tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36499397604707982092024-03-19T03:07:24.662+00:00What ho Kew!Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-18154585591418875742013-09-05T12:02:00.000+01:002014-07-29T20:24:24.701+01:00Student vegetable plots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ai4aeU8GyeU/UiheRolZ3SI/AAAAAAAACJg/7AHS6xJhoCo/s1600/IMG_1463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ai4aeU8GyeU/UiheRolZ3SI/AAAAAAAACJg/7AHS6xJhoCo/s640/IMG_1463.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The student vegetable plots are tucked away in the
northern part of the garden, opposite the School of Horticulture, and are
keenly maintained by the students. Although there is a
strong element of fun involved, meticulous marking once a month by the assessor
means you must get on with it whether you would like to or not! Vegetables are
required to be grown to a high standard, pest free and harvested at the correct
time, and some flowering plants are also allowed on the plots too to lure in
the pollinating insects. The highest marks are awarded to those who utilise the
space most ingeniously, with catch crops and intercropping to give the most
bountiful harvest overall! Marks are lost to those with bare soil, weeds, and for
negligent harvesting, such as the inevitable comedy marrow left growing on the
courgette plant for too long. We benefited from a very good growing year this summer,
and overall it was bloody good fun!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gfOLFAhqoSw/UiheQ12Ga5I/AAAAAAAACJc/3lzrwjcbKwk/s1600/IMG_1480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gfOLFAhqoSw/UiheQ12Ga5I/AAAAAAAACJc/3lzrwjcbKwk/s640/IMG_1480.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">My plot took on a Dig for Victory theme this year,
with patriotic flags and a wartime scarecrow standing guard. The cosmos were
magnificently unruly and have flowered their socks off</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cbeZLXOyyPs/UihezgNytwI/AAAAAAAACJ0/GaPMHbPSBcg/s1600/IMG_1457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cbeZLXOyyPs/UihezgNytwI/AAAAAAAACJ0/GaPMHbPSBcg/s640/IMG_1457.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Bean poles and the old bunting!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HTAiB8sBuuY/Uihe0Sud9WI/AAAAAAAACJ4/sRf9K7r--GI/s1600/IMG_1479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HTAiB8sBuuY/Uihe0Sud9WI/AAAAAAAACJ4/sRf9K7r--GI/s640/IMG_1479.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Mixed marigolds providing a colourful edging</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6ULSrhGC1vQ/UihesUB1i1I/AAAAAAAACJo/C2BS0CqSyiw/s1600/IMG_9243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6ULSrhGC1vQ/UihesUB1i1I/AAAAAAAACJo/C2BS0CqSyiw/s640/IMG_9243.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">A peacock resting over a row of carrots, although many
students did not bother to protect their crops we have had no incidents of the
dreaded root fly</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JLYv3futFLg/UihfG5um3GI/AAAAAAAACKA/xhDOgmHLUDQ/s1600/IMG_1929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JLYv3futFLg/UihfG5um3GI/AAAAAAAACKA/xhDOgmHLUDQ/s640/IMG_1929.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Tagetes and some healthy basil poking through</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jC39y3K6ScI/UihfZZg8WXI/AAAAAAAACKI/HNxRQrcsivE/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jC39y3K6ScI/UihfZZg8WXI/AAAAAAAACKI/HNxRQrcsivE/s640/IMG_0001.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The rocket have bolted gloriously this year, one of
the students foresaw the inevitable</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NARWaohegFo/UihfdTHRIPI/AAAAAAAACKQ/AEyC90V2zB8/s1600/IMG_1927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NARWaohegFo/UihfdTHRIPI/AAAAAAAACKQ/AEyC90V2zB8/s640/IMG_1927.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Some incredible bolting lettuce!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MCG9kVBtyg8/UihgBccaCWI/AAAAAAAACKY/6midA84kOvU/s1600/IMG_1920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MCG9kVBtyg8/UihgBccaCWI/AAAAAAAACKY/6midA84kOvU/s640/IMG_1920.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Lord Roberts enjoying the evening sun</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CAS3kK-rBlA/UihgSzYEmWI/AAAAAAAACKk/mkDNdhtL-ng/s1600/IMG_1896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CAS3kK-rBlA/UihgSzYEmWI/AAAAAAAACKk/mkDNdhtL-ng/s640/IMG_1896.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">This is a surprisingly excellent dwarf sunflower
cultivar, H. ‘Little Dorrit’. The honeybees in particular are very keen on it</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b_VS-DhpmFQ/UihgTVQzFcI/AAAAAAAACKo/ZkdRZot5e5A/s1600/IMG_1905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b_VS-DhpmFQ/UihgTVQzFcI/AAAAAAAACKo/ZkdRZot5e5A/s640/IMG_1905.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Excess veg from the plots, plus flowers and some
potted plants, are sold here every Friday between 12pm and 1pm</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g3ZyqfuZL0Y/Uihg7Ky92lI/AAAAAAAACK0/N1YLQawcvJ4/s1600/IMG_0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g3ZyqfuZL0Y/Uihg7Ky92lI/AAAAAAAACK0/N1YLQawcvJ4/s640/IMG_0011.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Scarecrow!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span> </div>
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-45926350065756912802013-06-24T18:58:00.000+01:002013-06-24T18:58:27.685+01:00Exam week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JMJUmhIQHII/UciF8bxVX0I/AAAAAAAACIo/z0PQsBpQ6uc/s1600/IMG_9105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JMJUmhIQHII/UciF8bxVX0I/AAAAAAAACIo/z0PQsBpQ6uc/s640/IMG_9105.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-8805278417304736302013-06-15T21:25:00.000+01:002013-06-24T18:58:14.378+01:00Waterlily House, month by month<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cIw4VL3EwTw/Ubt2Xh5fmmI/AAAAAAAACFM/rltSUXtnJlk/s1600/IMG_8870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cIw4VL3EwTw/Ubt2Xh5fmmI/AAAAAAAACFM/rltSUXtnJlk/s640/IMG_8870.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The Waterlily House is one of Kew’s smallest glasshouses,
but is easily one of the busiest attractions! Here is housed a giant waterlily,
Victoria cruziana, and countless other tropical gems and floral delights. The
house was built in 1852 specifically to house the larger and more famous species,
Victoria amazonica, using the same iron work detail provided by Irishman
Richard Turner who built the nearby Palm House. Unfortunately the V. amazonica
was never happy here and is now planted in the Princess of Wales Conservatory,
but the Santa Cruz waterlily flourishes and the lipped-rimmed leaf pads
add greatly to the display in this small house. Every autumn the house is
completely taken apart and removed, with plants, soil, water and even the fish shipped
out! The house remains empty during the bleak winter months, and then in spring
is restocked and replanted with plants and fish for the summer display. I was
luckily enough to help out with the replanting this year and below follows some
of the progress and development in the house from reopening in February to the
June view yesterday afternoon!</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bWM4ThFvttM/Ubt2mAxLq-I/AAAAAAAACFg/CVOAvPTol3A/s1600/IMG_4834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bWM4ThFvttM/Ubt2mAxLq-I/AAAAAAAACFg/CVOAvPTol3A/s640/IMG_4834.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Sign reads, “Where are the waterlilies? On a winter
break!” That break is now over as spring is here</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NyR8LyDtL24/Ubt2mLQWMbI/AAAAAAAACFk/9LlTrN4LYxE/s1600/IMG_4835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NyR8LyDtL24/Ubt2mLQWMbI/AAAAAAAACFk/9LlTrN4LYxE/s640/IMG_4835.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The new compost arrives, the first of many large bags</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NiUpvjIgRPM/Ubt2iJ0azZI/AAAAAAAACFU/N9n6kh-pdi4/s1600/IMG_4841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NiUpvjIgRPM/Ubt2iJ0azZI/AAAAAAAACFU/N9n6kh-pdi4/s640/IMG_4841.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">All of the raised beds are filled by hand!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-19AuVPTHKnA/Ubt2xzDjxQI/AAAAAAAACFs/ZyNQ1c-zcDA/s1600/Soil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-19AuVPTHKnA/Ubt2xzDjxQI/AAAAAAAACFs/ZyNQ1c-zcDA/s640/Soil.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The final wheelbarrow is filled and then the beds are
full</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LPUNSAdC6xA/Ubt3cNnRxmI/AAAAAAAACGA/Mqo3eTSse2s/s1600/IMG_5691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LPUNSAdC6xA/Ubt3cNnRxmI/AAAAAAAACGA/Mqo3eTSse2s/s640/IMG_5691.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The Tree Gang arrive from the Arboretum to help raise
the Nepenthe baskets above the pond</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6n-CxnsI4Gc/Ubt3cJzGi4I/AAAAAAAACGE/HHoAsKG1NjI/s1600/IMG_5698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6n-CxnsI4Gc/Ubt3cJzGi4I/AAAAAAAACGE/HHoAsKG1NjI/s640/IMG_5698.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">With all of the waterlily planters in place, it is
time to fill the pond!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xSyuNEVMRQo/Ubt3boqgLpI/AAAAAAAACF8/tNgE3-0vEis/s1600/IMG_5716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xSyuNEVMRQo/Ubt3boqgLpI/AAAAAAAACF8/tNgE3-0vEis/s640/IMG_5716.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The first planting is the structural foliage specimens
such as Calathea and Alocasia</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5BtFDyJWrY/Ubt3mgBpDBI/AAAAAAAACGg/_cekZgKgvbk/s1600/IMG_6031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5BtFDyJWrY/Ubt3mgBpDBI/AAAAAAAACGg/_cekZgKgvbk/s640/IMG_6031.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">With the waterlilies planted the house opens to the
public! The Spanish galleon masthead was a temporary feature for the Easter
chocolate festival</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cCz0hQYOv8s/Ubt3kfHw63I/AAAAAAAACGQ/NK9sw53Zbpw/s1600/IMG_7419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cCz0hQYOv8s/Ubt3kfHw63I/AAAAAAAACGQ/NK9sw53Zbpw/s640/IMG_7419.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Three weeks later the pond is almost filling up!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lTBNPFEBpnk/Ubt3lYvZ3FI/AAAAAAAACGY/Wd4e6MT2ivg/s1600/IMG_7431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lTBNPFEBpnk/Ubt3lYvZ3FI/AAAAAAAACGY/Wd4e6MT2ivg/s640/IMG_7431.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">A distinguished visitor makes a graceful exit</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i8gc-F-cGyg/Ubt5kItZ9XI/AAAAAAAACG0/hn7S5JSpgBY/s1600/IMG_6263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i8gc-F-cGyg/Ubt5kItZ9XI/AAAAAAAACG0/hn7S5JSpgBY/s640/IMG_6263.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Waterlily stems have these hollow sections contained within
them, providing the buoyancy required for the foliage and flowers to rest on
the water's surface</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9kt2DIN0OG4/Ubt5oKcp3EI/AAAAAAAACHE/fO-uCriv10Q/s1600/IMG_8879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9kt2DIN0OG4/Ubt5oKcp3EI/AAAAAAAACHE/fO-uCriv10Q/s640/IMG_8879.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">A netting of Passiflora provides the necessary shading
to satisfy much of the floral bedding display, which prefer dappled-light
conditions and can scorch in full sun</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m-t4lZ1xGAg/Ubt5nIc2tZI/AAAAAAAACHA/iixj9-oGPZQ/s1600/IMG_8895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m-t4lZ1xGAg/Ubt5nIc2tZI/AAAAAAAACHA/iixj9-oGPZQ/s640/IMG_8895.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The incredible glory of Passiflora alata!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D42Q06wscXE/Ubt5sgkglhI/AAAAAAAACHU/vFwlVmWp_Sg/s1600/IMG_8955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D42Q06wscXE/Ubt5sgkglhI/AAAAAAAACHU/vFwlVmWp_Sg/s640/IMG_8955.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Many smaller hybrids also inhabit the pond; this is Nymphaea
carpentaria x violaceae, a cross created at Kew by my old boss Carlos Magdalena</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJQhei1azLs/Ubt5zBOFLKI/AAAAAAAACHo/FOF55ll6s2U/s1600/IMG_8991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJQhei1azLs/Ubt5zBOFLKI/AAAAAAAACHo/FOF55ll6s2U/s640/IMG_8991.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Waterlily foliage is armoured with fierce (painful)
spines which deter herbivores and help support the leaf ribs!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CG5Pl0VNzHw/Ubt5y3U2hDI/AAAAAAAACHs/OPony-gCqQc/s1600/IMG_8994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CG5Pl0VNzHw/Ubt5y3U2hDI/AAAAAAAACHs/OPony-gCqQc/s640/IMG_8994.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The Victoria flowers are, inevitably, both large and glorious!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8saWf0o1LY/Ubt56P8BaiI/AAAAAAAACIE/zW5rHSVGej4/s1600/IMG_9011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8saWf0o1LY/Ubt56P8BaiI/AAAAAAAACIE/zW5rHSVGej4/s640/IMG_9011.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Another of Carlos' Nymphaea hybrids, and as yet unnamed</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o0QobacpydE/Ubt56hxmcgI/AAAAAAAACII/i2VUj4FnAho/s1600/IMG_9013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o0QobacpydE/Ubt56hxmcgI/AAAAAAAACII/i2VUj4FnAho/s640/IMG_9013.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Close up in the pond, with more detail of the leaf rim
and protective spines!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TzFOEbJf7N8/Ubt57QKhNFI/AAAAAAAACIM/MqaNXOvbO10/s1600/IMG_9019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TzFOEbJf7N8/Ubt57QKhNFI/AAAAAAAACIM/MqaNXOvbO10/s640/IMG_9019.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">June view of this wonderful tropical house</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-18191226632616482322013-06-07T23:49:00.000+01:002013-06-07T23:51:44.996+01:00Raworth Garden, June<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E9PelIFYdro/UbJVllRr0KI/AAAAAAAACDA/P0lNd0F-GdQ/s1600/IMG_8036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E9PelIFYdro/UbJVllRr0KI/AAAAAAAACDA/P0lNd0F-GdQ/s640/IMG_8036.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">One of the highlights of my week is cycling up to the
<a href="http://www.raworthgarden.com/" target="_blank">Raworth Garden</a> on Saturday mornings to carry out my gardening duties, at the
glorious Twickenham garden that I have previously posted about <a href="http://whathokew.blogspot.com/2013/01/raworth-garden.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Inexplicably,
I am yet to post any highlights from the garden, but during a blisteringly busy
day today I was able to snatch a handful of floral images and so it is now time
to record some of the Raworth glory! Tomorrow evening (6pm-8pm) the garden is
opening to the public for the annual National Garden Scheme Open Day. The
weather is set fair, the garden is looking wonderful and I am quite certain it
will be a dashed good evening!</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PQDUr4gGb2s/UbJWGqxg08I/AAAAAAAACDI/hPzx4DTYCgQ/s1600/IMG_8713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PQDUr4gGb2s/UbJWGqxg08I/AAAAAAAACDI/hPzx4DTYCgQ/s640/IMG_8713.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Early summer glory in the Sink Garden</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lCIscmmQipY/UbJWXaJvjiI/AAAAAAAACDQ/m8CTDpDDKUc/s1600/IMG_8700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lCIscmmQipY/UbJWXaJvjiI/AAAAAAAACDQ/m8CTDpDDKUc/s640/IMG_8700.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Thalictrum haze!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kgu7E-dxjZs/UbJWZzlKUFI/AAAAAAAACDY/qYedgaef6jo/s1600/IMG_8839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kgu7E-dxjZs/UbJWZzlKUFI/AAAAAAAACDY/qYedgaef6jo/s640/IMG_8839.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The privet hedges at the front of the property are a
prominent feature, pruned once a fortnight to encourage tiny foliage and an
elegance not normally associated with privet hedging</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8q-kn7Eht3Q/UbJXBv0aSbI/AAAAAAAACDo/BQx5WoPYbVE/s1600/IMG_8756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8q-kn7Eht3Q/UbJXBv0aSbI/AAAAAAAACDo/BQx5WoPYbVE/s640/IMG_8756.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Fresh clippery in the Knot Garden</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s482wKfwkgo/UbJXBSKZxBI/AAAAAAAACDs/FetuyufAB0Y/s1600/IMG_8808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s482wKfwkgo/UbJXBSKZxBI/AAAAAAAACDs/FetuyufAB0Y/s640/IMG_8808.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Cotoneaster procumbens ‘Queen of Carpets’ provides a
step edging in the Sunken Garden</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qbLD1mIiUvI/UbJXV4CfXmI/AAAAAAAACD4/CBPgiw5pmeQ/s1600/IMG_8717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qbLD1mIiUvI/UbJXV4CfXmI/AAAAAAAACD4/CBPgiw5pmeQ/s640/IMG_8717.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Papaver orientale ‘Cedric Morris’ is one of the
larger-flowered poppies used in the Main Border</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vdyV-ZVAJAk/UbJXXZXBWTI/AAAAAAAACD8/Wb3kuTXoGis/s1600/IMG_8812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vdyV-ZVAJAk/UbJXXZXBWTI/AAAAAAAACD8/Wb3kuTXoGis/s640/IMG_8812.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Jenny buys many white foxgloves so we are unsure of this
cultivar, but it may well be Digitalis purpurea ‘Snow Thimble’</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4sQn-2K3pSk/UbJXfbjWvyI/AAAAAAAACEE/aaq3V2fQQl0/s1600/IMG_8777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4sQn-2K3pSk/UbJXfbjWvyI/AAAAAAAACEE/aaq3V2fQQl0/s640/IMG_8777.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">More detail of P. ‘Cedric Morris’!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kiOt7qGA_yw/UbJXrUbG3GI/AAAAAAAACEM/VSceF8VaHzI/s1600/IMG_8805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kiOt7qGA_yw/UbJXrUbG3GI/AAAAAAAACEM/VSceF8VaHzI/s640/IMG_8805.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The acid yellow delight of Smyrnium perfoliatum</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pyg22IlIRs4/UbJX1n0SFEI/AAAAAAAACEU/gMTTJy_7bCI/s1600/IMG_8772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pyg22IlIRs4/UbJX1n0SFEI/AAAAAAAACEU/gMTTJy_7bCI/s640/IMG_8772.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Silene fimbriata is known as the Fringed Campion, and
although a tiny bit of a thug is an excellent specimen for the deep borders on
account of it tolerating shade and bearing these incredible white blooms</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uf2z7YCRuwk/UbJX_70HVGI/AAAAAAAACEc/QVlocvk3w1g/s1600/IMG_8727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uf2z7YCRuwk/UbJX_70HVGI/AAAAAAAACEc/QVlocvk3w1g/s640/IMG_8727.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Amazingly, a Monarch butterfly landed in the border
while I was edging the lawn! How it got here from Mexico remains a mystery.
Nomadic devils</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ddae9CC4PeI/UbJYNrZFo1I/AAAAAAAACEw/_mqgi20xlnY/s1600/IMG_8787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ddae9CC4PeI/UbJYNrZFo1I/AAAAAAAACEw/_mqgi20xlnY/s640/IMG_8787.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The Raworth cat, Benny, is a good egg</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eMmHsFrztUc/UbJYYERMZBI/AAAAAAAACE4/fOLhNeD1BEU/s1600/IMG_8564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eMmHsFrztUc/UbJYYERMZBI/AAAAAAAACE4/fOLhNeD1BEU/s640/IMG_8564.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Nap time!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-32529388490801643142013-05-29T08:50:00.000+01:002013-05-29T08:50:08.657+01:00Chelsea Flower Show<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6CaWqg3G6fE/UaUmSBzw0rI/AAAAAAAACAg/k4cbQlaFBbY/s1600/IMG_8136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6CaWqg3G6fE/UaUmSBzw0rI/AAAAAAAACAg/k4cbQlaFBbY/s640/IMG_8136.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Last week, respite was sought and found from lectures
with an evening visit to the exalted Chelsea Flower Show! This was my first
visit here, and it was frankly dashed good fun. Nervous of the expected crowds we
gingerly edged in to the grounds of the Royal Hospital after dinner at a nearby
hostelry, and fortunately with the threat of wet weather hovering in the skies above
we were quietly pleased to see hundreds of tired faces leaving in their droves.
