During late winter I take myself off to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.
‘What?’ I hear the protests. ‘Stomping through 300 acres of bare trees, empty flowerbeds and mud with temperatures dipping the wrong side of double digits?’
Ah, but think of the sprinkling of purple crocuses amongst trampled grass and, further on, the daffodils.
These flowers herald that a new season is on its way, one that means colour and warmth and the hope that things are changing for the better. A few days ago I went along to see the garden’s annual orchid display. The display promised ‘a floral feast to seduce the senses.’ In many ways, it delivered.
The orchids were nothing short of stunning with their vibrant colours and intricately engineered petals. Even their scent was alluring: nothing too heady, just a gentle waft to keep tourists (and pollinators) interested.
Kew made the display intriguing, even sexy, by using spotlight ultraviolet lighting to reveal the orchids’ patterns and markings, used to attract insects and hence propagate themselves.
I wondered, however, if it wasn’t enough just to walk through the display and be awed by the variety and sophistication of the flowers? Having said that, I was fascinated to learn in a video presentation that there is an orchid that traps insects inside its flower, curling its petals around its prey, like a cage, until the plant is pollinated.
I looked for this orchid, touching the tip of my finger to the centre of each purple plant as illustrated in the video, without success. So, perhaps better signage wouldn’t have gone amiss?
The official orchid display runs from February to March every year, but if you’re quick you might still spot them in bloom at the Princess of Wales Conservatory. And there is plenty more to see during the transitional months: the desert and savannah plants, arboretum, the world’s oldest potted plant – a rather wonky palm – and the tree top trail 18 metres up (empty branches, but a great view).
The Alpine house is certainly a highlight with its crags and waterfalls; the mountain plants exhibit more determination than parents queuing for coffee in the café. And speaking of cafés, I was thrilled to find gluten- and dairy-free soup and cakes on offer, making Kew not only a feast for the eyes but my stomach as well.
Upcoming events at Kew include the International Garden Photographer of the Year Exhibition (now until 5 April) and ‘Shaun the Sheep’ will be visiting for the children during the Easter Holidays.
For more information, visit www.kew.org
A must see. Ticket information below. 