Botany!

On this lovely, warm, springy day I went on a mini-adventure to the Kew Royal Botanical Gardens in a place called Wakehurst. There is a seed bank within the gardens, too (cool)! The gardens were beautiful - it was kind of a hazy morning and the grounds had plenty of little valleys and footbridges and mystery paths. It felt whimsical. Being this green and lush in early March, I can't imagine what it looks like mid-summer. A great spot!

Below is a seed sculpture by a Tom Hare. The building in the background is where the seed bank is. 

There was an Elizabethan mansion on the grounds, too. Inside, there was a gallery space where a bunch of botanical illustrations were displayed.

This was a REALLY good tree. I believe it is a Smooth Japanese Maple. Very photogenic.

There should be a unicorn grazing in this patch.

These places in England always have lots of birds running around and rustling mysteriously from within the hedges. 

It felt pretty magical.

Bosky dells all over the place.

Ophiogon planiscapus nigrescens

Birds of FUN!

Magnolia campbellii - the buds look like 5-inch pussy willows.

I pass by this thing all the time on my walks into the town centre. Be va best!