Conservative estimates place the garden at a fortnight behind the usual display, but certain areas seem more like four weeks away from the glory that one might normally expect. Regardless of this there is joy and wonder to behold in all corners of the garden, and a combination of a warm and cool spell has brought on or prolonged certain displays! Unfortunately through all of this excitement we find ourselves trapped in the classroom, as the annual three month lecture block grinds on. But we take heart and feel inspired by the floral gems being discovered each day, and the magnificent views revealed in a garden with such beautiful maturity.
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| The unfurling splendour of Cornus nuttallii x florida |
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| Cornus blooms open out into large white buttons, as seen here with C. ‘Ormonde’ |
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| Down by the river long swathes of Cow Parsley and Camassia have suddenly erupted! |
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| In the Queen’s Garden, an arch of Laburnum x watereri ‘Vossii’ begins its extravagant display. Such features later offer the additional benefit of dappled shade during the summer sun |
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| The intense colours of the fresh foliage and stems of Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ |
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| Kew holds an extensive Fritillary collection, this gem is Fritillaria reuteri |
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| A cheery but unknown late-flowering species of Narcissus |
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| From Asia, Tulipa tschimganica |
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| Sarracenia are carnivorous plants that digest flies and other unfortunate blighters! The flowers have this surreal masked appearance; hiding quite standard-looking floral naughty bits inside. This hardy hybrid is Sarracenia x catesbaei |
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| A specimen of Arpophyllum giganteum on show in one of the orchid display cases |
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| A pleasant and floriferous tropical weed, Turnera ulmifolia |
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| The arresting foliage of Piper ornatum! Commonly known as Pepper Vines, the most famous of the Piper family is P. nigrum from which black pepper is harvested |
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| Over in the Waterlily House the giant Santa Cruz waterlily, Victoria cruziana, is providing one of the most exciting sights in the garden! Native to Paraguay, the floating leaves can reach 2m across! |
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| Just outside the Waterlily House, this impassioned chap makes a brazen attempt to steal the show! |
6 comments:
could you walk on those lily leaves? How buoyant, how strong, are they?
Hi Bertie, Would it be possible to use one of your photos in our education work with schools? We'd really like to show an image from Kew.
Those waterlily leaves are gorgeous. I saw a peacock when I was there in the past but never with the feather spread! Beautiful. Jeannine
Greetings all!
Diana, the leaves are surprisingly delicate and tear easily.
hi Bertie, I haven't had much time to visit my favourite blogs recently, found myself in the midst of countryside destruction and couldn't turn a blind eye and preparing a move back to Scotland. I wondered today if you had started a new blog...look what I've been missing!! It sounds like a strange torture that you have to be indoors while studying horticulture. Since I work on the computer indoors I know how lovely it is to break free, it makes me appreciate the outdoors so much more! x
I love the cow parsley with the Camassia... it needs a bit of white to pick it up I think! Lovely views - even in almost July!
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