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Post by mickthecactus on Oct 11, 2006 7:42:03 GMT
Any fans of Kew out there?
Don't see it mentioned.
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Post by beejay on Oct 11, 2006 7:56:21 GMT
Me, me me. We are Friends of Kew (sounds posh don't it) & probably go about once a month, but then it is fairly handy. Why do you ask?
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Post by mickthecactus on Oct 11, 2006 8:04:22 GMT
I just hadn't seen it mentioned but then I might have missed it.
I am also a friend of Kew but I only get there about once a quarter.
For the past 2 years I have been helping Kew restock their back collection of Stapeliads (which I specialise in) and which they nearly lost due to inexperienced/ shortage of staff.
I absolutely love Kew and usually take the grandchildren with me who make me read out every latin name. Once the trees start to show autumn colour we will be making our next visit.
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Post by Plocket on Oct 11, 2006 8:50:41 GMT
Oooh yes I'm certainly a fan. When I lived in the SE I used to visit Kew regularly but it's more difficult now I've moved north. For my birthday last year OH financed a trip to London for me, and I spent three days visiting Kew and saw the Chihully glass. I want to take LP to Kew, partly because I want to check out the interactive children's area!!!
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Post by mickthecactus on Oct 11, 2006 9:00:32 GMT
Plocket, the childrens area is excellent and my 2 always make a beeline for it whilst I have a cup of coffee in White Peaks next door. The problem then is dragging them away!
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Post by Plocket on Oct 11, 2006 10:14:40 GMT
That's what worries me Mick - I want to see more of Kew than just the children's area!!!!! I'd probably do all the bits I want and bribe LP with the children's area if she's good all day - ooooh I must be a beastly mother!!! ;D
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Post by toonia on Oct 11, 2006 10:20:08 GMT
I love Kew. I remember going there as a child and it seemed like an epic journey from Brixton!
I can still picture seeing the pagoda at the end of the long avenue of trees and thinking it magical and then getting up to it and seeing it was just a "feature" and there were no Chinamen living in it!
Put on lots of conditioner, Plocket! The glasshouses give you instant frizzy hair!
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Post by beejay on Oct 11, 2006 12:21:16 GMT
I just hadn't seen it mentioned but then I might have missed it. I am also a friend of Kew but I only get there about once a quarter. For the past 2 years I have been helping Kew restock their back collection of Stapeliads (which I specialise in) and which they nearly lost due to inexperienced/ shortage of staff. I absolutely love Kew and usually take the grandchildren with me who make me read out every latin name. Once the trees start to show autumn colour we will be making our next visit. I presume stapeliads are cacti/succulents. Are they in a hidden away place or on show? I think the "cacti" display in the Princess of Wales house is terriffic. Have you managed to see the new bridge on one of your trips yet? It is a truly wonderful design. |
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Post by mickthecactus on Oct 11, 2006 12:36:07 GMT
Beejay, I haven't seen the bridge yet but will do on the next visit. Stapeliads are succulents with magnificent (if sometimes smelly) flowers. They are hidden in the back collection although I am always urging Kew to put some into the POW conservatory. To be fair though, they don't really have enough sizeable plants yet - maybe next Spring? If you want to see Stapeliads try www.cactus-mall.com/stapeliad/index.html |
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Post by beejay on Oct 11, 2006 12:44:32 GMT
They are a bit"WOW" Mick.
I think you should have one of them as your avatar!
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Post by mickthecactus on Oct 11, 2006 12:55:37 GMT
I would if I could.
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Post by andy on Oct 11, 2006 13:10:03 GMT
I love Kew...especially the princess of wales conservatory. I used to go up for the annual orchid festival which was around february.
Alas i haven't been for about 10 years even though i can get there in an hour.
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Post by beejay on Oct 11, 2006 14:02:18 GMT
Try this: Find the picture you want, left click on it, click on properties at the bottom, highlight the address (URL) then left click & copy. Then go to your profile/modify profile, click on the avatar URL box, left click & paste, & finally click modify profile at the bottom. I'm not too good at explaining things! Do you like my new avatar? |
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Post by mickthecactus on Oct 11, 2006 14:16:03 GMT
Be gentle with me Beejay - I only found out what an avatar is today! I'll give it a go but don't hold your breath.
