You're right! We've just returned from a whirlwind week-long trip to London...
Besides visiting the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, the Garden Museum and the Chelsea Physic Garden I also visited the lush exotic garden of Mark and Gaz, of Alternative Eden blog fame. And yes their garden is even more amazing than you imagine, plus they are two of the nicest guys you'll ever meet and extremely plant knowledgeable (I swear Mark is a walking botanical Latin dictionary).
Plenty of pictures will follow over the next few weeks, in the mean time of got a case of jet-lag to work through and a garden to water (our dry weather continues here in Portland, but the Brits kindly lived up to their rainy reputation while we were there). Special thanks to Mark and Gaz for being such wonderful garden hosts and helping us plan our trip, as well as Linda (from whatsitgarden), and her husband Phillip, for pre-trip London advice. If you've been thinking about a trip to London I say, GO! It's a wonderful place to visit...
Oh, Loree, I am so, so jealous! What a sweet trip! Looking forward to your pictures. (Also, re: your mention of our weather, yeah, it is continuing dry here too, and it is starting to worry me.)
ReplyDeleteHave you been Alison? I'm thinking that you have...
Delete(don't worry...the rain won't stay away forever)
Yeah!!! Welcome home! I can't wait to see more of your photos post-jet-lag!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the recommendation of the Chelsea Physic garden...it was amazing! I wish I would have had a lot more than the hour and half I had before they closed.
Deletecool...cant wait for the garden shots
ReplyDeleteMe too! Going through the photos is a wonderful way to relive the vacation.
DeleteSo glad you're back and I cannot wait to hear all about it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ann!
DeleteHow very kool! I'm thrilled you've visited Kew and can't wait for the pics! Welcome back to the summer than never ends...
ReplyDeleteYes! You know I was relieved to return to sunshine! The Kew is going to take a few posts to work through I think...
Deletethat is very exciting! london is one of my favourite places! I can't wait to see all your pictures
ReplyDeleteI can understand why it is a favorite, such a great city and so easy to get around in! Of course I thought of you with every monster Cordyline I saw...
DeleteHooray for a great trip, fun memories, and interesting posts to come! Welcome home!
ReplyDeleteThank you Mr Outlaw...next trip north! To pick up those agaves you've got for me!
DeleteCan't wait for all your posts and photos. I'm so happy you got to met Mark and Gaz. I hope they'll make it across the big pond someday soon :-).
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like they will...I only hope the US can live up to their expectations.
DeleteI was in London this time last year. It was over 30C! In fact a year ago today we visited Sissinghurst and Knole.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a great time.
WOW! It wasn't that hot for us...mid 60's I think, which was perfect. I wish I could have visited some of the big famous English gardens outside London...I guess I'll just have to go back!
DeleteYou should have taken a wee trip up to Scotland as well Loree!
ReplyDeleteHa, ha!
Kew is a wonderful place. I went there in mid-winter and there was still loads to see in the glasshouses.
You know I wanted to! That would have been wonderful.
DeleteAgreed about Kew, in fact we spend most of the day in the glass houses.
Hi Loree, it was great to meet you and we both had a lovely time spent in your company. It was a pleasure to show you around the garden, we're both still grinning from ear to ear at the wonderful experience :)
ReplyDeleteI can imagine just how many photos you'll have to sort out! And yes, we'll definitely make it across the big pond someday soon, very soon!
1420 photos total, I get a bit carried away as you probably noted in your garden. Ah well...better to take too many than not enough right?
DeleteI'm still remembering things about your garden, or our conversation that have me smiling. Can't wait for you guys to visit here...I want to repay your kindness and show you around my part of the world!
Indeed, better to take too many than too little. Although it can get a bit daunting at times when you actually get the chance to sit down and sort photos out. We went to Wisley last Saturday (having some time off from the pond build) and took over 500 photos. And I'm sorting it out now. I need some chocolate...
DeleteWe are seriously thinking of visiting, if not 2013 then definitely 2014. We'll take you up on your offer, would love to see your garden! :)
Oh man! Wisley was one of the places I would have really enjoyed getting to!!! I look forward to your post.
DeleteOh wow, that sounds like a wonderful trip! Look forward to your posts.
ReplyDeleteGardens were not high on my list during our traveling days, so I'd love to return to many places again.
I know what you mean! If I had our Italy trip to do all over again it would have been very different.
DeleteThat is really cool. It looks like a Dr. Who special mixed in with Peter Pan fun. How wonderful that you were able to meet up with those two birds:) They seem like they'd be fun to hang out with.
ReplyDeleteAnd they are!
DeleteHow wonderful that you got to visit a private garden as well as the other public ones. Look forwards to reading more about your visits.
ReplyDeleteFor sure Jenny, it made the trip oh so much more special. I only wish I could have visited some of the big English gardens outside the city of London. I guess I'll just have to go back!
DeleteI almost wish I was still living there, so we could meet up , and I'd take you around my favorite places. Philip wants to know if you tried the warm beer?
ReplyDeleteLet's go!
DeleteI didn't. I only had beer at Wagamama with lunch one day and it was cold. In fact now that I think about it Andrew had beer with dinner a few times and I don't think he ever mentioned it being warm. Maybe they just keep a stash chilled for foreigners?
I didn't make it to the Columbia Road Flower Market...unfortunately. It was a mad crazy rainy day on Sunday and I just wasn't up for that much outdoor time.
So jealous...there are so many amazing gardens to visit in England...sigh :-)
ReplyDeleteThere are...and I still need to see them all! That's the problem with saying in London for the week, I missed so much! Next time...
DeleteWowzer!!!! lucky, lucky you!I haven't been to Kew since 1992... Looks like a fabu-fabu trip. green with envy here
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of green...it was SO GREEN there! Portland is looking mighty crispy by comparison!
DeleteWow-what fun! And more blogs to check out. I look forward to the upcoming travel series!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to do my best to get to a posting about this vacation sooner rather than later!
DeleteNext time, you should come to France !!
ReplyDeleteI would love to!
Delete