Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens

Early October was beautiful in London. I love autumn; it is my favorite season. On a nice sunny day, I headed to Kew Gardens so that I could enjoy it while some things were still in bloom. I ended up with some colorful autumn pictures. I also found a few interesting things in the park, including some Henry Moore statues that currently on exhibit at Kew.

I took the free guided tour through the the park, and I really enjoyed learning about the important role that Kew plays in the cataloguing and preservation of many of the world's plant species. It is primarily a scientific institution with large collections of both living and preserved plants.

The living plant collection at Kew is the largest and most comprehensive in the world, containing representatives of more than one in eight of all flowering plant species. Many species in the collection are endangered in their natural habitats, and Kew gardeners and scientists work to conserve these species as threats to their habitats continue. Specimens of endangered plants are cultivated and propagated for distribution to other botanic gardens or, whenever possible, return to their natural habitats. Seeds from more than 3,500 plant species are preserved and stored in the seed bank at Wakehurst Place. Other scientists can use these seeds to study or to reintroduce the plants into their native habitats.

If you are interested in seeing more of Kew Gardens, then you might want to try a virtual tour.