England #1

What can I say, England was....beautiful. Just being able to go out side with out a coat on was such a treat. The icing on the cake, was all of the incredible plants that were blooming. The Purple Sand Cherries , which are as tall and thick as trees were in full bloom. I could spot at least 6 different varieties of Daffodil , and growing wild at the side of every road way was a variety of Prunus avium which were just covered from top to bottom with little white flowers. For those of us in Canada and the north, they looked fairly similar to our Serviceberry , Amelanchier canadenis which also grow wild at road ways and forests. I can't wait to show you the photographs and the latest podcasts that we are presently editing.

I traveled to England at this time of year for two reasons. One, my friend Gary's parents were celebrating their fortieth wedding anniversary, and the other reason I went to England was to revisit Kew Gardens. Two days was not enough. I could live in one of those floating boat houses that we spotted along the River Thames and visit Kew everyday for a year, easily. The feeling I get when surrounded by living history is so extraordinary. Glass houses that were built in eighteenth century, and their world famous Pagoda that was built in seventeen hundreds. I have old country envy. Even the venue for the anniversary party was in a sixteenth century country estate, that was later converted into a hotel, and in some rooms the floors are the original wood.

I felt safe in a 300 acre world where the understanding upon entering is....

“This where you come to know, and then to feel, that plants are the most important species on this planet, here is the evidence to prove it. Now, be in awe, and, not only are these plants going to save the world if we let them, but here is how we can do it with knowledge, class, and style!”

Click on my Flickr box and check out the photographs, much much much more to follow.