I've read and heard about the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, since my first botany class so I wanted to give Penny the day off and take charge of the blog. This is the Victoria Gate. The sign to the left indicates that this year is Kew's 250th anniversary.
One of the first things that strikes you when you walk through the gate is the international flavor of this place. Here you see a pagoda marking the entrance to the Japanese pavilion in the background. In the foreground is a branch of a Cedar of Lebanon, native to Lebanon, Turkey, and Syria.
This is an English Oak, one of the things that made the British Empire an international power. They were selected, pruned, and cultured to make the strong beams and ribs of English sailing ships.
Another thing that is clear is the history. This is the temperate glasshouse. It was constructed between 1864 and 1869.
It has nothing on the palm house shown here. It was designed and constructed between 1844 and 1846. And I thought I had to work in an old greenhouse when I was a graduate student at Purdue.
Through their collections, you can envision yourself anywhere in the world. Here you're in the tree fern forest of Australia.
Now you're in a tropical rain forest. I've never seen so many different types of cycads in one place.
A few more steps and you're in the Sonoran Desert. Note the small saguaro to the left. There is a prickly pear in bloom in the rear.
There were many gardens with different themes. This one was beside a small lake.
This is the Duke's Garden. It makes fabulous use of rocks and water. In the background is a laboratory building. One of the Kew's Missions is to preserve 25% of the botanical gene pool by 2020.
Here is the Queen's Garden. The white breaks in the hedge you see in the background are statues.
Even things that are out of place are beautiful. This little poppy has bravely fought its way through a lilac bed.
This is Kew Palace with the Queen's Garden in the foreground. It was a residence of George III, King during the American Revolution.
One of the most outstanding things about Kew Gardens is their emphasis on education. That is the education building in the background.
Another educational piece is this fabulous tree top walk. It has several educational plaques and gives visitors a view of the upper canopy of many of the large old trees here.
This is the Evolution House. It takes you on a trip back through time as illustrated by the evolving flora. In the forground are mosses and liverworts, giving way to ferns, cycads, and increasingly advanced plants. I've never seen evolution illustrated so well using the plant kingdom.
I've read and heard about the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, since my first botany class so I wanted to give Penny the day off and take charge of the blog. This is the Victoria Gate. The sign to the left indicates that this year is Kew's 250th anniversary.
One of the first things that strikes you when you walk through the gate is the international flavor of this place. Here you see a pagoda marking the entrance to the Japanese pavilion in the background. In the foreground is a branch of a Cedar of Lebanon, native to Lebanon, Turkey, and Syria.
This is an English Oak, one of the things that made the British Empire an international power. They were selected, pruned, and cultured to make the strong beams and ribs of English sailing ships. 
Another thing that is clear is the history. This is the temperate glasshouse. It was constructed between 1864 and 1869.
It has nothing on the palm house shown here. It was designed and constructed between 1844 and 1846. And I thought I had to work in an old greenhouse when I was a graduate student at Purdue.
Through their collections, you can envision yourself anywhere in the world. Here you're in the tree fern forest of Australia.
Now you're in a tropical rain forest. I've never seen so many different types of cycads in one place.
A few more steps and you're in the Sonoran Desert. Note the small saguaro to the left. There is a prickly pear in bloom in the rear.
This is the Duke's Garden. It makes fabulous use of rocks and water. In the background is a laboratory building. One of the Kew's Missions is to preserve 25% of the botanical gene pool by 2020.
Here is the Queen's Garden. The white breaks in the hedge you see in the background are statues.
Even things that are out of place are beautiful. This little poppy has bravely fought its way through a lilac bed.
This is Kew Palace with the Queen's Garden in the foreground. It was a residence of George III, King during the American Revolution.
One of the most outstanding things about Kew Gardens is their emphasis on education. That is the education building in the background.
Another educational piece is this fabulous tree top walk. It has several educational plaques and gives visitors a view of the upper canopy of many of the large old trees here. 
This is the Evolution House. It takes you on a trip back through time as illustrated by the evolving flora. In the forground are mosses and liverworts, giving way to ferns, cycads, and increasingly advanced plants. I've never seen evolution illustrated so well using the plant kingdom.
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