The rain failed to materialise, so we enjoyed a relatively quiet evening poking
about the place and drinking in the pomp of this famous flower show. Although
the show gardens are generally a bit too modern for my tastes, the monies
involved put these design eggs at the coal face of experimentation, so it is
always worth keeping an eye on what they get up! Happily, the theme this year
seemed to be wildflowers and naturalistic planting, so there was inspiration to
be had in all corners. I hope to return next year!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YW86Rm9kBWs/UaUmVx4dTVI/AAAAAAAACAo/31Pho-jCwmQ/s1600/IMG_8141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YW86Rm9kBWs/UaUmVx4dTVI/AAAAAAAACAo/31Pho-jCwmQ/s640/IMG_8141.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Strange golden baubles but very pleasant planting in
Walkers’ Pine Cottage Garden</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r-gUs0Bnlno/UaWw_czFrPI/AAAAAAAACCs/8Ch464sLvJs/s1600/IMG_8154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r-gUs0Bnlno/UaWw_czFrPI/AAAAAAAACCs/8Ch464sLvJs/s640/IMG_8154.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The Una Garreg garden showed a glorious level of
detail, with plants creeping onto the paths and moss amongst the cracks</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WDdeomnkyYc/UaUmuGlNP1I/AAAAAAAACA8/ZQfpgT3z8yI/s1600/IMG_8173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WDdeomnkyYc/UaUmuGlNP1I/AAAAAAAACA8/ZQfpgT3z8yI/s640/IMG_8173.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">‘A Hebridean Weaver’s Garden’ was one of the most
enjoyable sights of the show!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KgJHGLUenFY/UaUmt1UdwoI/AAAAAAAACA4/UBfY00SmIf8/s1600/IMG_8182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KgJHGLUenFY/UaUmt1UdwoI/AAAAAAAACA4/UBfY00SmIf8/s640/IMG_8182.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The cotton grass glory of Eriophorum angustifolium</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CpAZ2UP2wzg/UaUnI_az5rI/AAAAAAAACBI/BDAMKAGj2Zk/s1600/IMG_8192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CpAZ2UP2wzg/UaUnI_az5rI/AAAAAAAACBI/BDAMKAGj2Zk/s640/IMG_8192.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Oriental mayhem in the Tokonoma Garden</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FJU5K3GgaO4/UaUnJt6jQVI/AAAAAAAACBM/bUf6ziiVhT8/s1600/IMG_8248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FJU5K3GgaO4/UaUnJt6jQVI/AAAAAAAACBM/bUf6ziiVhT8/s640/IMG_8248.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Angelica archangelica, and the East Village Garden</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7LA5MiB-Cw/UaUn9ZRjWLI/AAAAAAAACBk/lw8xYhriczA/s1600/IMG_8256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7LA5MiB-Cw/UaUn9ZRjWLI/AAAAAAAACBk/lw8xYhriczA/s640/IMG_8256.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The floriferous grids of the Telegraph Garden</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYDu-OoMbrc/UaWuz74mjUI/AAAAAAAACCA/fmYl3GfcSTg/s1600/IMG_8281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYDu-OoMbrc/UaWuz74mjUI/AAAAAAAACCA/fmYl3GfcSTg/s640/IMG_8281.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Chris Beardshaw’s amazing garden for Arthritis Research
UK!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--t6OYfL948A/UaWvBy88CmI/AAAAAAAACCI/gRt0BmgNd8w/s1600/IMG_8307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--t6OYfL948A/UaWvBy88CmI/AAAAAAAACCI/gRt0BmgNd8w/s640/IMG_8307.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Aside from a somewhat unfortunate rusty circle, this
was the show garden that I enjoyed the most; the M&G Centenary Garden as designed
by Roger Platts</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1F7_q2nB_4w/UaWvFyDabMI/AAAAAAAACCY/K4DdL6df2K0/s1600/IMG_8309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1F7_q2nB_4w/UaWvFyDabMI/AAAAAAAACCY/K4DdL6df2K0/s640/IMG_8309.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">More of this wonderful garden</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mXJCi5tgOEE/UaWvFJ4l6pI/AAAAAAAACCU/_5ieroanR4c/s1600/IMG_8327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mXJCi5tgOEE/UaWvFJ4l6pI/AAAAAAAACCU/_5ieroanR4c/s640/IMG_8327.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The marquee displays provided no end of joy, this
Allium<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">, Nectaroscordum and </span>Eremurus display was by Devine Nurseries, Yorkshire</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span> </div>
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-40129235963665358002013-05-19T16:02:00.000+01:002013-05-19T16:02:01.422+01:00May<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DS_DgD9KkkA/UZjOK3VzoeI/AAAAAAAAB-M/pU905O2-K1g/s1600/IMG_7228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" pua="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DS_DgD9KkkA/UZjOK3VzoeI/AAAAAAAAB-M/pU905O2-K1g/s640/IMG_7228.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">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.</span></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rrO2Rnnt1mg/UZjOUufzt9I/AAAAAAAAB-c/D1Cr94yYCws/s1600/IMG_7114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" pua="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rrO2Rnnt1mg/UZjOUufzt9I/AAAAAAAAB-c/D1Cr94yYCws/s640/IMG_7114.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The unfurling splendour of Cornus nuttallii x florida</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mdmeirx553A/UZjOUkc9UqI/AAAAAAAAB-g/iPkm1dZo8YY/s1600/IMG_7940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" pua="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mdmeirx553A/UZjOUkc9UqI/AAAAAAAAB-g/iPkm1dZo8YY/s640/IMG_7940.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Cornus blooms open out into large white buttons, as seen here with C. ‘Ormonde’</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k4jOlItCsb8/UZjOc1a4ypI/AAAAAAAAB-s/m2Uc63sY43E/s1600/IMG_7975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" pua="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k4jOlItCsb8/UZjOc1a4ypI/AAAAAAAAB-s/m2Uc63sY43E/s640/IMG_7975.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Down by the river long swathes of Cow Parsley and Camassia have suddenly erupted!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6F2bGHAQAs/UZjOc1eajII/AAAAAAAAB-w/s3Ql6rqdizw/s1600/IMG_8011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" pua="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6F2bGHAQAs/UZjOc1eajII/AAAAAAAAB-w/s3Ql6rqdizw/s640/IMG_8011.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">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</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2wbZUIFAMyA/UZjOj93aoQI/AAAAAAAAB_A/I2P1a1xjPIM/s1600/IMG_7060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" pua="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2wbZUIFAMyA/UZjOj93aoQI/AAAAAAAAB_A/I2P1a1xjPIM/s640/IMG_7060.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The intense colours of the fresh foliage and stems of Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3NkqLKOHgCw/UZjOoT3F-GI/AAAAAAAAB_I/Te0XZM8AOgg/s1600/IMG_6961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" pua="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3NkqLKOHgCw/UZjOoT3F-GI/AAAAAAAAB_I/Te0XZM8AOgg/s640/IMG_6961.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Kew holds an extensive Fritillary collection, this gem is Fritillaria reuteri</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jaAYuGLbV9E/UZjOuh10uNI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/ktTRN0FDC9g/s1600/IMG_6979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" pua="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jaAYuGLbV9E/UZjOuh10uNI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/ktTRN0FDC9g/s640/IMG_6979.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">A cheery but unknown late-flowering species of Narcissus</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-01BcPsocDVo/UZjOumnvbWI/AAAAAAAAB_U/XKlJN_sItmA/s1600/IMG_6992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" pua="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-01BcPsocDVo/UZjOumnvbWI/AAAAAAAAB_U/XKlJN_sItmA/s640/IMG_6992.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">From Asia, Tulipa tschimganica</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WHg_DudQEBA/UZjO2EqzG7I/AAAAAAAAB_k/UrHwJYE18-I/s1600/IMG_7586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" pua="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WHg_DudQEBA/UZjO2EqzG7I/AAAAAAAAB_k/UrHwJYE18-I/s640/IMG_7586.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">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</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4EeXCs0h8UA/UZjO2KkYyPI/AAAAAAAAB_o/WDdzZ2zrgj8/s1600/IMG_7615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" pua="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4EeXCs0h8UA/UZjO2KkYyPI/AAAAAAAAB_o/WDdzZ2zrgj8/s640/IMG_7615.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">A specimen of Arpophyllum giganteum on show in one of the orchid display cases</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mJTG_JL4_HY/UZjPA2RcKOI/AAAAAAAAB_4/n7Q4aTRS5XU/s1600/IMG_7496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" pua="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mJTG_JL4_HY/UZjPA2RcKOI/AAAAAAAAB_4/n7Q4aTRS5XU/s640/IMG_7496.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">A pleasant and floriferous tropical weed, Turnera ulmifolia</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IoqcHMPuWe4/UZjPA-3AyJI/AAAAAAAAB_8/5RzVI76aQ_E/s1600/IMG_7499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" pua="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IoqcHMPuWe4/UZjPA-3AyJI/AAAAAAAAB_8/5RzVI76aQ_E/s640/IMG_7499.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">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</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ejP-4FbzFF0/UZjPAyjh1XI/AAAAAAAACAA/K-kzPrRn9qQ/s1600/IMG_8003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" pua="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ejP-4FbzFF0/UZjPAyjh1XI/AAAAAAAACAA/K-kzPrRn9qQ/s640/IMG_8003.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">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!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hi3tshn-yWg/UZjPGKl_ArI/AAAAAAAACAI/JCBDfl7MoNw/s1600/IMG_7379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" pua="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hi3tshn-yWg/UZjPGKl_ArI/AAAAAAAACAI/JCBDfl7MoNw/s640/IMG_7379.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Just outside the Waterlily House, this impassioned chap makes a brazen attempt to steal the show!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-84766533166403412702013-05-18T15:05:00.000+01:002014-07-29T20:26:45.831+01:00Green spam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LY5CWf_q7SU/UZdzPkIZoYI/AAAAAAAAB98/evrzB85cdk8/s1600/2615114359_c885e8fc65_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LY5CWf_q7SU/UZdzPkIZoYI/AAAAAAAAB98/evrzB85cdk8/s640/2615114359_c885e8fc65_z.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Good
day! If you have a moment I would like to bend your ear with details of a day
of lectures taking place at Kew and organised by the Kew students and the Kew Mutual Improvement Society.
The event, ‘Growing vegetables, communities and sustainability’, takes place on
Saturday 1st June and brings together six experts who will explore
the benefits that growing vegetables can have on the environment and local
communities. Here is the official hype for your consideration;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Growing
vegetables can be an extremely useful pathway to engage with a whole range of
wider issues. The Kew Mutual Improvement Society believes that as a botanic
garden we need to expand our social and environmental role, and growing
veg could provide the platform to engage with a wider spectrum of
society. We must move beyond the boundaries of our gardens and work with
communities to promote sustainability. This would provide part of a
significantly more holistic approach to conservation. This event will explore
these issues as a means to bring about positive change within these gardens and
beyond”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Speakers
on the day include biologist <a href="http://www.campaignforrealfarming.org/" target="_blank">Colin Tudge</a>, author of Good Food for Everyone
Forever and the Secret Life of Trees. Vertical Veg expert, <a href="http://www.verticalveg.org.uk/" target="_blank">Mark Ridsdill Smith</a>,
will focus on growing food in small spaces, and <a href="http://www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/animals-plants/plants" target="_blank">Kevin Frediani</a> from Paignton
Zoo Environmental Park will discuss urban agriculture and plant conservation.
The garden designer and all-round good egg <a href="http://www.clevewest.com/pdf/GIThePlotFeb.pdf" target="_blank">Cleve West</a> will share stories from
his own allotment in London, and <a href="http://suttoncommunityfarm.org.uk/" target="_blank">Joris Gunawarden</a> from Sutton Community Farm will relate
the success of London’s only community farm. Finally, <a href="http://www.rbge.org.uk/whats-on/ediblegardening" target="_blank">Jenny Foulkes</a> from the
Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh will talk about the Edible Gardening Project
which has been teaching garden visitors and local communities the skills they
need to grow their own veg. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Further
information and tickets can be found <a href="http://www.kew.org/visit-kew-gardens/whats-on/kmis-lectures-growing-vegetables-1jun2013-.htm" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.bgci.org/education/news/1027" target="_blank">here</a>. Please feel free to share this event
if you know a green fingered cove that might be interested!</span></span></div>
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-92148394375084811122013-04-16T23:13:00.001+01:002013-04-16T23:13:29.404+01:00The Wood Lands<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-chCbSSHV9qQ/UW218Ow4ceI/AAAAAAAAB7A/zV5ekdlYQAQ/s1600/IMG_6471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-chCbSSHV9qQ/UW218Ow4ceI/AAAAAAAAB7A/zV5ekdlYQAQ/s640/IMG_6471.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The Woodland Garden is one of several areas at Kew
that look utterly glorious at this time of year. Many species that grow in
woodland conditions have adapted their growth to flower in spring, making the
most of the comparatively high light levels. Deciduous woodland trees are only
just beginning to unfurl their fresh foliage, so these cunning woodland coves
mop up the available light before the canopy forms overhead and they are
plunged into dappled light or complete darkness! Some early flowering woodland
specimens will disappear after setting seed, dying back completely until late
winter next year; however some others will tough it out for the summer months
and proudly brave their foliage amidst the shaded conditions. Thankfully the
Woodland Garden is well planted so after this early peak the interest continues,
with many later-flowering specimens still to come such as the Actea and Lilium.
I am somewhat distracted by lectures at this point in time, but I hope you
enjoy these highlights of a recent, brief, foray into the garden!</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cmgbl0CfVwY/UW2_GdArBnI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/mbpSBVx30GY/s1600/IMG_6523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cmgbl0CfVwY/UW2_GdArBnI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/mbpSBVx30GY/s640/IMG_6523.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The familiar snowdrop-type glory of Leucojum aestivum</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F6FTeZBaUj0/UW2_UZWdZsI/AAAAAAAAB7k/BwC6HRKuGPI/s1600/IMG_6474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F6FTeZBaUj0/UW2_UZWdZsI/AAAAAAAAB7k/BwC6HRKuGPI/s640/IMG_6474.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Erythronium hendersonii has these richly coloured
tepals, and is one of many Erythronium species planted in the Woodland Garden</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C7m6A0dh8KQ/UW2_ZALQ-zI/AAAAAAAAB7s/vSBmOzWwS7g/s1600/IMG_6491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C7m6A0dh8KQ/UW2_ZALQ-zI/AAAAAAAAB7s/vSBmOzWwS7g/s640/IMG_6491.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Erythronium oregonum reveals the drooping nature of
these wonderful flowers! Erythronium ‘Hidcote Beauty’ can be seen <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_8i0nPsdLFhVnSBGGfAT6XPT-pwE9zkscAqZ2eczcIwFWNVSn3vf0M3Rnz9dQZO4rdo5djQfr00BNQFytqWBEtqpBzN55YpQzP7HotjdGWNSLhdcqC2VTZe7AmUYLIZGp5RxRAhCw3I/s1600/DSCF3749.JPG" target="_blank">here</a>, a gem
we grew on the Acid Border at Hidcote</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TVH0R9dhpN4/UW2_mjR6NMI/AAAAAAAAB74/APpA6yuUbWs/s1600/IMG_6502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TVH0R9dhpN4/UW2_mjR6NMI/AAAAAAAAB74/APpA6yuUbWs/s640/IMG_6502.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Dense clumps of Fritillaria imperialis are one of the
most exciting features to be seen at this time of year, these incredible plants
seen best in strong groups</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4oaMEQ-ajDo/UW2_mX4a2-I/AAAAAAAAB78/7lm5c16IuBk/s1600/IMG_6545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4oaMEQ-ajDo/UW2_mX4a2-I/AAAAAAAAB78/7lm5c16IuBk/s640/IMG_6545.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Detail of the F. imperialis, which are also a favourite
of the honeybees and bombus</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MHfa3SGyRXs/UW2_14FyYUI/AAAAAAAAB8E/nE3-FwcP7w4/s1600/IMG_6480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MHfa3SGyRXs/UW2_14FyYUI/AAAAAAAAB8E/nE3-FwcP7w4/s640/IMG_6480.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The fresh foliage of Sorbus aronioides bears these
delicate wrinkles, followed by white flowers and then later on by autumn
berries</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0a3pKDJMN_E/UW2_29_u6fI/AAAAAAAAB8M/dVyGuAUUme4/s1600/IMG_6685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0a3pKDJMN_E/UW2_29_u6fI/AAAAAAAAB8M/dVyGuAUUme4/s640/IMG_6685.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The magnolia display is well underway at Kew, this
here is M. sprengeri var. diva</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gwym-mX20m4/UW3AGD05KaI/AAAAAAAAB8c/JaZIGZSVFX0/s1600/IMG_6645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gwym-mX20m4/UW3AGD05KaI/AAAAAAAAB8c/JaZIGZSVFX0/s640/IMG_6645.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Magnolia campbellii is one of the best species, and is
completely covered in huge, Alice in Wonderland, cup-and-saucer blooms!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d-i2OxLkhzc/UW3AET0xGeI/AAAAAAAAB8U/qmjeLG4oiIE/s1600/IMG_6675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d-i2OxLkhzc/UW3AET0xGeI/AAAAAAAAB8U/qmjeLG4oiIE/s640/IMG_6675.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The buds are covered in thick hair, which fall away
as the wonder unfurls</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--jVgN6cBGVw/UW3AXYqfVwI/AAAAAAAAB8k/xI7kdu1vGCY/s1600/IMG_6670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--jVgN6cBGVw/UW3AXYqfVwI/AAAAAAAAB8k/xI7kdu1vGCY/s640/IMG_6670.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The floral parts are suitably beautiful!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3zyqrGMJXcU/UW3AYAYpcvI/AAAAAAAAB8s/hYT3qwRRtuU/s1600/IMG_6773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3zyqrGMJXcU/UW3AYAYpcvI/AAAAAAAAB8s/hYT3qwRRtuU/s640/IMG_6773.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">One of my most enjoyable sights of the year, Fritillaria
meleagris</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-56984640009677039072013-03-31T22:38:00.000+01:002013-03-31T22:38:53.044+01:00Palm House II<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VMdP3m5J8TU/UVhiYU0SlZI/AAAAAAAAB3Y/EIoIs8haK0Q/s1600/IMG_5092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VMdP3m5J8TU/UVhiYU0SlZI/AAAAAAAAB3Y/EIoIs8haK0Q/s640/IMG_5092.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sadly,
this was the last week of my placement in the Palm House. Three glorious months
have passed by in the blink of an eye, and after a brief Easter break all first
year students will be recalled to the School of Horticulture to begin a
gruelling three months of lectures (pint of coffee please, barkeep!) Working in
the Palm House has been an absolute joy, and I’m extremely depressed that my
heady, tropical days are over. The work involved was truly splendid, from the day-to-day
maintenance such as watering and feeding, plus extra tasks such as pruning the
canopy and pollinating cycads. I was responsible for the centre beds in the
house, the Americas, with Australasia up in the north end of the house and
Africa in the south. The geographic planting works surprisingly well, and the north
end in particular has a noticeably different atmosphere to the planting.
