Kew Gardens

Very lucky with weather today - a few drops of rain, but plenty of sunshine too. Five minute walk from Libby and Dan's took us to Kew Gardens. We made an entire circuit of the place ... it's huge. Waddled our barking dogs back to the flat for a chat, a nap, and a glass of wine before dinner of fantastic local Indian takeout.

I kept wanting to call this the Temperance Palace (plenty of Temperance Ladies in my genes – whoa! That doesn't sound right at all!) but it's really the Temperate (climate) palace or conservatory - closed for restoration.

Inside the transplanted traditional house - brought here from Japan and rebuilt as part of an effort to restore these typical houses that were everywhere until mid-20th century. They were built to withstand hurricanes and often lasted for generations. Thatched roof, supported by bamboo. huge roof beams and mud-wattle (?) walls.

This is where George III and Queen Charlottle (Victoria's grandmother) liked to stay in spring and summer, although there was another, larger place in the spot where I'm standing. The red-painted place is The Royal Palace, attended by liveried "servants." not sure if this is where the old boy went temporarily bonkers. 

One of dozens of sculptures in the gardens. An ongoing project with dozens more ready to be placed.

YAY PORK RINDS! My gluten free snack in the park café. Only 630 calories 

in a bag the size of my hand.

This tree has been struck twice by lightning, and once by a small airplane. Now it has its own lightning rod. They call it the "unluckiest" tree.

These giant pizza trays must be hand-pollinated by the staff, as the natural pollinators live in Bolivia.

"Maybe this quack thinks he's the director, but there's no way I'm gonna sit here and honk for him."

YAY EMILY!