Boxing Day at Kew (outside)
By AndrewR
6 comments
If, like me, you need a garden visit ‘fix’ during the winter, then I hope you enjoy some photos from Kew Gardens. I went there on Boxing Day. It was cold and foggy, but dry, although there was some damage to some of the trees from the storm on Monday night. This blog covers some of the things we saw outside; a second blog will cover some of the plants under cover.
Let’s start with a picture of the palm house, with gunnera in the foreground
We soon came across some snowdrops. This is galanthus elwesii, growing on the rockery
I don’t think I’ve seen a variegated fern before, and I’m not sure whether I like it, or whether I think it looks ill – arachnoides simplicior ‘Variegata’
There were some very large clumps of liriope muscari still in flower – we still haven’t had a ground frost this winter down here
Despite this, the witch hazels were flowering. This one had good red flowers
But if you prefer the more usual yellow
We went to look at the Japanese gateway. The planting here looks good at all times of the year
The callicarpa had a good crop of berries
Finally, we went to look at the hollies. I liked the leaves on this one (sorry, I didn’t get the variety – I’ll have to go back and find the label!)
28 Dec, 2013
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Comments
Thanks Andrew, a quick fox is just what we all need, not sure about the fern, although we grew the multi coloured mauve ones which I love......I wish our Liriope would spread, it is so slow here, we have had a couple of ground frosts, despite being 5 mins from the sea....
Would love to create a Japanese area, now where could I put one?.........
28 Dec, 2013
A good trip for Boxing Day , Andrew .
Were there many there ?
28 Dec, 2013
Lovely pictures Andrew - thanks for taking the time to share with us. Will be looking forward to part 2.
Now that variegated fern - I did have it but don't remember seeing it this last year. The variegation on mine was a bit more creamy if I remember correctly!
28 Dec, 2013
Driad - there were a reasonable number, but as Kew is so large, it wasn't crowded. In fact, you could walk for several minutes without seeing another person in the areas further from the entrances. There were more in the Conservatory and Palm House though, keeping warm (the Temperate House is closed for repairs at present)
28 Dec, 2013
A precious place , isn't it ,Andrew ?
29 Dec, 2013
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Snowdrops, how lovely, I always get excited when I see them in flower, to me they signify the start of a new year in the gardens, these ones are taking the old year out.
Great way to enjoy Boxing Day, wish I lived nearer I'd love to see Kew in the winter. Thankyou Andrew, looking forward to seeing more.....
28 Dec, 2013