Tropical plants are fascinating old devils, and it has been great fun noticing
and learning about all of the quirks and adaptations they have developed and
employ! Amongst the climbing plants you have the Passiflora with their delicately
coiled tendrils, quite discreet in their manner, but then you also have the
Rattans which lack all of the good manners of the Passiflora and have whips
extending from the plant in all directions and covered in hooks! Like pirates
throwing grapnels over the side of a ship they are about to board and maraud,
the hooks latch on to any plant in the vicinity and enable the Rattans to
scramble aboard and grow on up through the canopy. Philodendrons are another
tropical climber, typified by huge pointed leaves and dangling aerial roots
that look quite fantastic drooping from the host tree. Like our native ivy,
this growth can sometimes become too heavy and the tree will collapse underneath.
Clearly this is disastrous for our unfortunate host, but the sudden appearance
of a gaping hole in the dense canopy is greeted with cheers of delight by all
of the seeds, seedlings and young plants lingering around in the darkness below!
This small scale clearance serves an important role in the rainforest, but some
other clambering eggs are considerably less helpful in their approach. Ficus
benghalensis, the banyan tree, climbs up its victim and sends down aerial roots
to the ground, but these become like trunks and expand to enormous widths.
Inevitably the host is croaked beneath all of this vigorous growth, but instead
of opening up light for the other plants below the tree is simply replaced by
the voracious fig!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
relationships between plants and animals in the rainforest are quite complex,
and jolly interesting! Poison dart frogs, for example, raise their tadpoles in
Bromeliad species. Bromeliads grow on the branches of trees in the canopy, and
their broad leaf bases form a throat that holds water. These private pools are inhabited
by the poison dart chaps, and the best territory is fought over bitterly! Cecropia
form beautiful trees, and are a pioneer species that will often invade disturbed
areas. Their stems have hollow <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">sections</span> within them, and these are inhabited by Azteca
ants that protect the tree by attacking predators such as leaf cutter ants!
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Although banana leaves are quite tough and used as plates
by native eggs, they are nevertheless the food plant for the spectacular </span>Owl butterflies, huge beasts
from South America that are often seen in English butterfly houses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">That
is enough tropical prattle for <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">now, I have caught a bug so there will be more to
come!</span></span></div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8W7F7Abo-_8/UVhi1XCRoYI/AAAAAAAAB3o/-6aRYYkuSVg/s1600/DSCF2295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8W7F7Abo-_8/UVhi1XCRoYI/AAAAAAAAB3o/-6aRYYkuSVg/s640/DSCF2295.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The south entrance to the house! <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Quite futuristic to my mind, it’s surprising the
Victorians took to it as warmly as they did</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xJYCz-UzqY8/UVhi0KIycjI/AAAAAAAAB3g/Ge8HGqcMUdk/s1600/IMG_4999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xJYCz-UzqY8/UVhi0KIycjI/AAAAAAAAB3g/Ge8HGqcMUdk/s640/IMG_4999.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Sunset at the west entrance</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KYs5stc7ShE/UVhjPByMadI/AAAAAAAAB34/sF0TYUotugE/s1600/DSCF1731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KYs5stc7ShE/UVhjPByMadI/AAAAAAAAB34/sF0TYUotugE/s640/DSCF1731.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Detailing of Turner’s ironwork on the balcony, the
spinning disc foliage on the left is Cecropia glaziovii</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RNlY-FlNRbw/UVhjMifSJGI/AAAAAAAAB3w/JeDD-dn2AjY/s1600/DSCF2163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RNlY-FlNRbw/UVhjMifSJGI/AAAAAAAAB3w/JeDD-dn2AjY/s640/DSCF2163.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Bambusa vulgaris has these magnificently marked stems,
although the vigorous growth needs checking regularly. This is done by digging
out some of the rootstock, and every other year the dense foliage is completely
stripped</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yRiLzz4uHTw/UVhjqpENtbI/AAAAAAAAB4A/epcZ3klxdfA/s1600/DSCF2158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yRiLzz4uHTw/UVhjqpENtbI/AAAAAAAAB4A/epcZ3klxdfA/s640/DSCF2158.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Aphelandra aurantiaca var. aurantiaca is one of the
many flowering plants, and continues its display throughout the year</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_irWXp-P_Gc/UVhkAFhV7bI/AAAAAAAAB4g/qci56oqyudY/s1600/DSCF2147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_irWXp-P_Gc/UVhkAFhV7bI/AAAAAAAAB4g/qci56oqyudY/s640/DSCF2147.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Sanchezia nobilis is an excellent foliage shrub, good
for filling gaps and providing some evergreen structure</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-516_EZjPp2k/UVhkAqhhbhI/AAAAAAAAB4o/zVNxW4709Cw/s1600/IMG_4243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-516_EZjPp2k/UVhkAqhhbhI/AAAAAAAAB4o/zVNxW4709Cw/s640/IMG_4243.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Theobroma cacao is certainly not the most beautiful
tree in the Palm House, but it is one of the most interesting! The beans found
in the large seed pods are the main ingredient in chocolate!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_en45A23gQE/UVhkRniOqAI/AAAAAAAAB4w/hg9UfoyzbLo/s1600/IMG_4253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_en45A23gQE/UVhkRniOqAI/AAAAAAAAB4w/hg9UfoyzbLo/s640/IMG_4253.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The glorious paddles of Ravenala madagascariensis</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kpuhe0BF094/UVhkSPp-CQI/AAAAAAAAB44/_r7wL4Nsu8E/s1600/Licuala+grandis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kpuhe0BF094/UVhkSPp-CQI/AAAAAAAAB44/_r7wL4Nsu8E/s640/Licuala+grandis.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Licuala grandis and some detailing of the flowers.
Palm flowers are generally small and white</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IdfpqmYVrQw/UVhkhzddeuI/AAAAAAAAB5I/_uZk53BcoE0/s1600/Musa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IdfpqmYVrQw/UVhkhzddeuI/AAAAAAAAB5I/_uZk53BcoE0/s640/Musa.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Kew holds the National Collection of Musa species,
this here is Musa balbisiana. Bananas are as tall as trees, but are in fact
herbaceous plants and the ‘stem’ is merely the tightly packed sheaths of the
enormous leaves! The male flower hangs at the end of the flowering stem, while
the female flowers are further up and after pollination form the banana fruit</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ep0Rp9YwbLU/UVhksW_8b5I/AAAAAAAAB5U/uXyIoC4jFtw/s1600/Caligo+memnon.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ep0Rp9YwbLU/UVhksW_8b5I/AAAAAAAAB5U/uXyIoC4jFtw/s640/Caligo+memnon.jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The larva and imago of Caligo memnon, the Owl
butterfly! They lay their eggs on Musa species, and are seen here at Stratford
Butterfly Farm</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5xyqnSEoSwc/UVhlDpwNFzI/AAAAAAAAB5k/DjZOZ93FT_w/s1600/Araceae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="472" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5xyqnSEoSwc/UVhlDpwNFzI/AAAAAAAAB5k/DjZOZ93FT_w/s640/Araceae.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Alocasia x amazonica and Philodendron melanochrysum
are typical of many tropical leaves, featuring a pronounced ‘drip tip’, an
adaptation at the end of the leaf which enables the exceptionally large amounts
of rain to drain away from the plant quickly</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P8RzkgDryaA/UVhlCnMx9OI/AAAAAAAAB5c/ljWdwKETayI/s1600/IMG_4904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P8RzkgDryaA/UVhlCnMx9OI/AAAAAAAAB5c/ljWdwKETayI/s640/IMG_4904.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">View from the Palm House balcony along the dramatic
Syon Vista. Across the river at the end of this avenue is Syon House, the home
of the Duke of Northumberland. In the foreground is the rose garden</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3RPNQ3F9vu8/UVhlbO0FPtI/AAAAAAAAB5w/be5ERk_p9vw/s1600/IMG_5387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3RPNQ3F9vu8/UVhlbO0FPtI/AAAAAAAAB5w/be5ERk_p9vw/s640/IMG_5387.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">A view from up in the canopy, and some more detailing
on the pillars</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cA6cWksYMLA/UVhlbfQIqFI/AAAAAAAAB50/qw3hY95on24/s1600/IMG_5721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cA6cWksYMLA/UVhlbfQIqFI/AAAAAAAAB50/qw3hY95on24/s640/IMG_5721.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Looking along the roof of the south end!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uKzzWCpFevc/UVibvwe5bgI/AAAAAAAAB6k/mD95ZOlkkAU/s1600/IMG_5397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uKzzWCpFevc/UVibvwe5bgI/AAAAAAAAB6k/mD95ZOlkkAU/s640/IMG_5397.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">My manager Wes (Keeper of the Palm House) 16 metres up
in the canopy on the ‘nifty lift’. Happy days!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-85621405424102976292013-03-14T22:33:00.000+00:002013-03-14T22:33:01.464+00:00AGS Harlow Show<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">At this time of year the experts who meddle with miniature
blooms are having their moment in the sun; revelling in their alpine gems and racing
up and down the country to attend one of the many Alpine Garden Society shows. One
of the first in the calendar is the Harlow Show in Essex, and last Saturday
several Kew students headed up there to help out, ‘do our bit’, and assist
staff from the Kew Alpine Nursery. This is the first such show I have attended,
and it was dashed good fun! The highlight was undoubtedly seen in the main
hall, which was resplendent with row after row of pristine alpine specimens all
displayed by amateur growers and AGS members from across England. The competition
is broken up into classes, such as ‘1 pan Fritillaria’ or ‘3 pans Primula’,
with each exhibitor offering up their best plants for any category of their
choice. The judging process takes about an hour, with a rabble of old alpine
experts thrashing it out amongst themselves, and the atmosphere getting
somewhat heated in the process! A truly splendid specimen of Gymnospermium
albertii (see previous post) was on show, and won <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">a ‘Certificate of Merit’ for being judged one of the most
outstanding plants on display. </span>Unfortunately I was unable to find one in the plant sales next door,
but did come away with a beautiful Adonis amurensis from the chaps at Edrom Nursery.
I hope you enjoy these following spring gems, and if you are interested in witnessing
such splendour first-hand there are many shows left on the calendar (<a href="http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/shows/dates-and-venues" target="_blank">see here</a>).
Back to the tropics next for more Palm House glory!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T5JXGoKQcPY/UUJG_RwyQ6I/AAAAAAAAB1E/Rdue3Whm36Q/s1600/IMG_5317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T5JXGoKQcPY/UUJG_RwyQ6I/AAAAAAAAB1E/Rdue3Whm36Q/s640/IMG_5317.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The Farrer Memorial Medal for best plant in the show
was won by this mass of Iris ‘Frank Elder’</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UHd6ZynyukM/UUJHHfZYCSI/AAAAAAAAB1M/mQveAb3XFDA/s1600/IMG_5220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UHd6ZynyukM/UUJHHfZYCSI/AAAAAAAAB1M/mQveAb3XFDA/s640/IMG_5220.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Glorious variation </span>in colour from <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Ranunculus calandrinioides</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B1BPzKadIc8/UUJHU5CJRMI/AAAAAAAAB1c/E1kWgA-kIjI/s1600/IMG_5236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B1BPzKadIc8/UUJHU5CJRMI/AAAAAAAAB1c/E1kWgA-kIjI/s640/IMG_5236.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Hepatica japonica ‘Utyuu’</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xw1jWJnho9I/UUJHeGnupQI/AAAAAAAAB14/keK7h_BeuVI/s1600/IMG_5192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xw1jWJnho9I/UUJHeGnupQI/AAAAAAAAB14/keK7h_BeuVI/s640/IMG_5192.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Crocus sieberi subsp. sublimis ‘Tricolour’</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TzcnNpKohgI/UUJHohC7z2I/AAAAAAAAB2A/Og3d9-jnOcw/s1600/IMG_5179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TzcnNpKohgI/UUJHohC7z2I/AAAAAAAAB2A/Og3d9-jnOcw/s640/IMG_5179.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The dainty stripes of Crocus reticulatus subsp. reticulatus</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nBWPmiObDDc/UUJHpWV3deI/AAAAAAAAB2I/v6C0rFQ4hS4/s1600/IMG_5333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nBWPmiObDDc/UUJHpWV3deI/AAAAAAAAB2I/v6C0rFQ4hS4/s640/IMG_5333.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">This is the Adonis amurensis, cheery blooms and
fascinating foliage</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x5DE5qemzy0/UUJH4kIcLmI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/wNsxKplp2wk/s1600/IMG_5322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x5DE5qemzy0/UUJH4kIcLmI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/wNsxKplp2wk/s640/IMG_5322.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Crocus x jessopiae, selected and named by the great
plantsman E.A. Bowles</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SvWA_3gHFXo/UUJIEce_C0I/AAAAAAAAB2k/9eTaNCtNOjo/s1600/IMG_5259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SvWA_3gHFXo/UUJIEce_C0I/AAAAAAAAB2k/9eTaNCtNOjo/s640/IMG_5259.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Heads held proud above the foliage, Crocus chrysanthus ‘Ladykiller’</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YErrXYq1TLg/UUJIaXsSVSI/AAAAAAAAB20/mxBHsN7-1b4/s1600/IMG_5279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YErrXYq1TLg/UUJIaXsSVSI/AAAAAAAAB20/mxBHsN7-1b4/s640/IMG_5279.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Crocus malyi, crisp and elegant!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BzegjOWR3nw/UUJIZvpImdI/AAAAAAAAB2w/RDBh43QTLos/s1600/IMG_5283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BzegjOWR3nw/UUJIZvpImdI/AAAAAAAAB2w/RDBh43QTLos/s640/IMG_5283.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">An explosion of colour </span>and form in one pan! Crocus
abantensis</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WUUFjROKs3Q/UUJIntyNo3I/AAAAAAAAB28/VfnYk66KhM0/s1600/IMG_5289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WUUFjROKs3Q/UUJIntyNo3I/AAAAAAAAB28/VfnYk66KhM0/s640/IMG_5289.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Crocus minimus provided one of the best colours of the
day, and the dark hints on the outer petals are a joy!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3xw3kzKUU0s/UUJIpbYD7BI/AAAAAAAAB3E/GzKaWLIsFBA/s1600/IMG_5296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3xw3kzKUU0s/UUJIpbYD7BI/AAAAAAAAB3E/GzKaWLIsFBA/s640/IMG_5296.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Some creative eggs displayed their gems with stone
dressings. Outstanding efforts as seen here with Callianthemum anemonoides!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-89383891399936561802013-03-01T19:46:00.002+00:002013-03-02T06:17:45.848+00:00Spring flowers<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">In spite of a brisk north easterly rolling across the
garden, spring has sprung apace here at Kew with buds breaking, ducklings
waddling about near the pond, and hundreds of tiny flowers appearing amongst
rocks and grass. The hybrid colours of the Orchid Festival are certainly a
tonic at this time of year, but Kew horticulture is based more upon the
species and this can fortunately be just as floriferous in these early months!
