Hailed as a "glasshouse of the twenty-first century the Davies Alpine House, was created to mimic the cool, dry, and windy conditions that alpine plants require to thrive. Structured as two back-to-back arches, the stack effect here draws warm air from the building. A concrete labyrinth cools and circulates air beneath the building's surface, while the building's low-iron glass exterior lets in 90% of the building's natural light. The Alpine House's flowers are grown in the Alpine Nursery and are only displayed when they are in full bloom. Numerous colourful and fragrant plants can be found in the glasshouse, such as bright purple campanulas, verbascums, thymes and flamboyant pink dianthus.
Natural Area is a peaceful, yet intriguing, destination for those looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience. A wilder landscape can be found on the border between Kew Gardens London and the Thames River. The Natural Area was given to Kew by Queen Victoria with the understanding that it would be preserved in its natural state. The Woodland Walk, a raised trail that travels through the Natural Area without disrupting the habitat, is immediately noticeable. Butterflies, dragonflies, and damselflies flit about in the tangle of tall grasses and wildflowers that line the path.
The Japanese Landscape is the perfect place to think and relax because it has a garden of peace, activity, and harmony all in one place. The main entrance leads to the Garden of Peace, which is a peaceful area that looks like a traditional Japanese tea garden. Here, paths go by stone lanterns and a water basin that drips water. In the Garden of Activity, a slope represents natural things like waterfalls, mountains, and the sea, while raked gravel and big rocks show how water flows and tumbles. Garden of Harmony unites the two environments. One being the mountains of Japan, are portrayed by rock outcrops and stones with bushes in between; and flora including low-lying Rhododendron hedges called 'Mother's Day, and Japanese anemones.
The Rock Garden of Kew Gardens looks like life in the world's mountainous regions, with sandstone peaks that rise up and waterfalls that flow down. This Garden was built in 1882, making it one of the largest and oldest in the world. Over the years, it has expanded to encompass well over an acre of land, gaining the lovely waterfalls in 1994 and the landscape of Alpine House in 2007. The Rock Garden is a key resource for research as over 70% of the plants here are grown from seeds that were found in the wild. This is the largest outdoor area for horticulture that our scientists have found. The display is lifelike and takes the viewer to a rough and wild alpine landscape by using different heights and points of view. The planting pairs are made to look like natural communities, even though some of the plants are not tough and durable in the UK. Flora from six mountainous parts of the world is shown, with each region getting its own space.
The Temperate House is the beating heart of Kew Gardens London as this is a famous landmark and a sign of what the future holds for horticulture. You can see plants from Australia, Africa, America, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and Asia, in this glittering cathedral. All of the plants inside its walls are temperate, so they need temperatures above 10 degrees celsius to live. Even though plants are the basis of much life on Earth, many of them are in danger. The Temperate House portrays the story of how Kew and its partners from all over the world are trying to save plants that are rare or have died out in the wild. This huge collection of 10,000 different plants may help us find answers to some of the world's most pressing problems, such as climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and food security.
The Great Broad Walk Borders, which are thought to be the country's longest herbaceous borders, if not the world. More than 300 feet long, the borders are a sensory treat for the senses, bursting with fresh scents, dazzling flower beds, and feathery grasses. The eight large circular beds are arranged in themes, showcasing a wide variety of plant families that can serve as motivation for your own garden design. There is so much to see and learn along the way, from beautiful varieties to wild species used in research at Kew Gardens. They're at their best in the spring and fall, but there's still a lot to see in the summer. You can see a list of the plants in each of the eight raised beds. If you're in the mood for some colour, you'll see large swatches of the Phlomis spires, golden-yellow rudbeckia deamii, salvia, geranium orion, and lilies.
To begin with, 14,000 trees are nurtured at the stunning Arboretum Nursery. You can now see how experts propagate and nurture these priceless plants from the visitor viewing area, thanks to the use of cutting-edge technology. It's a rare opportunity to see the world's forests in all their splendour and diversity through this unique collection. Over two-thirds of the Kew Gardens are dedicated to the Arboretum, a lush green space where visitors can stroll, ramble, and take in the sights. Over 2,000 species, including ancient and rare varieties, are rooted in the 14,000 trees in this area. Acclaimed for its natural beauty, the Arboretum is also a vital scientific resource for botanical and conservation efforts.
Sir Joseph Hooker's mid-19th century journeys to the Himalayas resulted in the return of numerous new rhododendron specimens at Kew Garden Rhododendron Dell. Here they are still blooming 150 years later, with unique hybrids that aren't found anywhere else in the world. There is the R.Kotschyi, a pink-flowered Rhododendron native to the Balkan and Carpathian Mountains, as well as Kew's oldest type of Rhododendron, R.Campanulatum. In April and May, the bushes burst into full bloom, showcasing a rainbow of brightly coloured petals from every angle.
The Temple of Aeolus is located at the apex of an artificial hill deeper into the Woodland Garden. The existing structure, which was reconstructed in stone, gives views of the surrounding woodland to the northwest, is a tranquil site for introspection. Enjoy gradual slopes and forest shade in this tranquil area of the Kew Garden, and wander below a deciduous shade of mature oaks, birches, and limes a short distance from the Palm House pond. The Woodland Garden, which was designed to mimic the habitats of temperate mountain ranges, comes to life in March and April, when the glory of mountain plants blooms. The canopy offers shade for an understory of maples like coral bark maple and rhododendrons in a seasonal manner.
Location: Richmond, United Kingdom
Timings: Monday to Sunday 10 AM – 7 PM
Best Time To Visit: The best time to visit the Kew Gardens is between 10 AM -11 AM in the morning so that you can take your time exploring the gardens and avoid the busiest times at the entrance. However, you are paying a visit during spring or summer time as tulips and rhododendrons are in full bloom in the gardens during this time. The gardens are also most beautiful in the fall, between the end of August and the beginning of September, when the yellow and red foliage is at its most vibrant