oh yes, those large, noisy, chattery, clattery, squeally crowds... Next Previous

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Andrew L

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ukmay05@yahoo.co.uk