Still More Gardens


Natural History Museum (Wildlife Garden)

I went to the Natural History museum to see a butterfly exhibit (which was nice) and was lucky enough to meet Roy Vickery, museum botanist who is an expert on folklore and native british plants used to treat illnesses.  He was giving a tour in the Wildlife Garden.  The Wildlife Garden is a part of the Natural History Museum and is used to teach the public about native plants.

One of the plants he talked about was Yarrow which was used to stop bloody noses.  One of my favorite stories was about a woman beating her husband with nettles to relieve his back pain.  Mr. Vickery wasn't sure if the nettles cured the man or he just didn't want to be hit with nettles anymore, but the story goes that he was up and working the farm again in no time.

This is a small but enjoyable garden.  I had visited it in 2007 in late fall and enjoyed seeing it during the summer while visiting this trip. 

Chelsea Physic Gardens

Of all the gardens I visited while in London this was the one that I felt I learned  the most from.  They have many separate beds of various plant families.  Although I found it to be very lovely, it is not traditional "border" type gardens.   I found insect eating plants thriving in a small greenhouse.  I was fascinated by these plants.  The variety of plants in this garden is amazing.  From woodland, to sunny, from minatures, to bog there are great things to see!

I had an enjoyable (although not cheap) cheese platter for lunch at the small "cafe" located on the grounds.  I'd love to go back and spend more time wandering the grounds at this garden.  The gift shop is small but very nice - particularly if you live in England and can take advantage of some the the great plants they sell.

Rooftop

This rooftop garden was a treasure in the middle of London.  I would never have found it if my husband hadn't gotten me the "1001 Gardens to see before you Die" book which had it listed.  I never saw it listed anywhere else.  Overhearing some engineers talking I found out that the rooftop garden was in the original plans of the building so it was built to hold large full grown trees from day one.  

I was not only impressed with the flamingos, the stone bridge, the small stream and the apple tree, I was also impressed that it was done tastefully.  There were several "rooms" where you might see ducks, fountains, a clay tiled roof with sedums growing in the places where the tiles had broken or lovely "windows" looking over the city. I was taking pictures of the broken tile roof when a gentleman walked in front of me.  I made a comment on what a brilliant (brilliant is used a lot in England) idea it had been and the gentleman very seriously turned to me and said "thank you, I'm not done yet."  I was completely delighted by this garden and would highly recommend if you're in London to make the time to visit.

The John Madejski Garden

Located at the Victoria and Albert Museum this was my least favorite garden I visited.  It was opened by HRH the Prince of Wales in July of 2005.  Why this garden is listed in the "1001 Gardens to See before you Die" book is beyond me.  There were some of the loveliest hydrangeas I had ever seen, but other than that I was unimpressed. The plastic green sunscreens (I think they're meant to be sunscreens) are quite ugly.  The fountain was unremarkable.  The food I got on the terrace was bland and unexciting.  On the positive side, the museum is nice - but small.  If you are going to the Natural History building anyway this museum is only a few minutes off the beaten track.  


More pictures of London's Gardens can be found in the gallery.



 © 2008 bettytruax.com |Templeplate design by: styleshout |