I like yours - Huernia occulta?
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Post by mickthecactus on Oct 11, 2006 14:17:12 GMT
I'm already an under gardener! That was quick - how come? Have I passed a hidden exam?!!
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Post by Plocket on Oct 11, 2006 14:42:11 GMT
Congratulations on your promotion Mick!  I've been to the orchid festival too Andy - it's just stunning, and that from someone who doesn't know her vanilloideae from her epidendroideae!!! |
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Post by andy on Oct 11, 2006 16:44:44 GMT
Congratulations on your promotion Mick! I've been to the orchid festival too Andy - it's just stunning, and that from someone who doesn't know her vanilloideae from her epidendroideae!!! I'm also lucky enough to live about 2 miles away from one of the best orchid growers in the world....McBeans orchids www.mcbeansorchids.co.uk/ . I went up there last year and got shown around by the owner and ended up spending a fortune. |
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Post by Plocket on Oct 11, 2006 16:47:29 GMT
COOL!!!!!  |
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Post by Dutchy on Oct 13, 2006 17:44:20 GMT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you, I found them wow what gorgeous plants.
I have got the site under my favs now so I can take a relaxed look later on. Those Caralluma are weird but so beautiful, they remind me of the Muppet show though
Dutchy
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Post by mickthecactus on Oct 16, 2006 12:00:54 GMT
My pleasure! This is where I have a moan about gardening on TV which never goes into detail (and it doesn't have to be cacti and succulents). Have you ever seen this family mentioned?
There is so much out there that we don't know about.
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Post by Dutchy on Oct 16, 2006 17:16:59 GMT
Good thing we have this board then  Dutchy |
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Post by mickthecactus on Oct 17, 2006 10:10:58 GMT
I am off to Kew next Monday with grandsons. Any requests for anything to be looked at and reported on?
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Post by Plocket on Oct 17, 2006 12:20:20 GMT
Oooh yes please - the new Alpine House if you wouldn't mind, and if you have time! Thanks!
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Post by mickthecactus on Oct 17, 2006 14:07:21 GMT
Plocket, I can report on that now having seen it a couple of times.
Personally, I don't like it. It is a very big structure with very little growing space and I found the old Alpine House more user friendly. Indeed, Phil Griffiths who is the Head of the glasshouses was very scathing along those lines. He said that for the cost they could have put a "hat" over the whole of the Alpine area.
Nevertheless, I will look closely at it again for you and report back!
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Post by Plocket on Oct 17, 2006 16:12:53 GMT
Mick you are an angel!
Personally I think the Alpine House looks lovely (they were building it when I visited about this time last year) and someone did explain the reasons for the shape. I do understand that the planting area is very small but from an architectural point of view it looks good.
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Post by beejay on Oct 17, 2006 16:18:54 GMT
I love the building also. I forgot to go & look at it this summer to see the sails up.  |
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Post by Plocket on Oct 17, 2006 16:21:58 GMT
Oh what a lovely photograph Beejay - that's really cheered me up this afternoon. I've been slaving away in the kitchen, then OH rang to say he was passing Wisley (I've always wanted to visit!). And reading about Kew has made me yearn for another visit, but your photo has boosted me up again. Thank you!
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Post by beejay on Oct 17, 2006 18:46:35 GMT
I'm glad you liked that pic Plocket. It was taken last winter sometime when it was very misty. Wanted to take loads of pictures but the battery ran out after about 5! Typical!
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Post by Plocket on Oct 17, 2006 20:13:43 GMT
Oh isn't that always the way? Well I'm glad you got that photo because it's lovely, and I can see that it looks slightly misty and frosty. Get a spare battery Beejay! |
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Post by mickthecactus on Oct 18, 2006 7:26:17 GMT
I can see that I'm not going to be very popular here. Yes, architecturally it is fascinating, yes, it is eye catching but practical as a growing area - no. There are hardly any plants in there - it is out of all proportion.
Do we have any Alpine enthusiasts? Perhaps they might comment!
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