Chelsea Physic Garden

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My Dear husband organised an absolutely brilliant day out in London on Thursday as a little extra birthday treat! Not so little in fact as we bought each other presents (jeans, cd’s and a trip to Jo Malone (Yay!) AND a pretty dress!! We had sushi lunch and my little surprise was a trip to The Chelsea Physic Gardens which was founded in 1673. Many of the plants were brought to England from Asia and the Caribbean and thrive in the eco climate of the walled garden.

Chelsea was an interesting place, not only for the 60’s revolution of free love and colourful folk parading along the Kings Road but from the 1600’s when Royalty and those with their backing brought to Chelsea the first Tulip bulbs, more valuable than gold in those days!! Gardens sprung up along the banks of the Thames with Lavenders and herbs for the kitchen and apothecaries.

I took lots of photos but few were really interesting to include but here are a few of the better pics! I just loved this Monkey Puzzle tree, not a favourite usually but this was a fine specimen and was interesting to look at it close up.

Such a terrifying trunk don’t you think! Also the Colletia Paradoxa and Infausta were pretty scary. Someone asked if there was a sharp plant and this latter one is certainly it!!! Razor sharp!

There were some fascinating trees, this Paperback Maple for instance and a bit of meadow flowers by the pond. I keep meaning to de fertilize an area of grass and sow wildflowers but I know the dogs would dig it, play in it and flatten it!! Maybe some Colletia around the edge of the meadow would do the trick (I think not!)

The fruits on the next tree are from the Cornus Xanthocarpe. The tree looked seriously old but the light wasn’t good for a whole tree photo so I only took one of the fruit.

The veg stall was impressive too… yum yum yam!
And the Hibiscus flowers were bigger than my hand!

The next pic is of a white flower but couldn’t find a name for it, does anyone know? Looks like an eryngium, took alot of pics of those!!

I just love that white Eryngium Pandorifolium!!

What a brilliant day out, to be topped off by my favourite cocktails in the evening a couple of Negronis!!!!!!

• 31 Jul, 2010
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