Kew Gardens Princess of Wales Conservatory

An entire room devoted to orchids! Other people walking through this room probably thought I was weird because I couldn't hide my delight. I pretended to fiddle with my camera so I could spend some time being surrounded by these lovely flowers. This is the Princess of Wales Conservatory.

As an American, I thought it was named for Diana, but really this greenhouse was sponsored by Diana in remembrance of a different princess, Augusta, who began Kew Gardens 250 years ago.

An entire room is devoted to cacti, and I couldn't help taking a picture of cacao (that brown bean on the tree) in another area. There are ten different zones.

Excuse my fan girl moment--An entire room devoted to blooming orchids!

Kew Gardens Japanese Gateway

The Japanese Gateway is the easy way to say Chokushi-Mon, translated as Gateway of the Imperial Messenger. Built in 1910 and refurbished in 1994-95, it's a replica of a temple in Kyoto.

 The Japanese cypress wood carvings were incredible.

Surrounding the temple were Japanese-style gardens. People respectfully stayed off the raked sand, which resembled waves of water.

Kew Gardens Davies Alpine House

This unusually shaped building creates the perfect conditions for alpine plants, those that need cool and dry conditions. June was a perfect time to visit because we saw lots of color inside.

Some visitors walked in and out quickly, maybe because the flowers don't have the "wow" factor that roses and waterlilies have, but treasures abound! Here's what specifically was blooming: saxifrages , everlastings, and Rhodohyposix (not sure what the common name is for that). Imagine my surprise when I find something familiar. Yes, that three-leaved plant is Jack-in-a-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), the same that grows in the Minnesota woods in my backyard! 

Kew Gardens Waterlily House

This unassuming-on-the-outside greenhouse holds some amazing plants. From someone who lives with near (or like today below) freezing temperatures, this was a gem. The water lilies were blooming!

It's difficult to capture with a camera the way that these flowers glow in the light. Just a visit to this greenhouse was worth the trip, but I still had more to explore. I'll add more about my June 2015 travels soon.

Kew Gardens

We Minnesotans have survived the latest cold snap, and the East Coast is about to be blizzarded (I made up that verb). I thought I'd add a little green to cheer us up. We visited Kew Gardens in June 2015. The photo above is  Gentle Hermione rose from the Rose Garden. The photos below are of the Palm House. The outdoor shot gives you a sense of how huge it is, but it's surprisingly cozy inside.  It was a little too cozy on our visit in June, which just meant that I had excellent weather to explore the outdoors instead. The trip was a highlight for me, and I have a couple hundred photos to prove it. Stay warm and safe...and dream of spring! 

Happy New Year!

This is the view from the front porch of our house. You can see the square outlines of the garden beds and the dark blob of the compost bin. Obviously, I won't be doing much gardening in the next few months (ah, Minnesota winters), but I'll try to add some winter cheer on this blog with some reminders of summer. Remember, fellow northern hemisphere residents, now that we've passed the solstice, the daylight lasts longer each day. Happy New Year!

November Harvest

This fall is unusually warm.  People have told me they're still harvesting greens, such as chard. In my garden, I have bok choi, which I'll harvest today or tomorrow.  We're up for a few nights of freezes ahead, and while I could cover them, I've got a recipe I want to make. We've since eaten the chard and the lettuces. This year's main struggle in my garden was a slimy creature that I think I finally have under control.  I never understood why people complained about slugs so much until they ravenously consumed too many delicious items in my garden. Another struggle was the late start since we had been traveling at the beginning of the summer.  In some ways, it was great because the soil was warm and seeds sprung to life quickly and the tomatoes grew vigorously.  Yet my sweet peppers didn't turn red, partly because the only choice at the garden center was California Wonder, great for hot and sunny spots, not so great for my shady woods. Every growing season has its strengths and weaknesses, though overall this was a pretty glorious summer and fall.  After washing thoroughly (and rinsing again and maybe again--I hate slugs!), I'll enjoy these delicious homegrown greens...in November!