In other news the herbaceous shoots are up, and I recently spotted a Verbena
bonariensis seedling. Onwards!</span></span><br />
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fS1adxnmkf8/UTCjGXCrUUI/AAAAAAAAByw/v09txI3WadQ/s1600/IMG_4769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fS1adxnmkf8/UTCjGXCrUUI/AAAAAAAAByw/v09txI3WadQ/s640/IMG_4769.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The cheery succulent glory of Cheiridopsis denticulata</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dgI4XEXkFv0/UTCjTP8bK1I/AAAAAAAABy8/T4bf1iSShwQ/s1600/IMG_4752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dgI4XEXkFv0/UTCjTP8bK1I/AAAAAAAABy8/T4bf1iSShwQ/s640/IMG_4752.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">One of the best Pelargonium selections in the Kew
collection, P. 'Rubicinctum Cordifolium'</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DfEryF0GCOw/UTCjTiG0YXI/AAAAAAAABzE/3_ypOuZuaWI/s1600/IMG_4774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DfEryF0GCOw/UTCjTiG0YXI/AAAAAAAABzE/3_ypOuZuaWI/s640/IMG_4774.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">This gem is Veltheimia bracteata, commonly known as
the winter red hot poker! It <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">grows native in the Eastern Cape and is tolerant of all
but the harshest frosts</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ar_bwBD0Zzs/UTCjrpbGrWI/AAAAAAAABzU/5JpJxXrLF1Q/s1600/IMG_4942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ar_bwBD0Zzs/UTCjrpbGrWI/AAAAAAAABzU/5JpJxXrLF1Q/s640/IMG_4942.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">A delightful mound of Dionysia tapetodes</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K9_Nuetmgzs/UTCjsZJF4BI/AAAAAAAABzc/4l9_nMZ9W_Q/s1600/IMG_4955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K9_Nuetmgzs/UTCjsZJF4BI/AAAAAAAABzc/4l9_nMZ9W_Q/s640/IMG_4955.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Kew grows many of the small iris cultivars, and this is
one of my favourites Iris reticulata ‘Cantab’</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XfjyUwaX6Xc/UTCjiPIr3AI/AAAAAAAABzM/hjWSTgzsaQ0/s1600/IMG_4958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XfjyUwaX6Xc/UTCjiPIr3AI/AAAAAAAABzM/hjWSTgzsaQ0/s640/IMG_4958.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Buttery blooms and grass-like stems; Gagea wilczekii</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PG4GE8PuTMs/UTCkPL5hImI/AAAAAAAABzs/v_8jze8QGfo/s1600/IMG_4974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PG4GE8PuTMs/UTCkPL5hImI/AAAAAAAABzs/v_8jze8QGfo/s640/IMG_4974.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Fritillaria raddeana, an amazing miniature Crown
Imperial! An orange species exists too, F. eduardii</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rt1NQ0EhFS0/UTCkbesuHVI/AAAAAAAAB0E/IsybRGaCHt8/s1600/IMG_4973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rt1NQ0EhFS0/UTCkbesuHVI/AAAAAAAAB0E/IsybRGaCHt8/s640/IMG_4973.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Iris aucheri from Western Asia. I may be finally
cracking up but surely the flowers resemble the stance of one of those martial
art fellows</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zk1wPe0u0Dw/UTCkoOKiEaI/AAAAAAAAB0M/e6kUVuzWYKM/s1600/IMG_4979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zk1wPe0u0Dw/UTCkoOKiEaI/AAAAAAAAB0M/e6kUVuzWYKM/s640/IMG_4979.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The Juno Irises are the largest group of bulbous
irises, <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">characterised by their fleshy bulbs and with most
found growing native from the Middle East and across to Central Asia.</span> This floriferous hybrid is Iris ‘Sindpers’</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fdhWfkm6bWs/UTClJsjrqOI/AAAAAAAAB0c/oUIBIOBYBks/s1600/IMG_4964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fdhWfkm6bWs/UTClJsjrqOI/AAAAAAAAB0c/oUIBIOBYBks/s640/IMG_4964.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The jewel-like Scilla mischtschenkoana, planted freely
around Kew and an absolute joy to behold!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cJjMv5L4IG0/UTClJUw7F9I/AAAAAAAAB0Y/XCgdKKI4Ju4/s1600/IMG_4971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cJjMv5L4IG0/UTClJUw7F9I/AAAAAAAAB0Y/XCgdKKI4Ju4/s640/IMG_4971.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Probably the best thing I have seen around the place
this year, </span>Gymnospermium albertii! Perfectly hardy coming from Central Asia,
but requires free-draining soil and dry conditions during the summer months</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-1346425980500671652013-02-14T22:51:00.000+00:002013-02-16T07:01:19.179+00:00Orchid Festival<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The Princess of Wales Conservatory is another of Kew’s
grand glasshouses, with the primary attraction here being the assortment of controlled
climate zones offering a mixed bag of flora. One minute you can be
perambulating languidly amongst a chilly desert landscape, marvelling at the
spiny cacti, and then the next find yourself on the periphery of a tropical
pond, enjoying Amazonian waterlilies! Every year this fascinating display is
enhanced by a late-winter festival, with tropics mayhem and a celebration of
colour at the time of year when perhaps we need it most of all. The Orchid Festival
started last weekend, and an unseasonal explosion of colour has lifted the old
spirits and left us all yearning for the coming spring! This floriferous glory
continues until Sunday 3rd March, and more information can be found
<a href="http://www.kew.org/visit-kew-gardens/whats-on/orchids-2013/index.htm" target="_blank">here</a>.<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The
following images were taken on my field telephone device, after the usual photographic
contraption recently bid me adieu. Blasted thing! Normal service will resume
shortly.</span></div>
</span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
</div>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DvoDQ8lPT80/UR1ar7cFHQI/AAAAAAAABxE/PT1f_tQ41Uk/s1600/AIMG_4485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DvoDQ8lPT80/UR1ar7cFHQI/AAAAAAAABxE/PT1f_tQ41Uk/s640/AIMG_4485.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">A riot of hanging baskets and container displays set
the scene, with hybrid Phalaenopsis orchids taking centre stage</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TGuzy1VbtHk/UR1ascYRkVI/AAAAAAAABxQ/K2yCbf-KQB8/s1600/BIMG_4473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TGuzy1VbtHk/UR1ascYRkVI/AAAAAAAABxQ/K2yCbf-KQB8/s640/BIMG_4473.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Vast pillars have been decked out in the Phalaenopsis hybrids</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sQacliHii0g/UR1anEQS9XI/AAAAAAAABw8/-AnqZmniC8M/s1600/CIMG_4564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sQacliHii0g/UR1anEQS9XI/AAAAAAAABw8/-AnqZmniC8M/s640/CIMG_4564.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">This delightful medley is amongst the best of the
pillars, with yellow Oncidium orchids providing a pleasing contrast of form</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cz7v2N-xHls/UR1ar3YxTVI/AAAAAAAABxI/n0bkffJfWp8/s1600/DIMG_4508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cz7v2N-xHls/UR1ar3YxTVI/AAAAAAAABxI/n0bkffJfWp8/s640/DIMG_4508.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Bromeliads provide an excellent counterpoint to the Orchidaceae
experience, with the blue and red inflorescence of Vriesea splendens being
particularly unusual!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LHSaIKBa-pY/UR1ay5foVZI/AAAAAAAABxs/FV55cRHzuA0/s1600/DIMG_4519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LHSaIKBa-pY/UR1ay5foVZI/AAAAAAAABxs/FV55cRHzuA0/s640/DIMG_4519.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">This clustered beast is the King Orchid, Dendrobium
speciosum</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fJaJXgYoDuc/UR1ayRFY15I/AAAAAAAABxk/0ABEqb6eGSY/s1600/EIMG_4545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fJaJXgYoDuc/UR1ayRFY15I/AAAAAAAABxk/0ABEqb6eGSY/s640/EIMG_4545.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">A species orchid display is permanently housed in the
POWC orchid zone that changes almost every week, and features such delights
as this beautiful slipper orchid</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CkT0vy1TxAk/UR1axghakCI/AAAAAAAABxc/4e1YczhAiRk/s1600/FIMG_4537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CkT0vy1TxAk/UR1axghakCI/AAAAAAAABxc/4e1YczhAiRk/s640/FIMG_4537.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">And also this hybrid Brassocattleya!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IS7GZphz5rQ/UR1a4JbcXNI/AAAAAAAABx0/uwXeGWifcDQ/s1600/GIMG_4280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IS7GZphz5rQ/UR1a4JbcXNI/AAAAAAAABx0/uwXeGWifcDQ/s640/GIMG_4280.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The cacti zone is a wonderful place to explore, and surprisingly
colourful at this time of year!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vldMICwbdCI/UR1a8OXRWbI/AAAAAAAABx8/7Y6UtqJw_wg/s1600/HIMG_4607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vldMICwbdCI/UR1a8OXRWbI/AAAAAAAABx8/7Y6UtqJw_wg/s640/HIMG_4607.JPG" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The yellow spikes of Aloe africana combine well with
the daisy-heads of Senecio medley-woodii</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W_uzjgMHFE0/UR1a_6iEvjI/AAAAAAAAByE/o3atTxqLN6I/s1600/IDSCF1378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W_uzjgMHFE0/UR1a_6iEvjI/AAAAAAAAByE/o3atTxqLN6I/s640/IDSCF1378.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">This Echinopsis has an incredible form, and huge white
blooms unfortunately not on display yet</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q3b-0eogsR4/UR1bEOiW8_I/AAAAAAAAByU/h179K2U-Bxs/s1600/JDSCF2088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q3b-0eogsR4/UR1bEOiW8_I/AAAAAAAAByU/h179K2U-Bxs/s640/JDSCF2088.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“You there, boy! What day is this?”, Lord Turtle simply
hasn’t the time for any of my nonsense today! Several tanks house this haughty egg and some other aquatic chaps</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f-mIN-zyqgM/UR1bCpJ0xeI/AAAAAAAAByM/cXMyMFuEGeY/s1600/KIMG_4289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f-mIN-zyqgM/UR1bCpJ0xeI/AAAAAAAAByM/cXMyMFuEGeY/s640/KIMG_4289.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Water dragons can regularly be seen here, parading
themselves about the place and providing some element of pest control. Akin to
old Buster at Hidcote, they will stretch themselves out on the path and refuse
to move regardless of how near you get! We have two large specimens over in the
Palm House but they are considerably less gregarious, living mostly in the
grates below the paths and so making any photography attempts futile</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-35985957990677997292013-02-07T23:37:00.001+00:002013-02-08T06:55:50.687+00:00Micropropagation<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Occasionally
when a plant species is difficult to propagate with traditional methods or in
danger of extinction, and in many cases very often both, we must place our
faith in science and the lab-coated coves initiated in such sorcery!
Micropropagation is the growing of plants from seed or tiny pieces of plant
tissue in sterile, laboratory conditions, and is utilised to cultivate those
dreadful nuisances that are indifferent to a tray of John Innes and a bit of
bottom heat. Kew’s Micropropagation Unit was set up in 1974 and produces
thousands of plants each year to repopulate endangered species in a series of
labs dedicated to this cultivation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Orchids
are one of the success stories at Kew, with this plant family in particular need
of specialist techniques. <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Although they often produce thousands of seeds orchids
rely upon fungi in the soil for germination, as theses dust-like seeds lack an
endosperm, the part of a seed where a small food store powers the initial stages
of germination, before the first leaves are unfurled and photosynthesis becomes
the main engine for plant growth. The </span>soil fungi form a symbiotic
relationship with the tiny seed, laying on the food that enables germination! This
happy matrimony is undoubtedly heart-warming, but from a propagation perspective
is insanely difficult to recreate in the potting shed, needing the usual temperature
and moisture requirements plus that blasted fungi. As usual science holds the
key with micropropagation enabling germination without fungus, in a process
called asymbiotic germination that provides all of the nutrients that the
fungus would normally supply. This propagation usually does not involve soil,
but instead various cocktails of sugars, minerals and vitamins solidified in
agar jelly, which holds the concoction together and gives the plants something
to root into. The development and success of these techniques has resulted in
the saving of species such as the beautiful Lady’s Slipper Orchid, Cypripedium
calceolus, which had been reduced to one single specimen left in the wild but
was repopulated and reintroduced in a collaboration between Kew and English
Nature!</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gsNlaNFNLKM/URQ0xZksigI/AAAAAAAABvs/-xMz2N3Ucac/s1600/ADSCF0263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gsNlaNFNLKM/URQ0xZksigI/AAAAAAAABvs/-xMz2N3Ucac/s640/ADSCF0263.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Cryopreservation is used to store plant tissue and
seeds, freezing material at -196°C </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">(-320°F) in these sealed tanks with liquid
nitrogen!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfXdDTYQXj4/URQ0sZSVB2I/AAAAAAAABvk/4LqmLz1Yjo4/s1600/BDSCF0299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfXdDTYQXj4/URQ0sZSVB2I/AAAAAAAABvk/4LqmLz1Yjo4/s640/BDSCF0299.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Tiny orchid seed is smeared on to the agar jelly
mixture</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XyDVhOQ24DI/URQ0feJ4quI/AAAAAAAABvc/YbKwyPpyXEs/s1600/CDSCF0369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XyDVhOQ24DI/URQ0feJ4quI/AAAAAAAABvc/YbKwyPpyXEs/s640/CDSCF0369.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Sincere apologies for the quality of this image, but
looking down the lens of a microscope we can see thin grains of orchid seed and
the round, swelling seed that has already began to germinate</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0QZpRonWY6U/URQ06LU3ecI/AAAAAAAABv0/89AyIIUQ7uw/s1600/DSCF0377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0QZpRonWY6U/URQ06LU3ecI/AAAAAAAABv0/89AyIIUQ7uw/s640/DSCF0377.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Eventually roots and shoots develop from the
germinated seed</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IPGLBn6p2y4/URQ1DFxBNgI/AAAAAAAABwI/M9ZAQUSeafw/s1600/EDSCF0392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IPGLBn6p2y4/URQ1DFxBNgI/AAAAAAAABwI/M9ZAQUSeafw/s640/EDSCF0392.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Seedlings are ‘potted on’ to glass jars, where they
continue to develop before eventually being finally transferred to traditional
soil potting <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">mixtures and then reintroduced to the wild!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6j5UdM-LYBk/URQ1A1D7VQI/AAAAAAAABv8/qv5LsYKzqRY/s1600/FDSCF0350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6j5UdM-LYBk/URQ1A1D7VQI/AAAAAAAABv8/qv5LsYKzqRY/s640/FDSCF0350.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Micropropagation does not just involve seeds; here new
shoots are developing on a miniature cutting</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4eHwyHU_KOw/URQ1eIIWfYI/AAAAAAAABwY/mAGjFL73TLs/s1600/GDSCF0356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4eHwyHU_KOw/URQ1eIIWfYI/AAAAAAAABwY/mAGjFL73TLs/s640/GDSCF0356.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Some species are not terribly fond on the agar jelly
cocktails, so a rough plug mixture is used instead</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ewnz5gTKrE8/URQ1RmmzzYI/AAAAAAAABwQ/tHIxJ466lNk/s1600/HDSCF0266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ewnz5gTKrE8/URQ1RmmzzYI/AAAAAAAABwQ/tHIxJ466lNk/s640/HDSCF0266.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Even succulents can be raised with this method!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f5GFZJeHoIY/URQ1gTYMwUI/AAAAAAAABwg/NgCVpLXAyNw/s1600/IDSCF0265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f5GFZJeHoIY/URQ1gTYMwUI/AAAAAAAABwg/NgCVpLXAyNw/s640/IDSCF0265.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Carnivorous plants, Dionaea muscipula, can be seen
here. As the nutrients in the agar mixture are used up, yellowing leaves on the
plants indicate the time to pot on to a soil based medium</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CCW0mYCYikM/URQ1hIQW8LI/AAAAAAAABwo/gp5hJwPqP2M/s1600/JDSCF0268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CCW0mYCYikM/URQ1hIQW8LI/AAAAAAAABwo/gp5hJwPqP2M/s640/JDSCF0268.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">It’s propagation, but not as we know it!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="justify">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">A little off the beaten track, but I hope this offers
an insight into some of the madness going on here at Kew! As an aside the good
eggs over at Tweed Pig have kindly featured me in their ‘pin-up’ series, please
<a href="http://www.thetweedpig.com/2013/02/tweed-pig-pin-up-bertie-bainbridge.html" target="_blank">click here</a> to take a look.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-20111092009051846892013-01-31T21:18:00.000+00:002013-01-31T21:18:41.180+00:00Winter<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">After a rather mild old time of it, winter recently took hold at Kew with freezing temperatures and delightfully snowy landscapes! There have been some truly wonderful sights to behold, but surely the highlight at this time of year is taking joy in the detail; for example the beauty of some standing dead or the colours of a tiny flowering bulb, which may look like the most delicate thing in the garden but is in fact the hardiest. Tulip stems have cheerfully poked through the parterres in front of the Palm House, offering hope and the chance to dream of an early spring! <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Doubtless another </span>cold snap is lurking just around the corner, lead pipe in hand and waiting patiently to smother such optimism, but until such time we shall proceed blissfully in a haze of positivity and glorious sunshine!</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DGvgnC_sk0U/UQrZ3wiEJsI/AAAAAAAABtM/SuNiYWwRngw/s1600/DSCF1766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DGvgnC_sk0U/UQrZ3wiEJsI/AAAAAAAABtM/SuNiYWwRngw/s640/DSCF1766.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The old Palm House seen over the pond, <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">thankfully</span> it’s warm inside!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SNfSqr84VIs/UQraTdmft9I/AAAAAAAABtk/c-UfJ8ltyrs/s1600/DSCF1789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SNfSqr84VIs/UQraTdmft9I/AAAAAAAABtk/c-UfJ8ltyrs/s640/DSCF1789.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Snow settles on the unheated Alpine House, with the Rock Garden coated below</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2BlzjM8INb8/UQraZreoTjI/AAAAAAAABts/wOEeq3gc4-4/s1600/DSCF1798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2BlzjM8INb8/UQraZreoTjI/AAAAAAAABts/wOEeq3gc4-4/s640/DSCF1798.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">This is Syon Vista I was jabbering on about earlier, leading away from the Palm House to the River Thames</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fr4MjFYlE0M/UQradfkAvJI/AAAAAAAABt0/36WcnyYiBGQ/s1600/DSCF1926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fr4MjFYlE0M/UQradfkAvJI/AAAAAAAABt0/36WcnyYiBGQ/s640/DSCF1926.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The snow begins to melt…</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uVXngZpsc-o/UQrarpuvu1I/AAAAAAAABt8/oOgp9YNsPHM/s1600/DSCF2072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uVXngZpsc-o/UQrarpuvu1I/AAAAAAAABt8/oOgp9YNsPHM/s640/DSCF2072.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The snowdrop, Galanthus elwesii, is one of the most welcome sights at this time of year!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LpnNTjCr7gE/UQrauQbx3fI/AAAAAAAABuE/Zyf9tMXYHS8/s1600/DSCF0676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LpnNTjCr7gE/UQrauQbx3fI/AAAAAAAABuE/Zyf9tMXYHS8/s640/DSCF0676.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Over in the Apline House, Narcissus papyraceus var. polyanthos, forms one of the many potted bulb displays</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NNOgkqRXH9w/UQrauvpGuyI/AAAAAAAABuI/o4JQ5y2M8xg/s1600/DSCF0827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NNOgkqRXH9w/UQrauvpGuyI/AAAAAAAABuI/o4JQ5y2M8xg/s640/DSCF0827.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">One of the best displays this winter in the Alpine House has been Scilla maderensis! Seen here in the Alpine Nursery, these beauties are somewhat more imposing than the little blue chaps that self-seed around English gardens</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pGDeLKMcIQU/UQrazD-H3FI/AAAAAAAABuU/VIg8VWv-L3M/s1600/DSCF2292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pGDeLKMcIQU/UQrazD-H3FI/AAAAAAAABuU/VIg8VWv-L3M/s640/DSCF2292.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Out on the Rock Garden, Cyclamen coum subsp. coum</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pw0BbPft4II/UQrazHtq8VI/AAAAAAAABuY/7_n2-ZX6CmM/s1600/DSCF2300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pw0BbPft4II/UQrazHtq8VI/AAAAAAAABuY/7_n2-ZX6CmM/s640/DSCF2300.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The Winter Aconite, Eranthis hyemalis, is amongst the most colourful of the tiny winter bulbs</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9UducY70-nU/UQra1C-iGQI/AAAAAAAABuk/HZizple7hUk/s1600/DSCF2335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9UducY70-nU/UQra1C-iGQI/AAAAAAAABuk/HZizple7hUk/s640/DSCF2335.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Out in the Arboretum, the Helleborus orientalis cultivars are flowering away, as always, the stoical blighters. What wonderful plants!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-04BsX16Adt8/UQra1H4RdtI/AAAAAAAABuo/LsyhJ-LrN0E/s1600/DSCF2343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-04BsX16Adt8/UQra1H4RdtI/AAAAAAAABuo/LsyhJ-LrN0E/s640/DSCF2343.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Helleborus argutifolius is an outstanding species, with excellent, spiny foliage</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U742aQBATvA/UQrc0qjCzmI/AAAAAAAABvE/K1hAwsWsH1I/s1600/DSCF0686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U742aQBATvA/UQrc0qjCzmI/AAAAAAAABvE/K1hAwsWsH1I/s640/DSCF0686.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Grass Garden is admittedly looking rather tatty compared to its late-summer glory, but nevertheless is still jolly exciting!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3UEFIBiMBq8/UQra4h5rXRI/AAAAAAAABu4/DPhjRjYka2Y/s1600/DSCF2318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3UEFIBiMBq8/UQra4h5rXRI/AAAAAAAABu4/DPhjRjYka2Y/s640/DSCF2318.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The witch hazel bed is undoubtedly the most colourful area of the Kew Arboretum, with a huge array of Hamamelis species flowering their socks off! H. x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ seen here</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U6Y5rBbfL6o/UQra4UQsWfI/AAAAAAAABu0/sg124tHUZzs/s1600/DSCF2329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U6Y5rBbfL6o/UQra4UQsWfI/AAAAAAAABu0/sg124tHUZzs/s640/DSCF2329.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Barmstedt Gold’ is another cultivar. ‘Cheese-string jewels!’</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-62058743871227534032013-01-24T22:22:00.000+00:002014-07-29T20:28:48.119+01:00Raworth Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ49-7Zsp6PQBwtRW2nuW1kWqsj_pNawYDoJIxLW_Xuow0hU1krovLzSmsqj4qKJ98Qs8ta6EPSOCoWFvFwctFz9ZReLo7DZnaEdZJZg2oXv5BLHuNLqL0sLpWLLM5JnO9NN2g1L1VvAE/s1600/dsc_0408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ49-7Zsp6PQBwtRW2nuW1kWqsj_pNawYDoJIxLW_Xuow0hU1krovLzSmsqj4qKJ98Qs8ta6EPSOCoWFvFwctFz9ZReLo7DZnaEdZJZg2oXv5BLHuNLqL0sLpWLLM5JnO9NN2g1L1VvAE/s640/dsc_0408.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> </div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">So
far my time as a student has been damn good fun, the magnitude of
the place is like nothing I’ve seen before and the collections of plants are
utterly glorious! The grand era of Victorian gardening still holds some sway
here, and this sense of history is both exciting and charming. However, over
