For as long as I can remember, Kew’s Temperate House has been its ugly duckling. Botanical gardens have to move with the times and can no longer rely on government largesse, and therefore a great deal of effort is put … Continue reading
The many underwhelming gardens I have visited find themselves banished to the back corners of my mind. Some gardens, like Bodnant, refuse to go there yet irritate me so much that I have to write about them. Bodnant has two … Continue reading
I stumbled across Mendocino by accident. We had arrived in San Francisco the weekend of Gay Pride where we were confronted with a difficult decision. Were we going to party with about half of the city or do what we … Continue reading
It may seem strange that a middle-sized American city has what is widely acclaimed to be the finest Japanese garden in the United States but also considered to be the most beautiful and authentic in the world outside of Japan. … Continue reading
So-called as the reflection of the moon appears to be trapped in the pavilion’s shadow on the pond. It has always struck me as strange that Chinese gardens in the West are rare, but Japanese gardens are comparatively common. … Continue reading
The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew can be a confusing place. The big attractions such as the Palm House, the Great Broad Walk Borders, Kew Palace, and the Hive are easy to find; but the delightful Minka House and Bamboo … Continue reading