I can still remember my first trip to Kew, aged 6 or so, although all I recall is the giant pagoda and me thinking it was really big (it still is). This time, however, things have changed a bit, although I am still a big kid and couldn't wait to have a go on the Rhizotron treetop walkway. As soon as I got up there, however, I'm afraid I went round pretty fast, as the walkway has an unnerving habit of moving in strong winds, of which there were no shortage today. Clinging on to the barriers, I peered over the side a few times but after a minor freakout I decided it was time to wander back down. I felt pretty proud of myself, especially as a few folks obviously got halfway up and then froze with fear. It was well worth the view, though I should think it's even better when the surrounding trees are in leaf.
We were disappointed by the waterlily lake (no waterlilies, obv the wrong time of year) and so headed over the lake via the Sackler bridge. I was quizzed on various horticultural things and managed to give some convincing (yet likely bobbins) answers, but was stumped (pardon the awful pun) when Daniel and Justin asked what level of classification a tree is in. They seemed to be under the impression that trees were a higher order, whereas I was trying to explain that a single genus could have trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants in it - trees are not an order in themselves. I wasn't very convinced by my answer, and nor were they.
After a spot of lunch (cake) we went round the glasshouses (brilliant) and the alpine house (brilliant) before a final trip to the waterlily house (again, no waterlilies) and the evolution house (not impressed). The alpine house was particularly great, with many things in full flower and beautifully displayed in pots and among rocks. In the Princess of Wales glasshouse the orchid displays were at maximum impact, and Charlie was amazed by the enormous catfish in the ponds.
On Monday I decided to have a wander round the Barbican, simply because it's one of my favourite places in London, on the off-chance that the conservatory was open. My luck was in, and after an aborted attempt to see the zebra finches playing guitar at the Curve Gallery (queue massive and static) I went up to the top floor and into this little bit of eden among the skyscrapers.
The conservatory is maintained by just two or three staff, but it's a big area with lots of tropical and sub-tropical plants crammed in according to their country of origin. They'd obviously just been watering, and as the sun was out it was hot and steamy. I have to assume that very few people know about this little oasis, as even on a bank holiday Monday it was almost empty - all the better to linger and enjoy the plants. On the upper level there is a dry room for cacti and succulents and orchids, again stuffed with as many plants as there is space for. I had to negotiate giant money trees, hanging baskets of Sedum morganianum and orchids in full flower to see everything on display, but it's well worth a visit. Sadly the photo on the left (taken with my rubbish phone camera) doesn't do it even anything approaching the justice it deserves!Back outside the Barbican, I had a wander round the highwalks looking out over the gardens. It's all still fairly wintry, with little going on in residents' window boxes - those unfamiliar with the estate would have no idea that it's like the hanging gardens of Babylon in July. I then headed down to my old stamping ground around St Paul's, before passing by the Inner Temple gardens to see if they were open. Sadly they weren't, but I still managed a look through the gate before having a quick scoot around the Middle Temple and the lovely garden square there.
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