Interesting Places and Scenic Enchantment
The Temperate House at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London, was recently restored at the cost of £41 million. It contains some of the rarest and most threatened species of plants on the planet. Following a major five-year renovation process, the Temperate House re-opened in 2018 to showcase the magnificence of the world’s temperate zones. … Read more
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London offer a host of springtime attractions, even on a showery day like the one of our visit. My top ten Springtime attractions are the Rhododendron Dell, Baby Geese, the Palm House, the Waterlilly House, the Treetop Walkway, the Temperate House, the Great Pagoda, the Mediterranean Garden, the Princess of … Read more
The fabulous Princess of Wales Conservatory replaced a group of 26 smaller buildings, including a fernery and a cactus house. Princess Diana opened the conservatory in 1987 but the glasshouse is actually named after Princess Augusta, mother of George III, who founded the Gardens in 1759. With a floor space of 4,500 square meters, the … Read more
We take a walk through the treetop canopy to discover magical views of Kew Gardens in London. The Treetop Walkway is 18 meters above the ground, giving a chance to get closer to Kew’s trees. It takes around 15 minutes to do the circuit of the walkway at a casual pace. It is reached by … Read more
We stroll around the parterre garden with its colourful display of tulips and bedding plants. Beyond the garden are views of the parkland designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. We walk to the large walled Victorian kitchen garden and our visit ends with a display of falconry from horseback. Audley End in Saffron Walden, Essex, was … Read more
Enjoy the rich colours and textures of the magnificent rhododendron at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Sir Joseph Hooker brought back many new specimens of rhododendron from his travels to the Himalaya in the mid-19th century. Today, 150 years later, dense clusters of rhododendrons flower in the dell, including unique hybrids not found elsewhere in the … Read more
We visit the field where the spectacular and famous dahlias are grown. The festival was 8th to 16th September 2018 at Aylett Garden Centre, North Orbital Rd, St Albans, Herts. There was row upon row of colourful dhalia plants in a large field. There was also a scarecrow competition in the Celebration Garden. Watch the … Read more
This National Trust property in Grantham, Lincolnshire is often cited as being the perfect example of an English country house estate. Much of the justification for such a claim lies in the quality, completeness and sheer panache of its aristocratic collections. Watch the video: The following stills are from the above video. Camera: Sony RX100 … Read more
A walk from the tranquil Parque García Sanabria to the noisy harbour, admiring some of the beautiful flowers and trees on the way. The Parque García Sanabria is the largest urban park in the Canary Islands. The park’s floral clock was manufactured in Switzerland by Favag. Watch the video: The following stills are from the … Read more
Canons Ashby House is a Grade I listed Elizabethan manor house located in the village of Canons Ashby, south of the town of Daventry, Northamptonshire. The interior of Canons Ashby House is noted for its Elizabethan wall paintings and its Jacobean plasterwork. It is owned by the National Trust. Watch the video: The following stills … Read more