Off to Kew Gardens this morning.

Anybody got any trees, plants or flowers or stuff they want me to have a look at?

 

I love the approaches to Kew. If you get their via Kew Bridge, you've a great little place for a coffee and a spot of breakfast, next door is the Railway Tavern which is a really good real ale place (part of smoke brew co's estate).

But my favourite is the approach to the gate with the really big houses that face onto the cricket ground. Or, if you get there from Kew Station, the fullers pub there used to do some decent food, and you've a walk down a lovely street to the main entrance.

As for Kew itself, we loved to just wander. The lake should be lovely at this time of year if its sunny catching the light and reflecting the trees. Stand on the sackler crossing and just drink it all in.

Head up to the big chinese pagoda which got tarted up a few years ago and if you're lucky, it may be open to get some lovely views down the vistas.

The rose garden should be in full bloom behind the temperate house and just off to the right is a small glass house which used to have a chilli festival in, but should hopefully have at least some lovely water lillies in it.

I like walking the perimeter where you head through quite dense forest like areas and then loop to the river where you can look across to Syon park. And I'd hope the borders that head to the orangery are in decent bloom, as long as the extreme heat hasn't done for them.

But just have a good wander and enjoy. Kew is a fantastic place all year round.

 

Mrs Statis has just started as a Kew Volunteer so she's well happy. We're both members - at today's entry prices you have to be as a the entry for an adult is £21.45 which is a bit on the steep side I think. When I first came here it was 10p! My favourite bit is the Minke House, which I only discovered a few years ago.

 

Wouldn't mind a photo of an Amaryllis if poss, once managed to grow one a few years back.

 

I'll see what I can do Mr thetykester

 

don’t forget a damp plastic bag in your pocket in case any cuttings happen to ‘fall’ off

 

We are hoping to go on Thursday, I have never been before.

 

Have you ventured to their sister site at Wakehurst? You can really go off-piste there and tends to be less busy, not to mention the much reduced aircraft noise! Fabulous bluebells too in the woods, when the season is right.

 

Yes. Mrs Statis is a gardening enthusiast so I reckon we've done most if not all.

 

Please, please, please StatisTYKE - ask them when you’re there “is this the way to Amaryllis”

 

You'll like it. I would recommend bits but it's all good stuff you can't go wrong. Be warned though - the snap is fearsomely expensive.

 

OK. I'll try and follow up with 'how I long to be there with Marie who's waiting for me there.'

 

And when you get there the sun Shinedown’s on the blooming amaryllis

 

Hope you enjoy. So many varied areas to wander and you can spend so much time there. In the past we've often ventured out to Kingston on the bus which goes through Richmond and if you're on the top floor, you can nosey at some fabulous houses.

And like statis says, the food inside is really expensive (and though it may have changed in the many years since I last tried it, it wasn't that great). Some decent pubs near the kew bridge entrance I mentioned the Railway Tavern but there are a fair few down on the left and on the right a huge fullers (called one over the aight).

Let us know what you get up to and what you enjoy.

 

Entry prices for Kew Gardens are ridiculous these days. Used to pay 50p in the early eighties and at that price you could just drop in on a whim and enjoy it. 10p entry must date you to the late 70s Statis

 

Thank you DWL,really looking forward to it.

 

Thank you ST,we might buy anything we need before we enter. I hope you and your wife enjoy your membership and any volunteering you do. I volunteered at Wentworth Castle and Cannon hall gardens over 10 years ago, it was great fun working outside, even in winter.

 

If you could stare intensely at a Stiffcock for me, please. That or a Clitoria. Cheers.

 

Isn't everything burnt to a crisp? All we hear about on national TV is how dry it is in the south rast.

 

I've been around here since 1980. Was sure it was about 10p but could be wrong. Anyway quite a bit cheaper than today