A few years ago, Mrs. Moore and I drove to EXBURY GARDENS to see the spring AZALEAS AND RHODODENDRONS.  It was spectacular.  It is an easy ride from London to Exbury Gardens and house, near Southampton.  The Rothschilds have created a garden of great beauty and variety.  For those who are garden loves, Exbury Gardens is the ideal day-out-of-London experience,  Spectacular.

Thomas Moore   email:  TMooreSr@me.com    Telephone:  801.791.9918

http://www.londonconnection.com

Mrs. Moore and I were delighted we had time to take our friend June Gibson to KEW to enjoy the world’s finest collection of plants.  She and her daughter Lisa are gardeners who appreciate plants of all kinds and keep bees to guarantee that the plant cycle continues.  I watched June’s face as she walked into the great glass houses where the most fabulous palms and tropical plants from around the world are kept and studied.  These enormous Victorian glass houses must have been overwhelming to the Victorians who had not seen such a variety of tropical plants.  Kew has a fantastic history of trees and plants dating back to Augusta, Princess of Wales in the mid-18th century.  Specimen were brought back to England from the other side of the world to be studied and added to Victorian gardens.  The history and success of Kew Gardens has come from all parts of the world as gardeners arrive to admire and study this vast collection of rare plants.  In the gardens, I enjoy Chambers’ PAGODA which was made as a birthday present to Augusta Princess of Wales mid 18th century.  It is sad to see the Pagoda in its poor state of preservation today.  There must be efforts to save this highly important folly so loved  by those with a taste for “chinoiserie.”  The beehives are full of honey, and the bees are all throughout the gardens.  Wonderful!   It was a gorgeous fall day with bright blue skies and puffy clouds and the long shadows of fall.  Oh my goodness, we are having so much fun, and I love to share my photos.  Enjoy.

Queen Charlotte’s Cottage

Thomas Moore   email:  TMooreSr@me.com    Telephone:  801.791.9918

http://www.londonconnection.com

This exquisite “ESPALIER” garden is so beautiful.  I enjoy it every day as I drive past.  I wanted to share these images with you.  The art of “espalier” is an ancient art of training wooded plants like pear and apple trees.  King Louis XIV covered his garden walls at the Chateau of Versailles, and the technique spread throughout Europe and North America.   The garden has a very English feeling.  Enjoy.

Thomas Moore   email:  TMooreSr@me.com    Telephone:  801.791.9918

http://www.londonconnection.com

The Chelsea Physic Garden is a fascinating place to visit, even if you are not an avid gardener.  If you ARE an avid garden, this visit is A MUST!  The garden has a long history, and the guides at the facility will tell all.  Find Swan Walk on the river near the Chelsea Bridge which passes between delightful old houses and this exquisite Garden.  Chelsea Physic Garden is the second oldest botanic garden in England, after that at Oxford.  The physic Garden was first planted in 1673 as a nursery for trainee apothecaries, close to the warm microclimate of the river.  In the middle of the garden stands a statue of Sir Hans Sloane who gave the land to the Society of Apothecaries on condition they maintained the garden and every year sent seeds or dried pants to the Royal Society.  In 1732 cotton seed from the garden was sent to James Oglethorpe in Georgia who used it to establish the American cotton industry.  England’s earliest ROCK GARDEN is here, made up of old building stone from the Tower of London and lava brought back from Iceland by Sir Joseph Banks.  The first CEDAR TREES in England were grown in the garden, and in 1681 England’s first greenhouse and stove were built here.  Another feature is a 30 ft high olive tree, the biggest olive tree in Britain.  I believe Tobacco, the potato, and tomatoes have a history with this important garden.  This area along the Embankment, along Swan Walk, is one of the most beautiful walks in London.  Our home is in Holbein Mews, and I find myself in this beautiful area and the area around the Chelsea Hospital early each morning   Wonderful.  Let me share some photos, hopefully to entice you to come visit.

Thomas Moore   email:  TMooreSr@me.com    Telephone:  801.791.9918

http://www.londonconnection.com