The Mediterranean Garden at Kew Gardens

The Mediterranean Garden at Kew Gardens July 2009

Cistus in the Mediterranean Garden at Kew Gardens July 2009

Fremontodendron in the Mediterranean Garden at Kew Gardens July 2009

Genista in the Mediterranean Garden at Kew Gardens July 2009

Phlomis in the Mediterranean Garden at Kew Gardens July 2009

King William's Temple in the Mediterranean Garden at Kew Gardens July 2009

The Mediterranean Garden was definitely the high point of my visit to Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew in London in July of 2009.  It is truly a stunning garden.  The placement of the garden around, but mostly in front of King William's Temple, is superb.  The planting greatly enhances the structure.  It appears to be an abandoned edifice of ancient Rome in the midst of a Mediterranean wilderness.  The architecture of the portico is of the Tuscan Order, a simplified version of the Doric Order, columns with base, unfluted shaft & simply molded capital, plain entablature.  It was built in 1837.

The planting design is quite informal.  While there are many plants native to the Mediterranean Basin, contrary to the information at the Kew Gardens website, it does not 'depict a typical Mediterranean natural habitat.'  There are many plants here that are native to the Americas, including Fremontodendron californicum (California Flannel Bush) New World fan palms & Yucca.  But this mixture is common in Mediterranean gardens around the world.  Agave is often seen in Italian gardens.  For more information on Mediterranean plants, read The Mediterranean Garden. 

'Kew’s aim in creating the feature was to highlight the economic uses of many endemic Mediterranean plants, the diversity of life the habitat supports and the conservation efforts needed to ensure its survival. Stone pines (Pinus pinea) Tuscan olive trees (Olea europaea) and the green spires of Italian cypress (Cypress sempervirens) grow above shrubs such as Cistus and lavender (Lavandula lanata). Information boards explain the uses of some of the most economically important plants,' from the Kew Gardens website.

Regent's Park: St Andrew's Gate

Regent's Park: St Andrew's Gate August 2009

Regent's Park: St Andrew's Gate August 2009

Regent's Park: St Andrew's Gate August 2009
 

Regent's Park: St Andrew's Gate August 2009

Regent's Park: St Andrew's Gate August 2009

Regent's Park: St Andrew's Gate August 2009

Regent's Park: St Andrew's Gate August 2009

I returned to London from Cape Town on August 3, 2009. On the following day, I visited Regent's Park. Because the climate of southern England is similar to Seattle, Portland OR or Vancouver BC, the plants in this garden appeared much as they would in the Pacific Northwest in August.  From my journal: I walked to Regent's Park, then through the lavish gardens there.  It rained a bit, but I had my umbrella with me.  I continued along Regent's Canal Tow Path to Camden Locks, Camden Lock Market & Camden Stables Market in Camden Town.  There were hundreds of tiny shops & restaurants.  I had lunch after being offered dozens of samples.  The whole thing was really quite tacky, also fascinating & immense.  I walked back on Camden High Street.  It was very cloudy, rained very lightly & occasionally.  I was out for 4 hours, from 8 until 12.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Sissinghurst Castle July 2009 

Mixed Border Sissinghurst Castle Garden July 2009 

 

Lower Courtyard Sissinghurst Castle Garden July 2009

Hop Barns Sissinghurst Castle July 2009

White Garden Sissinghurst Castle Garden July 2009

I visited Sissinghurst Castle Garden on July 4, 2009. Because the climate of southern England is similar to Seattle, Portland OR or Vancouver BC, the plants in this garden appeared much as they would in the Pacific Northwest in July.  From my journal: Colin had said he would have me back to London by noon.  But when we reached the carpark at Wisley Garden, he suggested we go on to Sissinghurst.  It was a long drive to Sissinghurst, near the English Channel, not far from Hastings.  I slept for awhile.  I awoke to lovely country near Hastings.  The Sissinghurst Castle Garden was wonderful.  There was a very charming old manor house, a tower remaining from the castle, cottages & an Elizabethan barn.  The garden contained a rose garden with much more than roses, a cottage garden, an herb garden, 2 courtyards with borders & a white garden.  There was also an orchard, a nuttery & part of a moat.  I enjoyed it thoroughly, was not sorry to be away from London for the day.

Wisley Garden

Glasshouse Border Wisley Garden July 2009

Trough Gardens Wisley Garden July 2009

Helenium autumnale & Veronica spicata Wild Garden Wisley Garden July 2009

Kniphofia caulescens Trials Field Wisley Garden July 2009

Long Border Wisley Garden July 2009

I visited Wisley Garden on July 4, 2009. Because the climate of southern England is similar to Seattle, Portland OR or Vancouver BC, the plants in this garden appeared much as they would in the Pacific Northwest in July.  From my journal: I met Colin at Victoria Station at 17:30.  The train ride to Bromley was only 20 minutes.  We walked from Bromley Station to the house, a small 1890 duplex.  I had dinner there with Colin & Owen.  We sat in the parlor afterward & talked.  I heard several stories about men they had met online.  I wondered what my story would be.  I slept in their guest bedroom, which was much more comfortable than my hotel.  In the morning, Colin took me to Wisley Garden in his red Cooper Mini.  The garden was vast, excellent, amazing.  There was a very long border, trials field, model gardens similar to those at Strybing Arboretum in San Francisco, alpine display houses, trough gardens, a wild garden with prairie flowers from North America, borders along the Glasshouse & a lovely old manor house.  I thought Wisley Garden was one of the finest public gardens I had ever seen.

Chelsea Physic Garden

Chelsea Physic Garden July 2009

Mimulus Chelsea Physic Garden July 2009

 Sir Hans Sloane Chelsea Physic Garden July 2009

Romneya coulteri Chelsea Physic Garden July 2009

 

Thymus serpyllum Chelsea Physic Garden July 2009

I visited the Chelsea Physic Garden on July 2, 2009.  Because the climate of southern England is similar to Seattle, Portland OR or Vancouver BC, the plants in this garden appeared much as they would in the Pacific Northwest in July.  From my journal: I had breakfast at the hotel with a very friendly Kentuckian.  I took the tube to Sloane Square.  It reminded me of New York City.  I walked to the Chelsea Physic Garden.  It didn’t open until noon, 2 hours later.  I walked on the Chelsea Embankment along the Thames River to Pimlico Garden.  I took the tube back to the hotel.  I had a lousy lunch of ho fun at a Chinese restaurant.  In Seattle that is called chow fun.  I wanted to ask the waitress about that.  But I overheard another customer ask her what came with the lunch special.  ‘Day of soup,’ she said.  I got it, but the guy was completely mystified.  I thought I would pass on my ho fun question. I went back to the Chelsea Physic Garden.  It was very hot by that time 33C/91F.  The tube was sweltering.  I had to change trains twice.  There were endless corridors & stairs.  It was hard to remember to keep to the left.  But I enjoyed the Chelsea Physic Garden very much.  Even though the plants were arranged in double rows in long rectangular beds, rather like books on a shelf, it was quite charming.  There was a lovely rectangular pool.  Children were sprawled beside it dipping nets into the water.  There were glasshouses & a few naturalistic planting beds.  The garden was established in 1673, not opened to the public until 1983.