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Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
Here are a few of my favourite pictures of the pretty historic city of Rye including my little Miss Marshmallow Mouse enjoying her lovely afternoon tea of course :britflag: :Karim
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Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
Welcome to the pretty historic City of Rye part one ! Karim |
Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
Welcome to the pretty historic City of Rye part two ! Karim |
Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
Welcome to the enchanting Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew in Springtime Part One ! Good afternoon dear Friends, I hope that you are all very well. We visited the enchanting Kew Gardens in Spring on 10.03.26 :) A cute little Egyptian Goose spontaneously came to see me when I was focusing on taking pictures and very much seemed to say "Hello Stranger ! it's a lovely day at Kew Gardens today !" The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a world-renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site in southwest London, housing the largest and most diverse botanical collection on Earth. Spanning 330 acres, it is both a major visitor attraction and a leading global research centre for plant and fungal science. Princess Augusta, mother of King George III, founded in 1759 a small, nine-acre botanic garden on the grounds of her home at Kew. Management of the gardens was transferred from the Crown to the government, in 1840 establishing Kew as a national botanical garden. Sir William Hooker was appointed in 1841 as the first official director, leading a massive expansion of the grounds and scientific collections. The world-famous Palm House glasshouse was built in 1848 using revolutionary wrought iron techniques, setting a global standard for Victorian conservatory design. it is considered a masterpiece of 19th-century engineering and was the first greenhouse built on such a massive scale using structural wrought iron. Situated at the heart of the gardens near Victoria Gate. The most scenic approach is via the Broad Walk. Designed by Decimus Burton and Richard Turner, the structure uses shipbuilding techniques, giving it the appearance of an upturned ship's hull. The interior is kept at a minimum of 18°C (64°F) with humidity above 75% to support over 1,000 tropical plant species in the Rain Forest Experience. The Cherry Walk at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is one of the garden's most popular springtime attractions, featuring two parallel rows of Japanese cherry trees. It is located at the north end of the Temperate House, stretching toward the Palm House. Over 26,000 cultivated varieties of daffodils can be found throughout the gardens, notably along the Great Broad Walk Borders and near the Temple of Aeolus. The Temperate House at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is the world's largest surviving Victorian glasshouse. This Grade I listed landmark reopened in May 2018 following a massive five-year restoration that involved cleaning and repairing over 69,000 individual elements and replacing 15,000 panes of glass. The glasshouse acts as a "living classroom," housing 10,000 individual plants from 1,500 species across five continents. So without further do, I invite you to follow my visit of the enchanting Kew Gardens through a little musical video with the pictures I took on the day :thumbsup:: Wishing you all a lovely day ! Karim |
Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
Welcome to the enchanting Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew in Springtime Part Two ! Good afternoon dear Friends,We visited the enchanting Kew Gardens in Spring on 10.03.26 :) After a comforting cappuccino & cake at the Victoria Gate Cafe, I walked 5 hours non stop around the gardens trying to capture the spirit & magic of Spring at Kew Gardens. A cute little Squirrel spontaneously came to see me when I was focusing on taking pictures and very much seemed to say "Hello Stranger ! it's a lovely day at Kew Gardens today !" Kew Gardens features a dedicated Winter Garden that was newly extended in 2024 to provide a vibrant sensory escape during the colder months. The garden showcases sculptural silhouettes, such as the silver-white bark of Himalayan birches with the vibrant colours come from dogwood (fiery red stems) and orange or yellow witch hazel flowers. The Treetop Walkway is an 18-metre-high elevated path that offers a bird's-eye view of the garden's vast arboretum. Designed by the architects of the London Eye, the 200-metre-long structure allows you to walk through the canopy of ancient lime, sweet chestnut, and oak trees. Constructed from over 400 tonnes of weathered steel, the rusted columns are designed to blend into the surrounding forest. The view from the Treetop Walkway over the Temperate House is simply breathtaking. The Great Pagoda at Kew Gardens was completed in 1762 as a gift for Princess Augusta, the founder of the gardens. Designed by architect Sir William Chambers, it was inspired by East Asian architecture he studied while travelling with the Swedish East India Company, particularly the Porcelain Pagoda at Nanjing. Upon completion, the 163ft (50m) tall tower was a sensation. It featured 80 iridescent wooden dragons adorning its roofs and offered one of the first "bird’s eye" views of London. it was one of the most exotic structures in Europe at the time. The Japanese Landscape at Kew Gardens, London is a tranquil, designed area featuring a traditional strolling garden, a 16th-century style Japanese Gateway (Chokushi-Mon), and a Zen-style dry stone garden. Completed in 1996, it features carefully arranged trees and rocks to evoke a serene mountainous landscape. Chokushi-Mon (Japanese Gateway): A 4/5 scale replica of the 16th-century Karamon Gateway at Nishi Hongan-ji Temple in Kyoto, originally built for the 1910 Japan-British Exhibition. The Woodland Walk is a raised trail located within the Natural Area, a 37-acre untamed landscape donated by Queen Victoria. This trail allows you to explore the wilder side of the gardens without disturbing the delicate habitat. King William's Temple is a classical stone structure located at the heart of the Mediterranean Garden in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Built in 1837 for Queen Victoria, it was dedicated to the memory of her uncle, William IV, who had passed away before its completion. The temple is the centerpiece of a landscape designed to mimic a Mediterranean habitat, surrounded by Tuscan olive trees, stone pines, and lavender. The Orangery at Kew Gardens is a Grade I listed 18th-century building that currently serves as a self-service restaurant and premier events space. Designed by Sir William Chambers and completed in 1761, it is the largest classical-style building in the Royal Botanic Gardens. Kew Palace was built in 1631 for silk merchant Samuel Fortrey, the "Dutch House" was leased by the royal family in 1728. It became a beloved family home for George III and his 15 children but later served as a secluded refuge during the King’s publicised struggles with mental illness. After Queen Charlotte's death, the house was largely closed until Queen Victoria opened it to the public for her Diamond Jubilee in 1898. Needless to tell you how heavenly it felt to finally sit down on the terrace of the beautiful Orangery with a cappuccino & cream tea enjoying the last rays of sunshine of this enchanting day at Kew Gardens. So without further do, I invite you to follow my visit of the enchanting Kew Gardens through a little musical video with the pictures I took on the day :thumbsup:: Karim |
Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
Here are a few of my favourite pictures of the enchanting Kew Gardens including my little Miss Marshmallow Mouse of course :britflag::Karim
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Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
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Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
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Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
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Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
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Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
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Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
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Re: Postcards from England Chapter 3
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