the course of my three years at Hidcote I developed an obsession with a wild,
rambling style of horticulture that suits me to a ‘T’, and that I intend to
pursue for the rest of my gardening career. This style is not entirely catered
for at Kew, <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">but
as of this month I shall not be losing any sleep over that fact as I have taken
a Saturday job at the Raworth Garden</span>, just across the
Thames at Twickenham. This garden was created by Jenny & Richard Raworth
some 40 years ago, and is strongly influenced by Hidcote and several of my
other favourite gardens. The planting is informal, dense and luxurious, and
surrounded by a formal structure of mature hedging and topiary. The main peak
of flowering interest explodes in early-summer, but the garden remains
intriguing throughout the seasons. Perhaps best of all, a Bengal cat called
Benny reigns supreme here, and is the most entertaining and cheerful character
I have encountered since old Buster at Hidcote! From here on in, I will be
splicing my Kew adventures with tales from Raworth; I hope this new
arrangement will be agreeable. Please <a href="http://www.raworthgarden.com/" target="_blank">see here</a> for an introduction to the
garden and a large collection of delightful images!</span></div>
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-51384977603038733852013-01-17T18:03:00.000+00:002013-01-17T18:03:39.325+00:00Palm House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TX0xKB9blnk/UPg1up8SovI/AAAAAAAABp8/0odd2YT5FTs/s1600/ADSCF1704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" jea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TX0xKB9blnk/UPg1up8SovI/AAAAAAAABp8/0odd2YT5FTs/s640/ADSCF1704.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Palm House is one of the icons of the Victorian era, and is to this day a landmark of British engineering. Built between 1844 and 1848, it was at the cutting edge of technology and was a major event in the ‘Age of Iron’, begun in the late-1700s by<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the pioneering Victorians who were shameless in their strive for advancement and progress. One man, Richard Turner, typified that character, almost bankrupting himself developing the light but strong wrought iron beams used in the construction of the Palm House. Iron was previously used in the building of grand glasshouses at assorted stately homes and botanical gardens in Britain, but it is the curved design and sheer size of the Palm House that makes it such an important structure. The building is 20 metres high and a 100-odd metres in length, with the iron frame holding 16,000 panes of curved glass! This incredible design was realised by the ambition of Turner, who’s understanding of shipbuilding and ‘deck beam’ technology made it possible for the huge expanse of the Palm House to stand with very little internal support. Earlier designs submitted contained far too many columns and pillars which would have hindered the spreading crowns of the magnificent palms; the open structure we see today is both innovative and immensely practical! Turner later claimed to have lost £7,000 during construction, and at the time did not get the credit he deserved for his work. Happily though, the old boy went on to create one of the finest Victorian railway stations in England, building the huge expanse of iron and glass that curves over the platforms of Lime Street Station in Liverpool. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BvW46nup4h4/UPg2dRFHfkI/AAAAAAAABqM/RuE1S5UbNHo/s1600/DSCF1220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" jea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BvW46nup4h4/UPg2dRFHfkI/AAAAAAAABqM/RuE1S5UbNHo/s320/DSCF1220.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Turner’s ironwork</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Palm House mostly contains palms (more revelations to follow), but fortunately upon opening the house, Kew had an entirely insufficient amount of specimens available to fill the cavernous space! This, fortunately, led to a tradition of a more mixed planting within the house, with an assortment of tropical specimens being grown and displayed here alongside the palms. Victorian families thronged to the house to see the vegetation of the expanding British Empire being cultivated under the curved glass, and this exotic and unusual array continues to this very day! The planting around the house is rather formal, reflective of those Victorian days, with the great landscaper William Nesfield responsible for much of the setting within which the Palm House is placed. Syon Vista and Pagoda Vista radiate from the site on the west side, with both of these tree-lined avenues nearly 1000 metres in length! Syon Vista leads down to the River Thames and affords excellent views of the imposing Syon House on the opposite bank, while Pagoda Vista inevitably leads to the giant Pagoda which is another of Kew’s iconic structures. The Campanile is perhaps the most interesting building in the Palm House environ, an Italianate tower to the south of the pond. This is in fact a chimney, connected to the house via an underground tunnel, and designed to remove any soot and smoke that could smother the glass!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RnYkmPOlJPM/UPg2JR294MI/AAAAAAAABqE/RAuRnZJDvHU/s1600/DSCF1595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" jea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RnYkmPOlJPM/UPg2JR294MI/AAAAAAAABqE/RAuRnZJDvHU/s320/DSCF1595.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The Campanile, the underground tunnel, and its exact path revealed in the melted snow</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Historically, the Palm House has been a rather difficult place to work as a gardener. 10 hour days, endless labour, and not to mention the stifling heat, have all contributed to the infamous legend of working in this great glasshouse. New employees would be ‘tried out’ here to see if they could hack the pace, before being moved on to a permanent position elsewhere in the garden. A gardener found to have committed a misdemeanour was liable for boiler duty; lugging a coke wagon backwards and forwards along the 150-metre underground supply tunnel. A small railway track assisted the repentant egg, but it was dirty, back breaking work! Fumigating the Palm House certainly must have seemed like a punishment, with nicotine pyres lit throughout the house, and the staff actually staying inside for two and a half hours to keep the tobacco parcels burning! One chap, who left Kew in 1910, vaguely recalled being dragged outside by a fellow gardener, after keeling over from the toxic fumes! Thankfully such folly came to an end years ago, and the Palm House is a much safer place to work. A reduced working day and some protective clothing when using chemicals are just two of the perks! I will post more highlights from the Palm House over the course of my placement, but for now here is an introduction to this grand house!</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2OorQrBz_8w/UPg4Pd56oLI/AAAAAAAABqs/J4eCEYkRqNU/s1600/DSCF1198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" jea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2OorQrBz_8w/UPg4Pd56oLI/AAAAAAAABqs/J4eCEYkRqNU/s640/DSCF1198.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Inside is a controlled jungle, with palms blocking the view and vigorous climbers scrambling overhead! There is a constant balancing act between the display of specimen plants, and creating an overgrown tropical atmosphere</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IQcija7Uo6A/UPg4PXPMgpI/AAAAAAAABq0/eT49BEdRSm4/s1600/DSCF1205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" jea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IQcija7Uo6A/UPg4PXPMgpI/AAAAAAAABq0/eT49BEdRSm4/s640/DSCF1205.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Pandanus is one exciting new species I’ve discovered here, with branching growth and huge strappy leaves! The common name is Screwpine, due to the spiral arrangement of the leaves and pineapple-like fruits</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A-02qOH9CMc/UPg4Qqy1edI/AAAAAAAABrA/AdDmKewu_Gc/s1600/DSCF1312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" jea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A-02qOH9CMc/UPg4Qqy1edI/AAAAAAAABrA/AdDmKewu_Gc/s640/DSCF1312.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Pritchardia schattaueri is just one of the many incredible palms to be had here. Pritchardia is a tough old species, and makes a good candidate for a houseplant in a well-lit room</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sscR6V7S25M/UPg4SRXOFOI/AAAAAAAABrg/O2NXpkvfaoQ/s1600/DSCF1432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" jea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sscR6V7S25M/UPg4SRXOFOI/AAAAAAAABrg/O2NXpkvfaoQ/s640/DSCF1432.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Many of the trees in the Palm House harbour epiphytic orchids such as Cattleya deckeri. Epiphytes are plants living on another; not in a parasitic way, just hitching a ride to get closer to the available light and moisture!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7LXHgNrxn4A/UPg4SMX9pRI/AAAAAAAABrc/6Jqxi_4dDhI/s1600/DSCF1408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" jea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7LXHgNrxn4A/UPg4SMX9pRI/AAAAAAAABrc/6Jqxi_4dDhI/s640/DSCF1408.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Pavonia multiflora is one of the most free-flowering of the plants displayed here, in Malvaceaea family</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lfkwc5g9srY/UPg4Rof-ZyI/AAAAAAAABrU/jHcF5d1qD_Y/s1600/DSCF1404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" jea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lfkwc5g9srY/UPg4Rof-ZyI/AAAAAAAABrU/jHcF5d1qD_Y/s640/DSCF1404.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The foliage of tropical legumes is mesmerising! This is Cojoba arborea</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RS1fdZkGMwA/UPg4RGo83DI/AAAAAAAABrM/n2orXH0rmZI/s1600/DSCF1348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" jea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RS1fdZkGMwA/UPg4RGo83DI/AAAAAAAABrM/n2orXH0rmZI/s640/DSCF1348.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Clerodendrum splendens, a vigorous climber with these incredible blooms! Best grown in a container as it will creep around all over the shop in open soil</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XnfJxlxTLvI/UPg4RCEjCHI/AAAAAAAABrI/kgHQoLa7mNM/s1600/DSCF1349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" jea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XnfJxlxTLvI/UPg4RCEjCHI/AAAAAAAABrI/kgHQoLa7mNM/s640/DSCF1349.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Solandra maxima is another glorious climber, native to the tropical Americas. The blooms are night-scented, smelling similar to coconut and pollinated by bats!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m7pmMDwUvwo/UPg4ag7BQuI/AAAAAAAABsQ/tpopbcEEWwA/s1600/DSCF1566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" jea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m7pmMDwUvwo/UPg4ag7BQuI/AAAAAAAABsQ/tpopbcEEWwA/s640/DSCF1566.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The top balcony allows a unique view of the tropical canopy, this is the spreading palms of Ravenea moorei</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wdG_ppZvXWE/UPg4TYnyEqI/AAAAAAAABr8/AGIOcOkN8mY/s1600/DSCF1717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" jea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wdG_ppZvXWE/UPg4TYnyEqI/AAAAAAAABr8/AGIOcOkN8mY/s640/DSCF1717.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The delightful iron stairwell leading to the balcony! The spinning disc foliage is Cecropia glaziovii</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DiKXIOB9_RA/UPg4PISQoTI/AAAAAAAABqw/7GrD1m37_a4/s1600/DSCF1234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" jea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DiKXIOB9_RA/UPg4PISQoTI/AAAAAAAABqw/7GrD1m37_a4/s640/DSCF1234.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The very centre of the house is the tallest point, 20 metres, and unfortunately any palm finally attaining this glory is liable to be given the chop! Pruning is impossible, as due to the way palms grow any cut to the central stem results in the death of the plant</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u_LxmrQkBtU/UPg6lgTJosI/AAAAAAAABsg/XOFaWagNrXI/s1600/DSCF1216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" jea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u_LxmrQkBtU/UPg6lgTJosI/AAAAAAAABsg/XOFaWagNrXI/s640/DSCF1216.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">More detail of Turner’s handiwork! The large-leaved climber scrambling up the pillar and arch is Epipremnum pinnatum ‘Aureum’</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DdRD5-JFcak/UPg4TFk6mxI/AAAAAAAABr4/8YA9-3v0qj8/s1600/DSCF1451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" jea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DdRD5-JFcak/UPg4TFk6mxI/AAAAAAAABr4/8YA9-3v0qj8/s640/DSCF1451.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The west of the house looks to Syon Vista, the long avenue leading to the river. The evening light on this side of the house is quite special</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-69155981350163597162013-01-09T21:32:00.000+00:002013-01-27T17:44:32.138+00:00Tropical nursery<div align="justify">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W9sMnJnWSHg/UO3WEZKFm9I/AAAAAAAABoQ/LR2e7c_5ITU/s1600/DSCF0321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="464" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W9sMnJnWSHg/UO3WEZKFm9I/AAAAAAAABoQ/LR2e7c_5ITU/s640/DSCF0321.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">My time in the Tropical Nursery has come to an end; unfortunately the three month placement system means that just as you are coming to terms with the <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">floral </span>glory it is time to move on! I have now started working in the Palm House so, happily, there is plenty more excitement to come, but I wanted to end my first placement at Kew by sharing some of the wonderful plants that are grown and maintained in the nursery at large!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5DMnPl2Sg44/UO3V6vVm7mI/AAAAAAAABm8/PkJ17kuAlDU/s1600/BDSCF0552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5DMnPl2Sg44/UO3V6vVm7mI/AAAAAAAABm8/PkJ17kuAlDU/s640/BDSCF0552.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Over in the Orchid unit, Vanda hybrids hang from the ceiling with their thick aerial roots dressed in the Spanish Moss, Tillandsia usneoides. This plant has no roots, and simply ekes out a living hanging off a suitable branch or trunk</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dPSkorCYKDU/UO3V6rD_PuI/AAAAAAAABnA/aWSEqkHZhYk/s1600/CDSCF0783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dPSkorCYKDU/UO3V6rD_PuI/AAAAAAAABnA/aWSEqkHZhYk/s640/CDSCF0783.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ramosmania rodriguesii is one of the gems in Zone 9, native to the island of Rodrigues near Madagascar and famous for being saved from extinction by Kew. With one native plant remaining in the wild, Carlos fathomed how to pollinate the flowers and the resulting seeds have ensured the survival of this beautiful species!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aF56RvXrYFY/UO3V6tZJVBI/AAAAAAAABm4/yIw7DphS9N4/s1600/DSCF0320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aF56RvXrYFY/UO3V6tZJVBI/AAAAAAAABm4/yIw7DphS9N4/s640/DSCF0320.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The paintbrush heads of Haemanthus albiflos</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UP6OP-djwng/UO3V79kFehI/AAAAAAAABnI/Nw4Z2rpfEk0/s1600/EDSCF9573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UP6OP-djwng/UO3V79kFehI/AAAAAAAABnI/Nw4Z2rpfEk0/s640/EDSCF9573.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dorstenia christenhusz is a curious beast; much of the genus displays these unusual star-shaped blooms</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EyW3dL7ETNc/UO3V8SGoJcI/AAAAAAAABnU/y98t9wB3ZHw/s1600/FDSCF9598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EyW3dL7ETNc/UO3V8SGoJcI/AAAAAAAABnU/y98t9wB3ZHw/s640/FDSCF9598.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The snapping jaws of Dionaea muscipula! Passing flies beware!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j8kZ-TdS4rw/UO3V8n2q7eI/AAAAAAAABnY/8YnpKewqjNc/s1600/GDSCF9583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j8kZ-TdS4rw/UO3V8n2q7eI/AAAAAAAABnY/8YnpKewqjNc/s640/GDSCF9583.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Drosera regia is another carnivorous gem, trapping unfortunate blighters on these <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">graceful </span>sticky hairs. No insect is safe, including butterflies!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7tIKrAN53aA/UO3V8-b_hQI/AAAAAAAABng/64qOoWhvC3I/s1600/HDSCF0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7tIKrAN53aA/UO3V8-b_hQI/AAAAAAAABng/64qOoWhvC3I/s640/HDSCF0110.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is the almost comically tropical inflorescence of Billbergia distachia var. distachia. Billbergia is a Bromeliad, and one of the legendary plants from this family is the gigantic <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjQMtDAo3t0-fF6SVafyuvSIPWORuc8K9LQwBIYoL0W2IwYsSehXM5nW-gY23wIx-sG1S3JGhUORhnq8sNWJ0XPOMpyrdUqwG4lAfHkWBVhYcd4SnPBSKoM_EE-hrusX1ZKi8hQ-ejaHo/s320/Puya+raimondii+-+bigtime+in+Peru!+-+14.12.09..JPG" target="_blank">Puya raimondii</a> which has been known to kill sheep!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lHSWAHQ8Kic/UO3W7qBfNuI/AAAAAAAABo4/QDn9Lp1xKi4/s1600/DSCF0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lHSWAHQ8Kic/UO3W7qBfNuI/AAAAAAAABo4/QDn9Lp1xKi4/s640/DSCF0002.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">One of the most famous plants growing at Kew is the Titan Arum, <a href="http://www.kew.org/visit-kew-gardens/garden-attractions-A-Z/titan-arum.htm" target="_blank">Amorphophallus titanum</a>, this beast <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">taking </span>years to flower from a tuber below ground the size of a small child. The flower is enormous, I will be <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">posting it here later this year, </span>and this incredible seed head follows after pollination by the nursery staff</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hR2Ldv4-ZPc/UO3V9T7-uII/AAAAAAAABns/aEEf8VCLcOQ/s1600/JDSCF0118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hR2Ldv4-ZPc/UO3V9T7-uII/AAAAAAAABns/aEEf8VCLcOQ/s640/JDSCF0118.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The curious sea shell flowers of Dalechampia aristolochiaefolia</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SK53C3RzUg8/UO3V-AOk_oI/AAAAAAAABn4/90zvw2z1jf0/s1600/KDSCF0904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SK53C3RzUg8/UO3V-AOk_oI/AAAAAAAABn4/90zvw2z1jf0/s640/KDSCF0904.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Another of the glorious climbers in Zone 9, Thunbergia togoensis! This has a similar colour to the arresting Tibouchina urvilleana</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VU7sboEseBQ/UO3V-RzwXCI/AAAAAAAABn8/sg_aTa9pbVU/s1600/LDSCF9486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VU7sboEseBQ/UO3V-RzwXCI/AAAAAAAABn8/sg_aTa9pbVU/s640/LDSCF9486.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Carlos has raised a new Hibiscus hybrid with these glorious blooms, glossy leaves and repeat flowering. Unnamed as yet, unfortunately my suggestion of H. bertioides was rejected out of hand</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hk_-n0afWJo/UO3V7kKowPI/AAAAAAAABnE/hf18wsskfv0/s1600/DSCF9557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" eea="true" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hk_-n0afWJo/UO3V7kKowPI/AAAAAAAABnE/hf18wsskfv0/s640/DSCF9557.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">A fellow student and myself created this temporary piece of Victoriana for the recent Tropical Nursery public open day. What ho!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-77482087644385099212012-12-25T20:46:00.000+00:002012-12-25T20:46:11.401+00:00Merry Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcUy9Xt56aetsopbBo0-KFjiEeSXw3U8p-wmN4KsM589Zr6oc6BU2csPDjXeUWk0adIMyXE4fGHQvSqs7CTK_1XyKsE8KFx7Zo8joHuORs95rGf-n2FcqXzj_JXiqvIr50QBgBNH0tdA/s1600/DSCF0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcUy9Xt56aetsopbBo0-KFjiEeSXw3U8p-wmN4KsM589Zr6oc6BU2csPDjXeUWk0adIMyXE4fGHQvSqs7CTK_1XyKsE8KFx7Zo8joHuORs95rGf-n2FcqXzj_JXiqvIr50QBgBNH0tdA/s640/DSCF0001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> </div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Season’s
greetings one and all! Merry Christmas and a happy new year! I am unfortunately
unable to offer any particularly festive images of Kew, so instead here’s another
look at dear old <a href="http://whathohidcote.blogspot.com/2012/01/snow.html" target="_blank">Hidcote</a> under snow. See you in 2013!</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOfnQcJyLOGXbzSu-VtmXsE9ms-3XXrsPC0Fp9ur644FIAgLQY4l_knqkVKm1sHeALfGVKCMS2ErlnvCD2ku7tfPMf6vWFqxANW0DprW6sJsJo1IhqevLxIROyMuGdzpUmqkZgGgz5DU/s1600/DSCF0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOfnQcJyLOGXbzSu-VtmXsE9ms-3XXrsPC0Fp9ur644FIAgLQY4l_knqkVKm1sHeALfGVKCMS2ErlnvCD2ku7tfPMf6vWFqxANW0DprW6sJsJo1IhqevLxIROyMuGdzpUmqkZgGgz5DU/s640/DSCF0074.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sign
reads: ‘We are sorry the garden is closed today’</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMmk_-OfuJfLWlo_RpfO-sSQFivusm9uudr66o1QRFTKFbGwjPc1OPgm3_i19nPwDtHNQO0ekcYPq5pDnMhr8J5xKJGAOyht2K-5TtyLwqaEmRIQ_uH-Lpw-KxJEFnF8g8JfW4Yj5S68/s1600/DSCF0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMmk_-OfuJfLWlo_RpfO-sSQFivusm9uudr66o1QRFTKFbGwjPc1OPgm3_i19nPwDtHNQO0ekcYPq5pDnMhr8J5xKJGAOyht2K-5TtyLwqaEmRIQ_uH-Lpw-KxJEFnF8g8JfW4Yj5S68/s640/DSCF0037.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
Stilt Garden with the laden hornbeams</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcizVAmRblDRfW_VEWorx6ahZoSupbjmwRJDWLYejJhyD2i1sSjywb7BX7UwrF2faMXM0FZ1_9n24JryOr71EyRntpyDqrx1uqbMmR9dId9nTWMpxrjUBrA2QlSCwcfpd-1BiXBiruwHI/s1600/DSCF0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcizVAmRblDRfW_VEWorx6ahZoSupbjmwRJDWLYejJhyD2i1sSjywb7BX7UwrF2faMXM0FZ1_9n24JryOr71EyRntpyDqrx1uqbMmR9dId9nTWMpxrjUBrA2QlSCwcfpd-1BiXBiruwHI/s640/DSCF0032.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Gateway
leading from the Theatre Lawn to the Beech Alley</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbKpObV5cQtpktpsYaMsEEelrwLATbHow85AdW3yZAMejK1xWSAgzSoL4my8X-0Qb4zrwKiC0aBzQqswNQndCc4l8NbC_JP5KjJX0By-bNno2VPc9QjTzyItMnf9TJdk99e8YE20EXlE/s1600/DSCF0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbKpObV5cQtpktpsYaMsEEelrwLATbHow85AdW3yZAMejK1xWSAgzSoL4my8X-0Qb4zrwKiC0aBzQqswNQndCc4l8NbC_JP5KjJX0By-bNno2VPc9QjTzyItMnf9TJdk99e8YE20EXlE/s640/DSCF0036.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
Theatre Lawn!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90_fEdG5bwW1Hl24Tm_0rgSES54VXFWK_ir7aGVdAZ0t8rxRAbfVwFhHsvwewZ-cqlHfpLoyn_3g8Dem73QzGBy_9-mD86RM9DycEglRRw93Hkw-ME8MabAmqyxS2XDDxnI3Lsg53smM/s1600/DSCF0061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90_fEdG5bwW1Hl24Tm_0rgSES54VXFWK_ir7aGVdAZ0t8rxRAbfVwFhHsvwewZ-cqlHfpLoyn_3g8Dem73QzGBy_9-mD86RM9DycEglRRw93Hkw-ME8MabAmqyxS2XDDxnI3Lsg53smM/s640/DSCF0061.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">View
from the top of the Long Walk, the incline always seemed more extreme from this
end</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGuo8rQkA_OgcrXQNKvkvaaFfnZo2ILM8y-OBOZO9RPQdAOXCvYIhD3h4UMTHsMtsjLp2KUXeGYKwNDDqfXn99bx1NYYFPNLfUOhn1PG8B-IW4gA1PfWEa75voZGA7Rc4A7a8lQ-3XHk/s1600/DSCF0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGuo8rQkA_OgcrXQNKvkvaaFfnZo2ILM8y-OBOZO9RPQdAOXCvYIhD3h4UMTHsMtsjLp2KUXeGYKwNDDqfXn99bx1NYYFPNLfUOhn1PG8B-IW4gA1PfWEa75voZGA7Rc4A7a8lQ-3XHk/s640/DSCF0002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Rose
Walk, with a pleasing smattering on the Irish yews</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjSAk5lzZ8MLM3irIZwac00nHHd1BkfUC4xUjJhvgF-3JPRzuRTFN_7Q6fknLQnZADTdAMO-5D85cpNsh5kWzFgdmYvzlCxmiujwhlUVgH4sGUAjC6Q76mErTbAmErg8S5oLGkNWx5IE/s1600/DSCF0079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjSAk5lzZ8MLM3irIZwac00nHHd1BkfUC4xUjJhvgF-3JPRzuRTFN_7Q6fknLQnZADTdAMO-5D85cpNsh5kWzFgdmYvzlCxmiujwhlUVgH4sGUAjC6Q76mErTbAmErg8S5oLGkNWx5IE/s640/DSCF0079.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Morning
light over the Lime Avenue</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></div>
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-14946770193552917042012-12-20T20:41:00.002+00:002012-12-21T09:50:34.713+00:00Passiflora<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Undoubtedly,
one of the highlights of my time at Kew so far has been maintaining and
becoming acquainted with the large Passiflora collection held in Zone 9!
