Today, I cheated... Not through choice but through some kind of happening that effectively cancelled several services on the London Overground. I was going to use the Overground to get home from Kew Gardens, so thus fulfilling my intention of using the line to justify the project. But let's face it, the L.O.P. is actually more about discovering London and its environs plus I did get to visit Kew Gardens' Overground station (the same as the Underground station). The Overground platform is also the platform for the District Line.
Enough with the dull as dishwater explanation and on with the nice empowering embrace of Nature...
I attended Kew Gardens at just after 9.30 am. I anticipated that my visit there would be quite long and the weather being remarkably hot, I decided that by arriving early, my exit could be achieved before the joys of char grilled Barry (it's currently 4.41 pm and my skin is feeling tight and hot but not burnt).
My first impression of Kew Gardens concerned its size. Upon entering, I was given a map which I consulted then put in my pocket for awhile. It's always best to explore then consult the map when the paths least travelled fail to manifest themselves or alternatively, you get lost walking round and round seeking the Bonsais (yes, I did!)
The first thing that really grabbed my attention other than the toilets but that's a given, (Unusually, these toilets had a glass ceiling, so birds, insects and other animals could watch whilst you peed. An image that is oddly comforting until you realise that birds see colours different to us, so parts of the human anatomy probably look really weird to them), was the Temple of Arethusa with a plaque that had been constructed to commemorate those members of staff who had died in the two World Wars.
The Temple of Arethusa. Peaceful and oddly invisible.
The Temple of Arethusa was near to Kew Garden's entrance and one of the shopping areas, so it sadly seemed a hidden treasure overlooked by the many visitors eager to stock up on Kew merchandise.
My walk around was initially aimless. My only vague goal was at some point to see Kew Palace. Let's get that out of the way now, although it took me awhile to find it. I was quite underwhelmed with Kew Palace. In comparison with Hampton Court, it lacks something. A certain sense of majesty and splendour. It's actually quite understated and pales into insignificance when compared with the Gardens.
Kew Palace. Oddly obsolete. History relegated to a minor background detail.
The interior of Kew Palace is occupied by attendants dressed in period dress, either looking very happy to see you or feeling ridiculous and counting the hours until lunch. It's peculiar how little of the interior of the Palace I recall. I do remember the quotes scattered around indicating that this lifeless shell was once a place of life. Bed chambers merely hinting at bodily exertions and the exchange of fluids. The portraits on the wall depicted wealthy individuals with bushy eyebrows and beards. Both symbolising overbearing masculinity in men and women.
Back to my wanderings outside... At the moment, Kew Gardens has quite an interesting program of events and novelties under the innovative title of 'INCREDIBLES' (Split the word in two and you get the idea, the focus is on edible plants etc. One of the first sights that caught my eye was a table lined up with plates. It felt like something out of a novel.
The table that reminds us of our eating habits.
The answer to the riddle posed below.
The riddle. Clue... It's yellow and you wouldn't want to rub it on your chest.
All of the plates had these little riddles on them relating to edible plants and foods/sauces relating to said plants. I spent at least, thirty seconds pondering the riddles then experiencing the sensation of the sun's rays, I quickly disappeared into one of the many green houses that are scattered around Kew Gardens.
One of the many wonderful devices seeking to help to create a love of horticulture in children is this giant ruler, demonstrating the growth rate of the Giant Bamboo. One point I must emphasise is how hot the greenhouses were. Some of them also had the addition of sprinkler systems, so not only did you boil alive under glass but you were also sprinkled with hot water. A small price to pay when you are appreciating the beauty of Nature.
Throughout the Gardens, I was mesmerised by the vast array of flowers, insects, animals, fish and birds I encountered. I took over three hundred photos (I know but I like flowers etc), so here's a small assortment of them for your pleasure and delectation.
Lovely bird. A little peeved at the photographer.
Purple flower.
Sunflower.
So Koi!
Bee.
New Romantic Squirrel.
Curious Jellyfish style flower.
The Peacock had a limp that generated a lot of conversation and I felt a great deal of sympathy for her/him as s/he hopped around avoiding the visitors.
To end this account, I will offer four more photos. One photo is of a Devilish figure that oversaw part of the Gardens, one is of the Gardens' statutory rights (including the fact that you can't use any of the plants etc in artistic works. So you can copyright Nature can you?) and also two photos pertaining to the London Overground and the fact that I actually nearly got to travel on the Overground from Kew Gardens' station... Today was a day of many highs. Kew Gardens is literally like the Garden of Eden without the pesky snakes. Nudity should be actively encouraged, although I am sure it is prohibited by the Regulations. Also without clothes, human beings look universally funny to birds.
Strange Devilish figure.
Statutory Regulations. The usual list of dos and don'ts. At best, leave the animals, birds etc alone. At worst, your photos potentially belong to us.
Well, I got there in the end. Another station to cross off the L.O.P.
Part of the route I would have taken. Promise! ;-)
Barry Watt - 13th July 2013.
Afterthought
As it is the summer, everything seems to have a sexual dimension to it. I offer one more flower as the final indication of how much a day out can corrupt me!
Provocative Nature.
BW
