Kew Gardens - Royal Botanic Gardens

The Azaleas Garden of Kew is one of the most varied in all the UK, and is the pride and joy of the gardeners who care for it. The problem is that we arrived a little early in the season and azaleas usually bloom closer to May or June. In addition, there had been a pretty cold winter which is why we were so eager to get out! We could see hybrid breeds that Lionel de Rothschild brought to England in 1922, many varieties of which died from lack of care during the second World War. Some can still be seen however in Exbury Gardens in addition to a collection of rhododendrons and azaleas. They are wide flowering plants in a variety of colors, from red and orange to pink or white, and they last a month.

The Royal Botanic Gardens is in a nice corner of London, perhaps less visited than many of the more famous attractions, but still worth a visit. The gardens were opened in the mid-eighteenth century, with species from around the world planted by the explorer Joseph Banks on land donated by the crown. Today it is a center of world-renowned botanical research, with a famous collection of orchids. It's beautiful, with huge trees and plants of all kinds, plus a few guinea fowl, ducks, etc. What I liked best were the greenhouses, glass and steel nineteenth century structures with the romantic aura of that period, full of jungle vegetation.

Kew Gardens is a stunning green area in the village of Richmond, on the outskirts of London. The best time to visit is sometime in spring or early summer when all gardens are full of flowers. Thanks to the huge greenhouses on the premises, there are always lots of tropical plants to admire. Within this large space, there are all kinds of species and types of gardens, and an "orangery" bar, a place where it is a real treat to have tea and biscuits. If you are the heights, do not miss the amazing walkway that they have mounted. From this area, you can get an amazing view of the forest, and virtually all Kew.

I enjoyed all sorts of botanics that I haven't seen before. Tree top walking was also very intriguing.