Passiflora is a genus containing over 500 species that are mostly found in
tropical South America, and to a lesser extent in places such as North America,
Southeast Asia and Australia. The simplest way I can describe them is as the
tropical version of Clematis; vigorous blighters that clamber about all over
the shop on tendrils, and with delightfully beautiful flowers that are
consistently showy and fascinating across the genus! These amazing flowers have
been captivating horticulturally-disposed eggs for centuries, as far back as
the 16th century they were being lauded and praised for their
beauty. Spanish Jesuit priests were convinced that these flowers symbolised the
Passion of Jesus Christ, and attributed the complex flower parts to the various
elements involved in the crucifixion. The Latin word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">passio</i> means suffering, and this religious association continued in
the naming of the genus by Linnaeus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
stereotypical Passiflora bloom is large and showy, with a crown around the
flower known as the corona that acts as an attractor and landing pad for pollinators
such as bumblebees. An inner corona leads to the nectar, which the bees extract
in the traditional manner with their tongues! This corona is stunted in species
pollinated by hummingbirds (landing pad not required), but the floral tube
leading to the nectaries is much longer, about 10cm, to account for the long
beak of these graceful birds. The arrangement of the male and female flower
parts is quite unique, with the male anthers pointing down towards the flower.
Pollen transfers from these on to the backs or heads of bees and birds
respectively, as they brush against the anthers before consequently brushing against
other flowers when they cheerfully continue on their pollination rounds. The
female parts are also conspicuously arranged, generally seen in threes and
always standing upright as the flower opens. A period of time elapses after
opening, this quirk dependent on the particular species, after which the stigma
then also begins to slowly point down towards the flower. This brings it
slightly closer to the action where the pollinators are drinking nectar, and
enables it to better receive pollen from the slurping bees and birds. The aim
of this remarkable skulduggery is to limit the chance of self-pollination, by leaving
a window of time in which the pollen on the anthers can be removed by the
first eager visitor<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">. Appearing
after this raises the possibility of coming into contact with pollen from
another flower, which increases genetic variation and creates stronger plants
in the next generation!</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In
terms of cultivation, one of the most enticing aspects of Passiflora is their
ability to flower well as container grown plants. The majority of the specimens
in Zone 9 are growing in 5L pots and are regularly hacked back throughout the
year to keep their vigorous growth in check, but in spite of this apparently
rough treatment a large majority of the species flower well, and even at this
time of year with the ever-reducing light levels. For growers in England,
containers and a greenhouse are generally required to get near these
predominantly tropical plants. There is happiness in the world however, as near-hardy
specimens are available to enthusiasts in our less balmy climes, with Passiflora
caerulea the hardiest for cultivation in England. This species will endure
temperatures below freezing when planted in a sheltered spot and offered some protection;
with good drainage the key to limping it through our cold and damp winters (wet
cold quickly croaks the roots). Fortunately P. caerulea hybridises readily, and
the hardiest hybrids available are those involving this species in the parentage.
P. ‘Amethyst’ and P. ‘Clear Sky’ are two notable examples, but there have been
over a hundred created (where there is a will, there is a way!) An unheated yet
frost-free greenhouse or windowsill would obviously be an ideal situation to
overwinter a container grown P. caerulea hybrid, brought in from the garden
after a prune that results in at least some green leaves being left on the plant,
and tied-in to four foot or so of canes to support any winter growth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I am smitten, as this
rambling on indicates! Enough jabbering, here is some Passiflora glory!</span></div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3oO3RVCGl0DDS9lDUPXLhnXgazW5cei_d_36ylOyzmFmHTBNZRxLjA8_4Jj_znfhsEiA71fn2_iYs2FWUvOn8yY7Jga9xFhMVPtytfrUsixCxJSRO5jubjsehRwcKTOVC-vuGYhm93U/s1600/DSCF9954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3oO3RVCGl0DDS9lDUPXLhnXgazW5cei_d_36ylOyzmFmHTBNZRxLjA8_4Jj_znfhsEiA71fn2_iYs2FWUvOn8yY7Jga9xFhMVPtytfrUsixCxJSRO5jubjsehRwcKTOVC-vuGYhm93U/s640/DSCF9954.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Passiflora
umbilicata, a glorious specimen from Argentina and Bolivia. Pollinated by
hummingbirds, it is unique amongst Passiflora as all other species pollinated
in this way are either red or pink</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYncQAS_oOoWBCi9iXIDocqPYCvnm7C9DFE0WuGRKxT02HLFC8EZhARh11_yS-Fst8pznAiUzK98sfEpJZI6w41TeyDpIIzGjcImcH6dufLzqveMXU-qTL4d_xhAw_F-r4Sh8yw7YMS4/s1600/DSCF9346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYncQAS_oOoWBCi9iXIDocqPYCvnm7C9DFE0WuGRKxT02HLFC8EZhARh11_yS-Fst8pznAiUzK98sfEpJZI6w41TeyDpIIzGjcImcH6dufLzqveMXU-qTL4d_xhAw_F-r4Sh8yw7YMS4/s640/DSCF9346.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
ripening fruit of Passiflora foetida. The Latin epithet ‘foetida’ normally
relates to something foul smelling, in this case the flowers smell sweetly but
the hairs on the leaves pong when disturbed</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKET5OTdA4kWqKca7t7I2XMqqB52iT3HaCO79e4Z0ydmFHXNJahXuC4TEHz9cVmoa3zeJnTUbjbdvpojkiVWQdUJ9Q0ktGPOyrirvavOAPUghESOXFI7Xa4Yu_9gTUcYBFEFtHBO9MDo/s1600/DSCF9388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKET5OTdA4kWqKca7t7I2XMqqB52iT3HaCO79e4Z0ydmFHXNJahXuC4TEHz9cVmoa3zeJnTUbjbdvpojkiVWQdUJ9Q0ktGPOyrirvavOAPUghESOXFI7Xa4Yu_9gTUcYBFEFtHBO9MDo/s640/DSCF9388.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Another
of the hardier hybrids, P. x violaceae, British-born in 1819 and the first
hybrid ever created by crossing P. racemosa and P. caerulea. Flowering in Zone
9 for the past three months!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixK5aiNoDzeQ0e3i6_qPIpJRvJrD6UsL7rjzT1ExOqBhWfx1WaupB8WuagC_uKkesIE7HZ3KDsq8TY3e0eRkqDVC9b1XL2Up_Us-If3lJAEdkycwwYLbTg3Z2hXSKeU0wFyz4SnPD7_m8/s1600/DSCF9398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixK5aiNoDzeQ0e3i6_qPIpJRvJrD6UsL7rjzT1ExOqBhWfx1WaupB8WuagC_uKkesIE7HZ3KDsq8TY3e0eRkqDVC9b1XL2Up_Us-If3lJAEdkycwwYLbTg3Z2hXSKeU0wFyz4SnPD7_m8/s640/DSCF9398.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Many
red-flowering species are difficult to maintain, but Passiflora ‘Lady Margaret’
is amongst the hardiest and flowers freely</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cgO6P_OrK8AOv3zaeCReAtTsrWpR3GcHEtWLse9twGgZT1SqPlBNbQU7dNn49VzTwaiO2gaUHIIVlV3CrmfxwGZb7r1fm7Oots2vyaqCvZRHevneLtBQe0CgTykOTvBcEMGKWKTuOnU/s1600/DSCF0852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cgO6P_OrK8AOv3zaeCReAtTsrWpR3GcHEtWLse9twGgZT1SqPlBNbQU7dNn49VzTwaiO2gaUHIIVlV3CrmfxwGZb7r1fm7Oots2vyaqCvZRHevneLtBQe0CgTykOTvBcEMGKWKTuOnU/s640/DSCF0852.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Passiflora
siamica, a rare gem from China. Last week a Passiflora expert spent almost
thirty minutes in Zone 9 photographing these blooms, and actually picked three ‘to
take home and dissect’! This <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">eccentric </span>mayhem is explained by the uniquely large number
of male and female flowering parts</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0s4InOzaGAthHLjZiWHyRNcLof0WcUPZc5bgcxle62sU-KUmsYqKg252BQepWvf_ZZc8AjEGU_KLArRMq-ajCPStoVTVIQ6gPAqP0DySMOGl4-lVu6iRsxvPUjNGP0h2WSwHt26Y2QyE/s1600/DSCF0863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0s4InOzaGAthHLjZiWHyRNcLof0WcUPZc5bgcxle62sU-KUmsYqKg252BQepWvf_ZZc8AjEGU_KLArRMq-ajCPStoVTVIQ6gPAqP0DySMOGl4-lVu6iRsxvPUjNGP0h2WSwHt26Y2QyE/s640/DSCF0863.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">One
of the most wonderful hybrids housed in Zone 9, Passiflora x belottii, born from
a cross between P. alata and P. caerulea. Sweet smelling, very free-flowering,
and the contrasting pink petals and white sepals are a thing of beauty!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9ho7s5MNkiQd9RcU792RIyldxuaqh2AXVrixepT5LydJM9j57EMiyIZwQ8EXjNntpDwoeiiK6HB6c34gEse8n6OGs3dvIqCwQw2WYbyuMbWm-th_cZBDPPe4rFwVPeWJfhgMETMdsSo/s1600/DSCF9797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9ho7s5MNkiQd9RcU792RIyldxuaqh2AXVrixepT5LydJM9j57EMiyIZwQ8EXjNntpDwoeiiK6HB6c34gEse8n6OGs3dvIqCwQw2WYbyuMbWm-th_cZBDPPe4rFwVPeWJfhgMETMdsSo/s640/DSCF9797.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Passiflora
organensis with the <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">anthers
</span>pointing downwards and loaded with pollen, ready to brush
on to the head of the pollinator as they reach in to claim their nectar reward</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZGy39YnP1NmkfA7R2ppuMhnb_7k6OhddsYNf7ZnyK4uur60Wox8_5_ir2CvAUzN8CAsqLFjjWTzmVmNcOPJ75Eq7Lp0JUUmOqhtdu6rXvwfuBb5vsHqa0abHqfWirE9Lr7-eqTYPMUY/s1600/DSCF9890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZGy39YnP1NmkfA7R2ppuMhnb_7k6OhddsYNf7ZnyK4uur60Wox8_5_ir2CvAUzN8CAsqLFjjWTzmVmNcOPJ75Eq7Lp0JUUmOqhtdu6rXvwfuBb5vsHqa0abHqfWirE9Lr7-eqTYPMUY/s640/DSCF9890.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Several
of the smaller flowered species have a rich, deep purple to the undersides of
the leaves. This is Passiflora vespertilio, widespread in South America and not
tolerant of cool temperatures. Latin for bat is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">vesper</i>, while <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">vespertilius</i>
means ‘resembling a bat’; in this case relating to the outline of the foliage</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AnAb9PEgyJ4Tjyy-EZalcW-yDBP0ZXvWnwn6lojDg9e9UPkwnNcSr_PFfNXoNRud3FIvNVPXCQH_U5pq_aFH5b5EdyYC0rxBNAem3RjEEMcCdeAMw5tM4tNlooGSukfDlytxsXjoN-k/s1600/DSCF9336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AnAb9PEgyJ4Tjyy-EZalcW-yDBP0ZXvWnwn6lojDg9e9UPkwnNcSr_PFfNXoNRud3FIvNVPXCQH_U5pq_aFH5b5EdyYC0rxBNAem3RjEEMcCdeAMw5tM4tNlooGSukfDlytxsXjoN-k/s640/DSCF9336.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Another
dalzzling hybrid, Passiflora ‘Red Infinity’</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZhjoPUqkIu71QanYx-7DWjC38M6ItDvEsfOJQYPiWLKro3RwhYuCirdgwbCIgjRH-D_ev9Sg26FCXUXiwFmJLMGegZyYhpt_4DkwyEkFwjgIOI-YoZM6xHBpzR2IZdRPc2OZvgpYQlY/s1600/DSCF9429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZhjoPUqkIu71QanYx-7DWjC38M6ItDvEsfOJQYPiWLKro3RwhYuCirdgwbCIgjRH-D_ev9Sg26FCXUXiwFmJLMGegZyYhpt_4DkwyEkFwjgIOI-YoZM6xHBpzR2IZdRPc2OZvgpYQlY/s640/DSCF9429.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Passiflora
herbertiana is one of three species found in Australia. Aborigines eat the
fruits! This chap is a real bloodhound; self-fertile, relentlessly
free-flowering (sprung straight back into bloom after a recent chopping back),
and very tolerant of cooler temperatures. Worth a look!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzB6PMS1PLkfyML2szWL9126pCaMHSbiiRffMGhRI_uOrGiMFZw5RlHOadRD1L1PJuj92BTLZWnRmjP27jUoMjPAN2leJWO-TubYmfbbyXQu8YTUgONY2HE1JCNr21IIJfTLmJB7zK7SY/s1600/DSCF0978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzB6PMS1PLkfyML2szWL9126pCaMHSbiiRffMGhRI_uOrGiMFZw5RlHOadRD1L1PJuj92BTLZWnRmjP27jUoMjPAN2leJWO-TubYmfbbyXQu8YTUgONY2HE1JCNr21IIJfTLmJB7zK7SY/s640/DSCF0978.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
forming fruit on a recently pollinated flower. After many failed attempts at
crossing species this fruit has finally set for me! A long process ahead of
seed ripening, germination and seedling growth, but Carlos is optimistic about
the parents I chose and the potential hybrids</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-f0G41l4c-CLQ21-cm4KERx7ZrV_H0-EMaQ-SqVext-MVJxc2_xV8MX3vvbhVe-kZUCJ7srDRguuuvoXxrq9JYT2I5NjMkBJvaqb-ps-XPwhzhZqPTPsAoOlWe9wAeEO9Ff0-lmRS3g/s1600/DSCF9957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-f0G41l4c-CLQ21-cm4KERx7ZrV_H0-EMaQ-SqVext-MVJxc2_xV8MX3vvbhVe-kZUCJ7srDRguuuvoXxrq9JYT2I5NjMkBJvaqb-ps-XPwhzhZqPTPsAoOlWe9wAeEO9Ff0-lmRS3g/s640/DSCF9957.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Another
of the slightly hardier species, Passiflora amethystina, that flowers extremely
well when grown in a pot with blooms up to 10cm across!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnKosTtQ3Sz884YXRwQNOhVaR6-eWPHq-__O3AyJ7nG_dTD_G-m0sfn_erRG-mhoIl_vaTiuDhNlYqYs_PfMeBrwV5d8o4ARNt0y7tlgf-tGxTPudDgDYSuOAdEedCGdOZ7xVAt3OMgE/s1600/DSCF0838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnKosTtQ3Sz884YXRwQNOhVaR6-eWPHq-__O3AyJ7nG_dTD_G-m0sfn_erRG-mhoIl_vaTiuDhNlYqYs_PfMeBrwV5d8o4ARNt0y7tlgf-tGxTPudDgDYSuOAdEedCGdOZ7xVAt3OMgE/s640/DSCF0838.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
foliage of Passiflora species is the most varied of any genus, often displaying
dramatic lobes such as here with P. obtusifolia. This variation creates a
disguise, in an attempt to bamboozle Heliconius butterflies. These beautiful
creatures lay their eggs on Passiflora leaves, and the following caterpillars
feed ravenously! Other defences used include hairy leaves that trap
caterpillars, foliage with toxins, and nectar glands on the leaves which
