Kew Gardens is a botanical garden in Kew, England. We made the long journey to visit these gardens last week. I was expecting something comparable to what I’ve seen in Fayetteville. I was excited for a relaxing walk through a row of some pretty flowers and bushes. My expectations were far exceeded.
I couldn’t have dreamed up something like Kew Gardens even if I tried. Never in my wildest imaginations could I have pictured something like what I found there. I should’ve worn my walking shoes. It was a particularly warmer day in England, the sun beating down. When we arrived, I saw the train that was meant to take you around the gardens to each spot. This was my first clue that this place might’ve been bigger than I expected. The gift shop alone was overwhelming, full of things I was already preparing to spend my money on the moment I saw it.
I started by wandering out and seeing what I found. I began in the Palm House. It was absolutely gorgeous; I’ve never seen anything more luscious and greener in my life. The whole glass house was filled to the brim with trees, flowers, and all kinds of different plants. They expanded across every inch of the ground floor and stretched up to the top of the building. You could climb the white iron stairs, a pleasant addition to the beauty of the room. The railings curved and twisted as I went up. The temperature was somewhere close to one hundred degrees in there to keep the plants in their natural habitat. After I reached the top I didn’t even notice.
Walking through the midst of the all the trees, surrounded on all sides by bright and vibrant greens was something like a movie. Then being on top, looking down over the forest felt like I was flying over some sort of paradise.
I was amazed at how much effort it must take to take care of the plants in this one building. My amazement would continue as I realized the gardens were even bigger than I thought. They stretched on for miles, with all kinds of different pathways, buildings, attractions and garden areas to see. I got to see the giant lily pads and the rose gardens. The Princess of Wales Conservatory was a gorgeous representation of all kinds of different places and climates. They had carnivorous plants and an “arid climate” section, along with waterfalls and rainforests and everything you could imagine! It was huge!
I did part of the woodland walkway and saw all kinds of different amazing trees. I found a tree with branches that stretched out way past its trunk, it is probably the biggest tree I’ve ever encountered. I climbed up in one of the branches and rested for a moment; it was one of the most peaceful and centering moments of the trip.
I saw the impressive sculpture of the Beehive, that allowed you to hear the sounds that Bees ‘dance to’ and communicate with while standing in a lit up and giant representation of one of their hives.
I was in a fantastically relaxed and peaceful headspace, very reflective and contemplative as I observed all the different kinds of plants. Some of them, I’d never even heard of before. I was amazed. My feet starting to grow weary, I kept walking. I walked until I felt like my legs were going to give out from underneath me, and then I walked some more. I walked until I felt like my body was begging for rest and kept walking. I walked until I physically couldn’t anymore and then I walked some more. I had to find the treetop walkway. It was a big walkway that brought you up to the tops of the trees and showed off the expansiveness of the gardens, the greens, and the city beyond. It was worth the walk and the climb up the stairs.
Finally, I had to give in. I had been walking for six hours and still didn’t get to see the entirety of the garden, but my body was begging me to stop. I found water and a snack and reflected on the beautiful journey I had just taken. When I return to England, this will be the first place I go.
Signing off from London,
Margaret
Theatre in London U of A 