Gorgeous Kew Gardens, England
Walking through Kew Gardens in springtime was magical for me. It was a warm day in April when I visited, the sun was shining, and the trees were pushing out their buds. Even without the full canopy of green of the deciduous trees, all of the older trees in the gardens have a real majesty to them.
When I arrived at Kew Gardens, I came in through the Victoria Gate after an easy trip out of London by rail. After stopping for refreshments in the café, I followed the walkways towards a little lake, stopping in to visit the Waterlilly House, and then across the main walkway into the cool moist air of the Palm House. From here, I headed along the Holly Walkway into the woodlands in the central park, and found my way over to what Kew Gardens calls the Rhizotron and Xstrata Treetop Walkway. What a treat it was to visit here. Below, educating adults and children alike, is an interesting display depicting the life of small underground insects. Above, in the treetops, Kew Garden visitors walk through the canopy along a passageway with an open, criss-cross metal floor and sidewalls, letting you see below and around you with ease. And, yes, it is a bit startling to walk in the treetops. The views there are gorgeous. It would be a completely different experience at each time of year, and my springtime view was certainly special. In addition to the childlike glee I felt from being in the canopy, I gained a clear view of the Temperate House to the east, and a 360-degree panoramic view of the entire park.
To the south of the Treetop Walkway is a Woodland Glade, and from here, the visitor can move through woodlands to the south and west towards the River Thames. There are countless small pathways where one can wander among the redwoods and pines. Park benches are nestled among the trees, tucked into shaded rest spots. Most of the benches are donated by generous patrons of the Kew Gardens, offering a place where the visitor can relax, refreshing the body and spirit in the serene setting of this lovely park.
Pausing under the shadow of a 300-year old sweet chestnut tree, one wonders who might have sat in the shade of this tree over the years, looking out across the sweep of bluebells in springtime, as I did, drinking in the beauty of the parklands. Sweet Chestnut trees, common throughout England and native to southern Europe, were likely brought north by the Romans. In addition to the stately old sweet chestnut  tree, shown in the photo gallery below, there are younger chestnut trees throughout the park, distinctive in appearance for the swirls in their bark. As I stepped along the forested pathways that would, centuries earlier, have divided two royal estates, I was totally oblivious to the particular names of the gorgeous tree specimens, but was filled with admiration and gratitude for the far-sightedness of the garden planners in creating such a fine collection.
From the west side of the park, with the River Thames as its boundary, I had the most wonderful experience of travelling along the walkways through the magnolia, rhododendron, and azalea gardens, all at the height of their spring display. Being a northern gardener, living under the weight of heavy snows just a few weeks earlier, this scene, the spectacular blooms, and the sweet scent of spring blossoms, took my breath away.
Heading east again, then taking Sackler Crossing to traverse the small lake, I had a little smile on my face to see a pair of Canada Geese along the lakeshore. I was surprised to see the geese in Denmark and here in England. I didn’t know that this was part of their range. This day in the park was the final day of my trip to Europe, and I had a plane to catch in just a few more hours. I found myself longing for the springtime sound of Canada Geese, flying in flight pattern overhead in my homeland, making their way to their summer nesting grounds.
Thank you, Stewards of the Kew Gardens. I am filled with joy from visiting here.
Friends, when you have a moment, you may wish to visit the Kew Royal Botanic Garden website [http://www.kew.org] .
Photographs: Copyright NK, cookiebuxton.com
Text: NK
Photo Location: Kew Gardens, England (2014)
Photograph Gallery
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