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It's impossibly grey today - rain and snow. It's that time of year when I'm holding onto the hope of spring and flowers with my fingernails. So what better time to show you some photos of my and my Aunt Carolyn's trip to England last year. The focus was gardens. This, our second day was a 3 hour visit to Kew. Believe me I could have spent all week there - so many plants - and so little time. Anyway, Aunt Carolyn and I did the speed-walk tour of as much as we could, and saw so many lovely things.
Like this, yet another of the Queen's houses - Kew Palace.
Aunt Carolyn and the Laburnum - I know there are those folks who can't abide by chartreuse....
but when you look up to the sky and see this - how absolutely beautiful.
Some golden coloured Heuchera 'Caramel'. I don't know about you, but I find this an odd colour to find in the shade.
The perfect walled vegetable and fruit garden by the palace:
No, not my knees, but pretty close, Eucalyptus 'Spinning Gum':
Prancing on the petals at the Arboretum:
Such a pretty rhodo 'John Coutts':
I wish I had space to do this with Primula:
Cornus alternifolia variegata - one of the many things I wish I could grow in my garden. Actually I can and I did, but it looked like the stunted sad troll version.
Pinks in purple, red, violet, vermillion, white and a dozen other colours. Old fashioned and so pretty - more people should enjoy this great plant in their gardens.
The Kew arid landscape:
One of the many delightful workers who were only to happy to say hello. Kevin was tasked with the responsibility of doing the shade-garden fix-up. Most of these early bloomers would have finished with their big show.
One of the things they really don't concern themselves with at Kew is signage - oh, there is some, just not everywhere, after all, only foolish Canadians would be seeing the place on a 3-hour drop, run and go tour. Aunt Carolyn and I were not lost - we knew we were in Kew Gardens, but had no idea how to get to the bus at this point.
It is a fine place to wander. The Queen must enjoy her walks here.
Lupins are such wonderful plants. Unfortunately they can be short-lived in this part of Ontario.
Now, if you didn't care for the chartreuse, how about these scented pastels?
This is one of the few plants that does equally well in London as it does in Oakville - enormous Allium really are a marvel aren't they:
I've got to move onto my next project: it's finishing up taxes (yes, hand in the blender time!) and onto my newsletter prep - will be sure to take breaks and share more of our trip to England with you in the weeks ahead.
Until then.
5 comments:
Wonderful pictures of your 3 hour visit! The "Caramel" heuchera seems washed out in the shade, to me.
Nice to see the alliums, gives one hope here in S. ON for spring 2015 that doesn't seem to want to arrive.
Barbara:
The only way to improve the Laburnum would be to have Wisteria growing through it, but there is a garden in the UK where that is done, is there not? Want to say Rosemary Verey or Margery Fish? I too lust for those Primula. Would love to spend a week with the young man in the shade section......
Wow Barbara these are just amazing and given that 95% of my garden is still locked in snow, a welcome change than the white scenery we have had for months now...still cold here.
Kew Gardens would be a wonderful place to get lost. The long chartreuse flowers were quite incredible. I too would love to have primula en masse. Generally it seems to be too dry here in the summer. I agree about the Sweet William. It is a great cottage garden flower that should be planted more often.
Beautiful photos! I love the Laburnum!
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