When life gives you rainy weather...go find an indoor garden

Well, not completely indoors, but the KEW Royal Botanical Gardens does have several large glass green houses (actually one of the largest all glass houses in the world.) The scene here in London is sad...windy/rainy/cold. One of those days straight of a movie where every one is fighting against the wind with their brolly (that's umbrella to you kids back in the states.) and then WHOOSH it turns inside-out.

With my new found sense of direction I figured it couldn't hurt to venture out a bit beyond our normal zones and pubs. Took the Tube about 10km outside of London (12 or 13 stops on the District Line from the center of London) and then walked a bit along the south bank of the Thames river to get to 300 acres of botanical gardens. Even with the blustery weather, I couldn't have picked a better place to be.

The whole gardens is strewn with massive Henry Moore sculptures! I think 30 of them. I've always liked his work, I think it may go back to when my sister attended Trinity University and I got to see several of his larger works (at least I think it was him...Susan will have to confirm.) Anyway, he does this ongoing series of pieces that are all about negative space and separate but connected forms and I really like them. Every time I see one I just want to climb it. 30 of them in one location was a true test of will power...but honestly since it was raining I think that climbing would have been more about sliding. (It would have been a ton of fun though!)


This is the aptly named "Large Reclining Figure"

And this one is "Draped Reclining Mother and Baby"



So, I stayed out in the wind and rain for as long as I could stand it. Managed to get a couple of shots off before the rain really started coming down...after that I just wandered with the camera safely inside my bag and enjoyed the wide open space filled with nature.




If you want an idea of how cold it was, this little tyke is dressed just right...don't you wish they made those bunny suits for adults?



The daffodils are in bloom, Kew's Narcissus, so we'll call this pic "hope of future spring..." I'm hoping that by the time Mark and I get back to Chicago, the winter will be a distant memory...




This is the small side of the Palm house, which, oddly enough, is indeed full of tropical rain forest environment and palm trees. Once my glasses stopped fogging up I really enjoyed it. No pics from inside, my poor camera was pleading to be left alone away from all that condensation.





The Kew is huge. 13 buildings and 300 acres of plantings and research. It's a bit of a schlep from the city, but if you are here and have the time I highly recommend it. Perhaps a bit further into the spring season though..



Anyway, the weather man swears that tomorrow the sun will come out and trusty assistant/fixer Lauren and I will be able to take the two cars, 5 models and untold number of props to the Isle of White for our photo shoot. Keep your finger's crossed for us!