attract ants and wasps that will naturally predate caterpillars<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6UmqPBU84MmyDoe5TD3gA0o-iYUUZcvUtWi_bAk5H8C2f7BU3F9PZD9pGELC_CNUgtKqIinOKTRJt41GFCw7VYjppLj0NMYAkDqSEDkPbBctpfuYe6T_pynK-06boIl-oYs9qU6Y1uw/s1600/DSCF4045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6UmqPBU84MmyDoe5TD3gA0o-iYUUZcvUtWi_bAk5H8C2f7BU3F9PZD9pGELC_CNUgtKqIinOKTRJt41GFCw7VYjppLj0NMYAkDqSEDkPbBctpfuYe6T_pynK-06boIl-oYs9qU6Y1uw/s640/DSCF4045.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dryas
iulia, the Julia Heliconian, native to Southern and Northern America and seen
here at Stratford Butterfly Farm</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56VgAGVrgNnRlr37ol-gmoN_bjomtOBhR_TMyx6r0MC7QFo5dps8jpGeTdhmmQQE3wQrHqtTOd4WZGo8IL688a5_5H_M08ZjpCgLUcgAHNYA46QN-s-Spvxl9Dv7FmV0TNvVXusn1UrE/s1600/DSCF4007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56VgAGVrgNnRlr37ol-gmoN_bjomtOBhR_TMyx6r0MC7QFo5dps8jpGeTdhmmQQE3wQrHqtTOd4WZGo8IL688a5_5H_M08ZjpCgLUcgAHNYA46QN-s-Spvxl9Dv7FmV0TNvVXusn1UrE/s640/DSCF4007.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Heliconius
ismenius, the Tiger Heliconian, native to similar regions and again seen at
Stratford Butterfly Farm</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="justify">
</div>
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-84627832512905035522012-12-12T21:42:00.000+00:002013-01-24T22:18:21.185+00:00Autumn interest<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Outside
of the greenhouse, the Kew landscape has recently been going through some
staggeringly beautiful and dramatic changes. The place is absolutely chock full
of mature and magnificent trees, so the autumn colour is both unique and
utterly glorious! There are literally thousands of trees here; The Arboretum holds
the lion’s share of the site with the garden display areas dispersed in amongst
it. The long history of the gardens means that many of these specimens are
beasts, and considered champions within British arboriculture! This season of radiant
autumn colour has already given way to winter structure, but with the strong
possibility of snow on the horizon I am looking forward to smothered branches
and icy silhouettes!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-q1Mr8Frw9GAA_ILB6crlvz40MhCPjFS7QjYXaQFU88ejQeMnkNGPyHf7hC5jvL8u4pyOvifhJ8y00-29Qn80Pf8qkCBvSPeDvOY_2Mbx_k96weJdy_ODSD8-I8Gv-WExtD_bIARp7k/s1600/ADSCF0202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-q1Mr8Frw9GAA_ILB6crlvz40MhCPjFS7QjYXaQFU88ejQeMnkNGPyHf7hC5jvL8u4pyOvifhJ8y00-29Qn80Pf8qkCBvSPeDvOY_2Mbx_k96weJdy_ODSD8-I8Gv-WExtD_bIARp7k/s640/ADSCF0202.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Several
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">majestic</span> specimens of Taxodium distichum dominate the banks of the Palm House
lake, what a tree!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYuoCGwNRMoKUa1mMPQ_cj4mkPOTxK7zEoiOLg_2qmskNE47XHBMqJY-URRvbkM2bQfb9-sX7YOYd719uhSjeo9ahpipvYgWykpnwQRtAt-ISWbMouQvRoggmoIvRQXTVjPxTD-vRO4A/s1600/BDSCF0420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYuoCGwNRMoKUa1mMPQ_cj4mkPOTxK7zEoiOLg_2qmskNE47XHBMqJY-URRvbkM2bQfb9-sX7YOYd719uhSjeo9ahpipvYgWykpnwQRtAt-ISWbMouQvRoggmoIvRQXTVjPxTD-vRO4A/s640/BDSCF0420.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Down
by the main lake, Taxodium distichum is collapsing into an autumn drop while
the evergreen Taxodium mucronatum holds things together with a stiff upper lip</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5cMCQvSFr19ftUUefoBfysqQ6gFASvFaEcgBx0i3xsSECMZEzuUFVR5Srl9BO1ZcSuniLMSaKZjRzQ3k5AI9kHjRXAL2rqnmca4MjwvU4EpzhRLjhyphenhyphenX4XthW9kInclcRiIPXHTPpCeY/s1600/CDSCF0140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5cMCQvSFr19ftUUefoBfysqQ6gFASvFaEcgBx0i3xsSECMZEzuUFVR5Srl9BO1ZcSuniLMSaKZjRzQ3k5AI9kHjRXAL2rqnmca4MjwvU4EpzhRLjhyphenhyphenX4XthW9kInclcRiIPXHTPpCeY/s640/CDSCF0140.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">A
monstrous Larix decidua towers over Prunus serrulata ‘Taki-nioi’</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNS0PNMUL9jFqbZ6lteQinKFKKhf-Td8ixnLMwXAQu4QmJ0mUDAYysrrpjHal3df4MxBLRgi5b4d1OMj59JAa_4Lg94r8byTTMgi4-KZzK018qhZ37pVw_2uzgvRZGNiqFko-mB2-TRMk/s1600/DSCF0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNS0PNMUL9jFqbZ6lteQinKFKKhf-Td8ixnLMwXAQu4QmJ0mUDAYysrrpjHal3df4MxBLRgi5b4d1OMj59JAa_4Lg94r8byTTMgi4-KZzK018qhZ37pVw_2uzgvRZGNiqFko-mB2-TRMk/s640/DSCF0056.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
shocking red foliage of Sorbus commixta!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxgjXy8c40S9JkcHxPDnR9g-dQPO7KaSAVRk9-2nrolrviqyqZAgyfyKR87TABjK1LEfntQca_hvP-XrBXXptmz-ZOrdpYDrOpPa5qOLzH2V5i5E2xPO2hVdmoYDi1y0Kd1hyphenhypheneNsTeR0/s1600/DSCF0454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxgjXy8c40S9JkcHxPDnR9g-dQPO7KaSAVRk9-2nrolrviqyqZAgyfyKR87TABjK1LEfntQca_hvP-XrBXXptmz-ZOrdpYDrOpPa5qOLzH2V5i5E2xPO2hVdmoYDi1y0Kd1hyphenhypheneNsTeR0/s640/DSCF0454.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">An
autumn standard, the Japanese Maple, Acer palmatum</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjkgW-ABP01_crJwGW8JkPHpo7pbIsawCjImpM-XF1yTYiU9brw1d8S8V8VKemexIxTICQReGceezxyX7vvzXBFo0hykU9-o-K9cg1YO1xUVf5RY1ArzNgfLrw5GTBUgbCGdqqpcF_y4/s1600/EADSCF0440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjkgW-ABP01_crJwGW8JkPHpo7pbIsawCjImpM-XF1yTYiU9brw1d8S8V8VKemexIxTICQReGceezxyX7vvzXBFo0hykU9-o-K9cg1YO1xUVf5RY1ArzNgfLrw5GTBUgbCGdqqpcF_y4/s640/EADSCF0440.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
foliage of Cotinus obovatus displays these curious markings in autumn, the tree
appearing to drain the life out of each leaf</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafqyYmeARLK0SpGccs_2BXzho71CUlWTYWH5UgXasLbLtjHMiTkz23IvYj35bd0zX1pCWaGdf0XXfjEKHkBvc-NtE-nJTmdTTSdVXRw429HNHqCxmy7k77tR1xCdumhpa4B_VxWEAg-c/s1600/EDSCF03445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafqyYmeARLK0SpGccs_2BXzho71CUlWTYWH5UgXasLbLtjHMiTkz23IvYj35bd0zX1pCWaGdf0XXfjEKHkBvc-NtE-nJTmdTTSdVXRw429HNHqCxmy7k77tR1xCdumhpa4B_VxWEAg-c/s640/EDSCF03445.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Over
by the Palace, a stand of Liquidambar styraciflua</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegYJ18XNgbH5gFc_ZfQRPcS0JfUbqJ38BX9oLa7sWUuniiZ581aj0ZVNwGbewVmRUkuyEm5QYCbdu8kKBXMcRUcBqipzvMfC0xq5Dy59BgusZsLL0zlku3i8CTn-2SDul8zj-wHBsGM0/s1600/FDSCF0184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegYJ18XNgbH5gFc_ZfQRPcS0JfUbqJ38BX9oLa7sWUuniiZ581aj0ZVNwGbewVmRUkuyEm5QYCbdu8kKBXMcRUcBqipzvMfC0xq5Dy59BgusZsLL0zlku3i8CTn-2SDul8zj-wHBsGM0/s640/FDSCF0184.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">This
is Pterocarya x rehderiana, the foliage delightfully reminiscent of Wisteria
autumn colour</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYNAfuKJF9BLtmwqw2j6DNuZ8x7jZMiZXOTZwNBnZbWN-KNuuPCKJEJdpvNnIT21HvoNvyoSh3vCbhASoCdoZbTQkDvIfCuI2JaIWyp05W2YsigrKtEY7WZHsB7eN0_BNCjfrJfZuhr4/s1600/FDSCF00391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYNAfuKJF9BLtmwqw2j6DNuZ8x7jZMiZXOTZwNBnZbWN-KNuuPCKJEJdpvNnIT21HvoNvyoSh3vCbhASoCdoZbTQkDvIfCuI2JaIWyp05W2YsigrKtEY7WZHsB7eN0_BNCjfrJfZuhr4/s640/FDSCF00391.jpg" width="474" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
Temple of Aeolus perched on the mound that affords some good views of the Palm
House, and an ancient Acer campestre</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgSUwye9DuF6RpJ_vrrSIICmSFWoUc_fVTytlGMPNQKTDK9EmAcbjBj5eXgcXndl-qKLCivrYHkdGdGf3I-efGrQVx_iaDq-G2AWBVj3WLi0zWNP17ozCyEQ7QDCgnrJZZ78jtSD_TDI/s1600/GDSCF01941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgSUwye9DuF6RpJ_vrrSIICmSFWoUc_fVTytlGMPNQKTDK9EmAcbjBj5eXgcXndl-qKLCivrYHkdGdGf3I-efGrQVx_iaDq-G2AWBVj3WLi0zWNP17ozCyEQ7QDCgnrJZZ78jtSD_TDI/s640/GDSCF01941.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
shimmering display of Carya glabra, which has the <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">charming</span> common name of the
Pignut hickory and is native to the Eastern United States</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifG66IX3HJm3nrXrZK8GxGbxdc66BlC3aMOjatST9Z6U9DAKmmAz6fsrDRARMOOgTYEydnWeioX3mnfw8EmP-wk9c2eSRAjr3vOmt7S2j3y8KcOuqCaq8szLsH67qjNk00zYFIKGvL9ZY/s1600/HDSCF0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifG66IX3HJm3nrXrZK8GxGbxdc66BlC3aMOjatST9Z6U9DAKmmAz6fsrDRARMOOgTYEydnWeioX3mnfw8EmP-wk9c2eSRAjr3vOmt7S2j3y8KcOuqCaq8szLsH67qjNk00zYFIKGvL9ZY/s640/HDSCF0063.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Prunus
serrulata ‘Tai Haku’ lights up the Japanese Garden and Chokushi-Mon (the
Gateway of the Imperial Messenger)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUlgwxpVy0DW-tvii_lPrGBIjwl7-0gmRMMQbCU4VJc_mgsoxrNc5Ei9kLQy1dXM7HW_G13jVlkW6ejCLhjZL-DKy-fvywBheof8Lqdn0qqt_B0bE9vCIqAm8w0s4kIjcwkgrfSaghV4/s1600/HDSCF0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUlgwxpVy0DW-tvii_lPrGBIjwl7-0gmRMMQbCU4VJc_mgsoxrNc5Ei9kLQy1dXM7HW_G13jVlkW6ejCLhjZL-DKy-fvywBheof8Lqdn0qqt_B0bE9vCIqAm8w0s4kIjcwkgrfSaghV4/s640/HDSCF0154.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">A chap named David Nash has been displaying some of his famous
sculptures across the garden. He works mostly with wood, and these organic
shapes have looked quite fantastic amongst the frosty Kew landscape</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqN_mdx38JAbAxuM3lxGvNB_JDbZe1GRhaZzp7fDp5JydDesGN9MHU_ua5vtTXMI2W4osof3JcTjj2oDpgCVy0lGL8fvNz_1Q_nTLM9Q3ECf7W7fhrWM0mf-oHvrlINA6bcNl5SlnT2BM/s1600/IMG_0329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqN_mdx38JAbAxuM3lxGvNB_JDbZe1GRhaZzp7fDp5JydDesGN9MHU_ua5vtTXMI2W4osof3JcTjj2oDpgCVy0lGL8fvNz_1Q_nTLM9Q3ECf7W7fhrWM0mf-oHvrlINA6bcNl5SlnT2BM/s640/IMG_0329.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Amongst
all of the colour, some incredible seed pods have been seen about the place!
These are from the Goldenrain tree, Koelreuteria paniculata. Apologies for the
quality of the image as these were taken with my field telephone device</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08VJcgHsgCvT2o0RPiBivbd1qHvbimmPraSGx5UoexdH3OKGGkP5B1B8JaYZDGAu1bMQy-f1bf236MBsYvv_ZBCtP3VmbKtcCIngdzeq0mQhkxJhWk08soUuH8xKhzgLzxofWV1IcvbA/s1600/IMG_0333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08VJcgHsgCvT2o0RPiBivbd1qHvbimmPraSGx5UoexdH3OKGGkP5B1B8JaYZDGAu1bMQy-f1bf236MBsYvv_ZBCtP3VmbKtcCIngdzeq0mQhkxJhWk08soUuH8xKhzgLzxofWV1IcvbA/s640/IMG_0333.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Paulownia
tomentosa fruit is egg shaped and with tiny, papery seeds. These seed pods and
fruit were brought together for our recent identification test, every fortnight
we have a ‘plant ident’ featuring a test on 20 Latin names from a possible list
of 40. This includes genus, species and family</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7sUzByeqr5csSBkM_WP8raLypjwuoYevoxqwE4A7eEpB4R9CcKZceZG0_doeW3FS1UtSUb_lHtBpigSa8yDyYeulH_vvcNp_Tba8Sw6W9_z-f6wQrOJRfC1RY3KGLKaFL6fhHI4MF3Y4/s1600/IMG_0374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7sUzByeqr5csSBkM_WP8raLypjwuoYevoxqwE4A7eEpB4R9CcKZceZG0_doeW3FS1UtSUb_lHtBpigSa8yDyYeulH_vvcNp_Tba8Sw6W9_z-f6wQrOJRfC1RY3KGLKaFL6fhHI4MF3Y4/s640/IMG_0374.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Finally
this is from an Aristolochia species. Such detail and colouring, it looks more
like an expensive Christmas tree decoration!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">One
of my favourite Hidcote blog posts was from this time of year; please <a href="http://whathohidcote.blogspot.com/2011/12/unreal-autumn.html" target="_blank">click here</a> for more autumn mayhem.</span></div>
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-26364434678387397182012-12-05T23:25:00.000+00:002014-07-29T20:34:25.081+01:00Zone 9<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This week I have been launched
like a t-shirt & short clad rocket into the ‘Great Glasshouses’, having been posted to the Tropical Nursery with responsibility for
‘Zone 9, woody tropical’. The Tropical Nursery contains 21 separate zones, all
independently controlled and heated to accommodate the exotic collections
contained within, with species from the four corners of the globe being
nurtured here!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Although the largest
glasshouse at Kew this area only opens to the public once a year, with us mostly
behind the scenes ferretting away to maintain the collections, and supply
plants when needed to the Palm House, Temperate House and other public display
houses. My zone harbours some delightful specimens, including a collection of
Passiflora species and hybrids, large collections from the island of Mauritius,
three benches of assorted tropical climbers and a healthy gang of small trees.
These coves will not settle for any less than around 22°C and 90-100% humidity,
which hopefully explains this issue of my extremely casual and informal attire!
The plants here are dashed interesting and rather rare, with a number of
species, particularly amongst the Mauritius collection, either extinct in the
wild or down to one or two remaining plants. This is quite a change of focus
compared to the work at Hidcote, with plants being grown to conserve the species
and have them readily available for propagation, instead of cultivation for
beautiful flowers or long season of interest. <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Much
of the Mauritius collection was brought back as seeds and cuttings from expeditions
to the island by my day-to-day Boss Man, Carlos Magdalena. This egg has been
described by the BBC as ‘the plant messiah’ on account of his propagating
several rare species previously at risk of extinction. Although I am so far unfortunately
unable to report any miracles, I can tell you he is <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">inspiringly</span>
enthusiastic about plants and propagation, and basically seems to have the
ardent patience and <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">extensive
</span>knowledge base to fathom out ways of propagating these rare plants
which have never been seen before in cultivation.
</span><br />
</span><br />
I will be featuring some
more of the action from the Tropical Nursery before my placement ends, but here
is an initial introduction to some of the plants residing here!</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJt2gsu8ykvpWmf4Bo0zP_SZOolY5O2uRFWYkNNpIYspD4IzbMFo78gY46H8oA_SxIyQ4Vybh7Bhxq87pupWzaeuHRjRqfcQHGMh8evRs4NrBRXZHksNvXjrQ2HWUMU7Wg6_FP4NT31g/s1600/DSCF9503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJt2gsu8ykvpWmf4Bo0zP_SZOolY5O2uRFWYkNNpIYspD4IzbMFo78gY46H8oA_SxIyQ4Vybh7Bhxq87pupWzaeuHRjRqfcQHGMh8evRs4NrBRXZHksNvXjrQ2HWUMU7Wg6_FP4NT31g/s640/DSCF9503.JPG" height="640" title="" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The tropical mayhem of Zone 9!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaQEAQcN98GLhsp_JfG4QTx9khtoJ7JdsueeS5YBJm1VQsQKnn5u40P5nHfPzcDr9VxJwseT_qA0yFJxOVN7UDi8bf5l0yboNj8Ivgq1XKXpb3WGK8csqTfM6AaSwN-wC0W3GTJy4Fa0/s1600/DSCF0574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaQEAQcN98GLhsp_JfG4QTx9khtoJ7JdsueeS5YBJm1VQsQKnn5u40P5nHfPzcDr9VxJwseT_qA0yFJxOVN7UDi8bf5l0yboNj8Ivgq1XKXpb3WGK8csqTfM6AaSwN-wC0W3GTJy4Fa0/s640/DSCF0574.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">One of the many assorted climbers here, the large
flowered Stictocardia beraviensis<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3gqzIRA3x4p4CiaSxqqDKQPteQf1AF5QpDP8GqE8G6qu2tp1dFgibrA9II-kL7VTgdYjPiXa9Hsz3nHCya0PkRy9EZaFYf0_tWE0-QUKD1PDzZa7dmEGuoLikqRMKlg9wrLbB6IVytU/s1600/DSCF9846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3gqzIRA3x4p4CiaSxqqDKQPteQf1AF5QpDP8GqE8G6qu2tp1dFgibrA9II-kL7VTgdYjPiXa9Hsz3nHCya0PkRy9EZaFYf0_tWE0-QUKD1PDzZa7dmEGuoLikqRMKlg9wrLbB6IVytU/s640/DSCF9846.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Caesalpinia pulcherrima is a glorious legume with
these striking whirls of flower</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzJAO7H46YFKchuDyfkNQ8W4lsdY0guoLOXId3X-d_KA0q6uygWOStyW57Rg8rNQ1EmPdc2lQ0rCNXa4gh8EYKRnioNGME1CRt63DdATz663sKBgUheeUMj0r80zxDb8sh_ZH3sc-3pA/s1600/DSCF9571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzJAO7H46YFKchuDyfkNQ8W4lsdY0guoLOXId3X-d_KA0q6uygWOStyW57Rg8rNQ1EmPdc2lQ0rCNXa4gh8EYKRnioNGME1CRt63DdATz663sKBgUheeUMj0r80zxDb8sh_ZH3sc-3pA/s640/DSCF9571.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Several water tanks house lotus and water lily
specimens; and this dainty chap is the world’s smallest water lily, Nymphaea
thermarum</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoIzi1ISTaODuPso4j2PB92pROmehF03F8MOwAQEhK-E1P2lcSF1D2FufXbzS3tK3k9MbRL9a_VU1QRHwDd8M7YyZ2JQXzkXGouhaVwq8kFqxvk01xzVTU4Bs_f4PkLIBx46zuMHk5iU/s1600/DSCF9395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoIzi1ISTaODuPso4j2PB92pROmehF03F8MOwAQEhK-E1P2lcSF1D2FufXbzS3tK3k9MbRL9a_VU1QRHwDd8M7YyZ2JQXzkXGouhaVwq8kFqxvk01xzVTU4Bs_f4PkLIBx46zuMHk5iU/s640/DSCF9395.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Some days with the light streaming in it’s easy
to imagine being lost in a jungle!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMmEe5Q7khpTaYwLBIvwktfOV4C-ftCc5FXwexpYa146Tr2Eb49XVMBLdcKBQQfpdN7ZXCMfEsLkm5yrsFzomVoKlEiHnHrH4hzToRA0O1wyHb5NkbPhDX208vPuubHpPo41rmVPyd5k/s1600/DSCF9936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMmEe5Q7khpTaYwLBIvwktfOV4C-ftCc5FXwexpYa146Tr2Eb49XVMBLdcKBQQfpdN7ZXCMfEsLkm5yrsFzomVoKlEiHnHrH4hzToRA0O1wyHb5NkbPhDX208vPuubHpPo41rmVPyd5k/s640/DSCF9936.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Passiflora xiikzodz is a delicate little egg,
and forms one small part of the huge passion flower collection</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglA1T5jGuFrU74EBiMB1Xgnr7uotrquDTTQa-KeVKp0dkb-geDIRR9xIwVU7k5yuvusRcI33S2jXQkBnGERpxY1rOdxy0juYkjRz1_amd95r5WaKo0bE8y_izd8lz6p67x2qoXW78Q4s/s1600/DSCF9603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglA1T5jGuFrU74EBiMB1Xgnr7uotrquDTTQa-KeVKp0dkb-geDIRR9xIwVU7k5yuvusRcI33S2jXQkBnGERpxY1rOdxy0juYkjRz1_amd95r5WaKo0bE8y_izd8lz6p67x2qoXW78Q4s/s640/DSCF9603.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Several of the plants in the zone are harvested
by humans, with the cotton wool plant Gossypium herbaceum utilised across
Africa and Asia</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-i0AFXkiWWxuEiWYAjB2CTomxuvhe841ss5WbWLGsDscUt3T56rXcbdVu8Tpli6dJ_o4T7bO2_qDlbEMKCAj_9CWwUuYfRq4fN2UupU214krq4S-M2nWaIUg5zmvUIz4k2esjn2kRKM/s1600/DSCF9520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-i0AFXkiWWxuEiWYAjB2CTomxuvhe841ss5WbWLGsDscUt3T56rXcbdVu8Tpli6dJ_o4T7bO2_qDlbEMKCAj_9CWwUuYfRq4fN2UupU214krq4S-M2nWaIUg5zmvUIz4k2esjn2kRKM/s640/DSCF9520.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Antigonon leptopus is an amazing climber known
as the coral vine. It can be a weed in places like Florida, but in less hardy
climes I suspect it may have the vigour to be used as an annual like Cobaea
scandens, etc.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxa_ZcNqYWlEiLS6XtnihgR7Kto0_JGE4CL86R89s5EIUeJanBykJxY3HDbWbpepzFYoRoWS7Q_nxeTHP-RQShC5zQZrIue0lPx_XZ66zfEnKJcIp8fPA2hUDTqb_Et3i74fx6B0JK30/s1600/DSCF0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxa_ZcNqYWlEiLS6XtnihgR7Kto0_JGE4CL86R89s5EIUeJanBykJxY3HDbWbpepzFYoRoWS7Q_nxeTHP-RQShC5zQZrIue0lPx_XZ66zfEnKJcIp8fPA2hUDTqb_Et3i74fx6B0JK30/s640/DSCF0492.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Hibiscus liliflorus; a combination of Latin
words to set the old pulse racing! This beautiful gem is now extinct in the
wild, but grown in gardens all over Mauritius</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsuiIC4ucfU1eBBPWTrO1QQbA4pI37JzvEUChj_H1L3Cf6U9pne-HFeQ8WsQWT6_B4STQ5udYtw7u4xVZHwlrJLASvtouqOQyf3eeDomAYyRmGPJvyPtc3-aKQRFUckC_qS4dkITHpys/s1600/DSCF9898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsuiIC4ucfU1eBBPWTrO1QQbA4pI37JzvEUChj_H1L3Cf6U9pne-HFeQ8WsQWT6_B4STQ5udYtw7u4xVZHwlrJLASvtouqOQyf3eeDomAYyRmGPJvyPtc3-aKQRFUckC_qS4dkITHpys/s640/DSCF9898.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">This drooping glory comes from India and is Thunbergia
mysorensis</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCufrWhIa4A22UmRmQ2PrNILKwqwsfhQoqhuSmVEMRpwBAjN0nfNtyno0JcbJLQUdtdyWoX0sjcMgtFPHGRMguwZzSmr84S4D3q_XezGuY7GZARW8eYyN2_T-mgoi17vJuwphi9qRfdP4/s1600/IMG_0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCufrWhIa4A22UmRmQ2PrNILKwqwsfhQoqhuSmVEMRpwBAjN0nfNtyno0JcbJLQUdtdyWoX0sjcMgtFPHGRMguwZzSmr84S4D3q_XezGuY7GZARW8eYyN2_T-mgoi17vJuwphi9qRfdP4/s640/IMG_0035.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Hibiscus species are also well represented in
the collection, with H. arnottianus seen here from Hawaii</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi758PlBhhFv-r1m49r9BnR2kR6z37byB1J4-u1zj_lAmdkRaKNUvWUc-_xE0a89-g3-EQxj_3lQnyH-B-LR573B4jcl59Ij0HJahnsHRlf30aZBbvdh6cn4JXyNM-NQ8G_9JhD996JTHs/s1600/IMG_0396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi758PlBhhFv-r1m49r9BnR2kR6z37byB1J4-u1zj_lAmdkRaKNUvWUc-_xE0a89-g3-EQxj_3lQnyH-B-LR573B4jcl59Ij0HJahnsHRlf30aZBbvdh6cn4JXyNM-NQ8G_9JhD996JTHs/s640/IMG_0396.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tropical insects and animals are unfortunately
lacking in Zone 9, but we do get the odd cockroach mooching about the place!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74l_Bhyphenhyphen2DdZDbbvqdUN5jxGPj5V0kSEp7X8YO0XFNb0lIVjrwBPijQ5D2bq4Edyoxg8mgw8WD2E4cDPHfFiUBnx5nEh2Op3mtv8wOb1QNjhKCbgWdoWEiXYul8LBDgGguwoAV4Oln7aQ/s1600/IMG_0454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74l_Bhyphenhyphen2DdZDbbvqdUN5jxGPj5V0kSEp7X8YO0XFNb0lIVjrwBPijQ5D2bq4Edyoxg8mgw8WD2E4cDPHfFiUBnx5nEh2Op3mtv8wOb1QNjhKCbgWdoWEiXYul8LBDgGguwoAV4Oln7aQ/s640/IMG_0454.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Carlos and myself in the full panoply prepared
for spraying!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-59527392351853460912012-11-28T21:59:00.000+00:002012-11-28T21:59:01.741+00:00First impressions<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
Kew site is staggeringly vast, covering some 300 acres and containing
glasshouses, lakes, laboratories and one of the largest compost heaps in
Europe. Compared to the 10.5 acres of dear old Hidcote, it is all rather mind-boggling!
The garden areas are mostly focused upon displaying the extensive collections
of plants here, with an alpine garden, a winter garden, rhododendron dell, 17th
century-style formal garden, rose garden and a whopping great arboretum that I
keep finding myself lost in! The gardens were founded in 1759, but borne out of
the Kew Park estate; lands owned in the 17th century by gentrified eggs
who happened to be keen gardeners. This horticultural use of the land was continued
by the royals who moved in later, with the botanical gardens starting up proper
when Princess Augusta ordered the construction of a ‘physic garden’, for the
display of “all the plants known on Earth”. 250-odd years later Kew is still
offering up the best of the world’s flora, and I’m intending to share that with
you here over the course of the next three years.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECK152uUK-HJmFVr4hJ595wgOdfUP65TA3ncDQ0U-bK7kC9PMQdifAwZJz3nbtVdasjJN7SdQ5Dy20UECXidf6yvaeonS0mhYm_gaA-dE9P9z2QJMu70adIksfsOGvnPOZiB3pI2pNW8/s1600/DSCF9367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECK152uUK-HJmFVr4hJ595wgOdfUP65TA3ncDQ0U-bK7kC9PMQdifAwZJz3nbtVdasjJN7SdQ5Dy20UECXidf6yvaeonS0mhYm_gaA-dE9P9z2QJMu70adIksfsOGvnPOZiB3pI2pNW8/s640/DSCF9367.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Kew
Palace is the oldest building on the site, built in 1631. It is maintained
independently by Historic Royal Palaces</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfHGt6OA4pZpbPCjiVGB_ep9KRdvVt6h2sYKIO8_nvCvCsz98agoqbKfjyPtQsd0khniWNcCPU97pEj-EQE7Aoij8oS8oDMc6awS5FFqNibFEBqe0Ya6YMjb9UdnzeFkWul3-ppWsqWU/s1600/DSCF8728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfHGt6OA4pZpbPCjiVGB_ep9KRdvVt6h2sYKIO8_nvCvCsz98agoqbKfjyPtQsd0khniWNcCPU97pEj-EQE7Aoij8oS8oDMc6awS5FFqNibFEBqe0Ya6YMjb9UdnzeFkWul3-ppWsqWU/s640/DSCF8728.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
water lilies are one of the key attractions at Kew, with these huge leaf pads
forming from plants grown by seed each year! The Waterlily House obviously
houses some of these imposing chaps, but also the Princess of Wales
Conservatory as seen here</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppsnRJYELgrNEy1kdWHvr6lUgDwshnj6jBNr2om2Z343pq3pse21vGC01uWtumvP2A_huFtkSX-QXIt7woiXoC3c3DEJAJH8b23W8ynfnKdrMpjPlOmjxBxmVKJzpRy7_sp81WxDa7f4/s1600/DSCF9025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppsnRJYELgrNEy1kdWHvr6lUgDwshnj6jBNr2om2Z343pq3pse21vGC01uWtumvP2A_huFtkSX-QXIt7woiXoC3c3DEJAJH8b23W8ynfnKdrMpjPlOmjxBxmVKJzpRy7_sp81WxDa7f4/s640/DSCF9025.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
Grass Garden has been one of the real high points since I clambered aboard HMS Kew.
Stipa ichu can be seen here flapping in the wind</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSW1Wj5FHTu7BmnidRQHtEP1EqTnV0zqcMxOqf7lqbf1yoo4Mwz2AcDq6ZA6aEobhkgmpgIf0vi-lVOWqTBFTBkKrUI56g9MrtFIZWrcZWJoNp9SGESS6J-iClP9KSlYTNahxqNzG9Zk/s1600/DSCF9202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSW1Wj5FHTu7BmnidRQHtEP1EqTnV0zqcMxOqf7lqbf1yoo4Mwz2AcDq6ZA6aEobhkgmpgIf0vi-lVOWqTBFTBkKrUI56g9MrtFIZWrcZWJoNp9SGESS6J-iClP9KSlYTNahxqNzG9Zk/s640/DSCF9202.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
Palm House is Kew’s most iconic feature, but the peacocks that roam the gardens
do an excellent job of stealing the show!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhCwY6X-ixVZgfhYl9SOU7WN1ayYNO96bgRpVj16G_gVHJgOYYWm9x9spxVOWWNxRRzfxbhlkJaBC5LohU5XdTWS_J7HhRXznJX8wUYhO3Sc3x-wkHWQgrSXvxYKcynTp3Dh4b_csUgA/s1600/DSCF9279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhCwY6X-ixVZgfhYl9SOU7WN1ayYNO96bgRpVj16G_gVHJgOYYWm9x9spxVOWWNxRRzfxbhlkJaBC5LohU5XdTWS_J7HhRXznJX8wUYhO3Sc3x-wkHWQgrSXvxYKcynTp3Dh4b_csUgA/s640/DSCF9279.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
size of the glasshouses is phenomenal, with the Temperate House easily harbouring
150-year old palms</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ssT-gEc_JUorAeydaZ_in6-vZ3T2aoRvh2mH5V6kKcU39p1MxJ6riIH_HPOXs7MGlMeSpxAnKOEOfAv2jb_ia7wvuGviij_aaqklze3PEof5Jkbja-C9JLnOxqWKmLXTGY4EzueetTM/s1600/DSCF9283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ssT-gEc_JUorAeydaZ_in6-vZ3T2aoRvh2mH5V6kKcU39p1MxJ6riIH_HPOXs7MGlMeSpxAnKOEOfAv2jb_ia7wvuGviij_aaqklze3PEof5Jkbja-C9JLnOxqWKmLXTGY4EzueetTM/s640/DSCF9283.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Phoenix
canariensis is one of the many huge palms seen inside</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-w8KPUO-4awaTlKM1CudQN3zSSerxhqa0uXDwpWt5_WCgE5ESdMwLMnTZ2FungRpf0cMGZNjjPxVaUIvJUr9HmPnuiSHVyXJ-PsdHzbsjqrvYva7Bt33FELciF3t9HN1qvG_hOAT2c8w/s1600/DSCF9186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-w8KPUO-4awaTlKM1CudQN3zSSerxhqa0uXDwpWt5_WCgE5ESdMwLMnTZ2FungRpf0cMGZNjjPxVaUIvJUr9HmPnuiSHVyXJ-PsdHzbsjqrvYva7Bt33FELciF3t9HN1qvG_hOAT2c8w/s640/DSCF9186.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">There
are quite a few follies and ancient-looking temples about the place, but this
one peering out over the Mediterranean Garden is the most beautiful</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6t3bw5U9Bba6cYXv2c8GPZ0OyZoSxCfX9Q6wX4n9gDwN2K19B59WGV7T9Ud0Rt3A-5GK2E6BQx5L_4yWrWW8FK39EjLB-NdNRzHjW_WhQMpbxHrI4gJ2m1ZO_JHvfFfw3gfWG-rhgvs/s1600/DSCF9366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6t3bw5U9Bba6cYXv2c8GPZ0OyZoSxCfX9Q6wX4n9gDwN2K19B59WGV7T9Ud0Rt3A-5GK2E6BQx5L_4yWrWW8FK39EjLB-NdNRzHjW_WhQMpbxHrI4gJ2m1ZO_JHvfFfw3gfWG-rhgvs/s640/DSCF9366.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Mercifully,
there are a few areas of herbaceous planting in the garden. The Duke’s Garden
is one such area, and rest assured I will be following the action in here
closely!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRBtrm4phXfSeoZl6pJUoNJXo7fYa6NjBAayS3xWKK4-aB8ZKSGWqTdimObTOyeqyEqMUR6KomOh005LX7ctiI3ezD4RilGNWsr_Ih67b5IjhKsd8rIjnbPpxPL85tY6dRsbqbqnBNWc/s1600/DSCF8757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRBtrm4phXfSeoZl6pJUoNJXo7fYa6NjBAayS3xWKK4-aB8ZKSGWqTdimObTOyeqyEqMUR6KomOh005LX7ctiI3ezD4RilGNWsr_Ih67b5IjhKsd8rIjnbPpxPL85tY6dRsbqbqnBNWc/s640/DSCF8757.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
scale of the place is enormous, typified here by the main lake with its river-like
dimensions</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4bbI_ixCFltdqOVTRrjO8oCsyiY-8drU_e_BU-WYJ2H0YJNBGxq6rF8ya_a5mResDajYJ-Vu0uRdVYrifPqnLCS4M7IsIzZjxfb9hKG2Dkjhw9uXv4DbTwNCsrzzqiVq5sQ3ro83k8Q/s1600/DSCF9224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4bbI_ixCFltdqOVTRrjO8oCsyiY-8drU_e_BU-WYJ2H0YJNBGxq6rF8ya_a5mResDajYJ-Vu0uRdVYrifPqnLCS4M7IsIzZjxfb9hKG2Dkjhw9uXv4DbTwNCsrzzqiVq5sQ3ro83k8Q/s640/DSCF9224.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
weird and the wonderful all reside at Kew! This is Strophanthus preussii,
native to tropical Africa. Plenty more of this tropics mayhem to follow!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> </div>
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3649939760470798209.post-60263920477787364232012-11-24T14:23:00.000+00:002014-07-29T20:37:35.492+01:00To begin at the beginning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5ivXSXc0my9Czdohtx2-iuWqC8aQT-Ug_9LuUZwT5Dbx2TXWOngnU4_1WBYOk5PZfzYmErWaIn6DRtuFheYkitvxyyYCaPzobtOas0D6DecJWU4Nf-qj9lnNakBUVsuAvoWLhN4GdHM/s1600/DSCF9178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5ivXSXc0my9Czdohtx2-iuWqC8aQT-Ug_9LuUZwT5Dbx2TXWOngnU4_1WBYOk5PZfzYmErWaIn6DRtuFheYkitvxyyYCaPzobtOas0D6DecJWU4Nf-qj9lnNakBUVsuAvoWLhN4GdHM/s640/DSCF9178.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cordial
greetings one and all! Welcome along to my new blog, the Hidcote dream may be
dead but a new adventure is just beginning here in London at the Royal Botanic
Gardens, Kew. I’ve just started on my first
placement, and am currently under glass working in the Tropical Nursery (more
on that later). Similar to my <a href="http://whathohidcote.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">previous blog</a>, I’m hoping I can offer some
insight into what’s going on in the garden, and also feature reviews from the
other gardens along the way that I happen to visit or volunteer at. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">My
email address remains bertiebainbo at gmail dot com (spam avast!) so please do
get in touch with any notes and queries.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Although
there will never be anything untoward bandied about on these pages, once again
I must state that this is a personal blog so the opinions expressed herein may
not necessarily reflect the views of the management eggs upstairs, or the Kew
organisation in general. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Phew! Now let’s get on with
it!</span></div>
Bertie Bainbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13481499819811821263noreply@blogger.com10