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| The Pink Kew Palace |
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| Interior View |
Kew Palace
1) A brick-red Flemish mansion small
Housed a king and his family all
With tiny furniture, pictures and painted walls
Amidst vast lawns and crowded trees too tall ;
A peaceful retreat for the queen and king supreme.
To spend time with kids and happily dream.
Water-Lily House
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| The blooming Lotus |
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| Water-Lily House |
Water-Lily House
2) A cool and cosy natural haven I found
With broad-leaved plants growing around ;
In midst a pond studded with round lilies bright
Tinted red, blue, purple and white ;
A floral treasure that gives you immense pleasure
A picturesque site beyond one's earthly measure.
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| Palm House |
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| Interior View |
Palm House
3) Glass walls strengthened with frames of steel
Heated by gas, a warm climate to feel
The spacious farm to grow the tropical palms
Tall majestic forms with dense green charm ;
Trees from Africa and India found
Like colonnades with dark leaves crowned.
4) The cocoa trees with oval fruits dark-brown
The rubber palms with tall trunks grown;
The African palm and the Mexican Yam
In central wing revealed their tropical charm ;
The broad-leaved papaya with fruits of gold
The smooth-stemmed banana with fruits manifold.
5) A world of palms seen with majestic pride
With a pretty view of the pond beside
With spiral stairways to view from above height
Stout Jack-fruits and mangoes-- a pretty sight ;
The coconut, cane trees and peach palms found
An enchanting dense green all around.
An enchanting dense green all around.
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| Davies Alpine House |
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| Alpine Flowers |
Davies Alpine House
6) The arch-shaped glass house glistening bright
To grow rare plants and herbs of Alpine height
Gleams with glass roof and shaded walls
Through which only mild sunlight falls
To grow rare specimens like ferns and thyme
Santiago blooms and Chilean Crocus of dry, cool clime.
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| orchids |
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| Desert Plants |
Princess of Wales Conservatory
7) The Princess made a pretty haven meet
To sustain the name of Augusta sweet
For rarest plants of tropical countries fare
In cosy glass enclosures with intense care
Where colorful orchids and cacti grow
In warm weather made up with eastern glow.8) The desert plants grow up in grotesque forms
Thick-skinned with thorny scales, an exotic charm ;
With dangling roots marshy mangroves are found
While banana and pineapple thrive on moist ground ;
Green ferns and orchids in multitudinous hues
All at one place, of different climes, a fantastic view.
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| Sweet chestnut tree |
 |
| The Tree Top Walkway |
The Tree Top Walkway
9) A hanging walkway across the glade
To view tree tops with dense green shade ;
An aerial view of trees with stunning surprise ;
Tall chestnut trees, pines and mighty oaks rise
Like lofty Titans with prodigious might
A wondrous feeling felt from such heavenly height.
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| Hogarth Prints on walls |
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| Ceiling painting done by the princess |
The Charlotte Cottage
10) A pretty cottage at the western end
In peaceful surroundings time to spend
For the royal couple to rest awhile
Sipping tea with guests, to chat and smile ;
A pastoral haven in sylvan green
Where jet-black swans and pheasants were seen.
11) Where royal children played and wandered free
Amidst blue bell gardens and dense-grown trees
Glancing at kangaroos, mules and buffaloes with glee
A merry treat for them, this zoo, to see.
Decked with bamboo works, paintings and floral art
This thatched abode, a welcome resort.
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| The Japanese Pagoda |
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| Closer View of the Pagoda |
The Japanese Pagoda
12) A conical Japanese lofty tower
With ten tiers built upon one another
With shining roofs adorned with dragons red
Steeped in eastern splendor of gold wide-spread ;
A central stairway leads to topmost state
A fit ornament to this garden great.
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| Carving on the gate |
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| The Japanese Gateway |
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| Front part of the gate |
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| Wooden carvings |
The Japanese Gateway
13) Near the imposing Pagoda seen
The Japanese Gateway, an exotic scene ;
A replica of Kyota's splendid arch
With pretty carvings none could match ;
Wood-carved flowers, creepers and beasts espied
Fraught with legends of past on every side.
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| Garden of Peace, Japanese Landscape |
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| Stone Lantern and stone basin |
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| Garden of Harmony, Japanese Landscape |
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| Garden of Activity |
The Japanese Landscape
14) Surrounded by Japanese landscape vast
Where eastern flora flourishes complementing art ;
With snow-white cherry blooms and anemones red
With bright pink clusters of rhododendron spread
With bamboo groves and sacred cypress seen
With pearly white magnolia in silver sheen.
15) The Garden of Peace flanked by smooth stone-baths found
With water trickling gently into the basin round ;
A symbol of calm, contemplative mind ;
On southern slope another symbolic find
The Garden of Activity with stones fraught
Shows the dynamic flow of life in art.
16) Linking these artistic gardens is seen
The Garden of Harmony, a beautiful scene ;
With scattered stones and boulders on every side
To show Nature's rich diversity wide
Interspersed with Japanese shrubs with bright
Blooming colors of pink, red, purple and white.
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| Cherry Blossoms |
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| Stone Tablet with Japanese Haiku |
Conclusion
17) A vast treasure of Nature's wisdom we find
For votaries of plants to enrich their minds ;
With thousands of rare plants tended with care ;
A fabulous consortium seen nowhere ;
Famed as the greatest Botanical Venue
This sparkling gem of Natural beauty at Kew.
18) So many strove hard to maintain this spot
Where realms of Science support the realms of Art ;
Patronized by kings and philanthropists great
Ev'n from abroad this magnificent estate ;
The arbors of fabled Elysium we can't surmise ;
But here we can behold the glimpses of paradise.
******************************
12th August, 2015 Somaseshu Gutala
Short Notes :
1) Kew Gardens : Located at Richmond-on-Thames ,10 miles west of central London. Founded in
1759 by Lord Capel , and extended by Augusta, Dowager Princess, Mother of George III.
2) Kew Palace : A pretty dutch mansion built by Samuel Fortrey in 1631. It was taken on
lease by George II in 1729 and later purchased by George III in 1781.The king and queen
used to stay here to relax along with their family whenever the king was not well.
3) Water-Lily House : Located opposite to the northern end of the Palm-House, this glass house having a 36-feet wide circular pond built in 1852. Many kinds of water-lilies, aquatic plants , and creepers are kept in this house.
4) Palm House : This green house (363 ft.x100ft.) was built in 1848. In the northern wing palms
from Asia, Australia and Pacific region are displayed. In the southern wing palms from Africa
and India are kept. In the central wing palms from America are seen. In the basement of this
house the marine aquarium housing marine plants is an added attraction.
5) Davies Alpine House : Located on the northern end of the rock garden, this 50-feet long glass
house has been re-built or modified many times. (1881, 1938, 1981 and 2006). Many rare
kinds of plants which survive in cool and dry Alpine Climate are displayed here.
6) Princess of Wales Conservatory : Designed by Gordon Wilson, this computer-controlled
climatic glass house re-creates ten climatic zones to preserve various types of dry tropical, wet
tropical and desert plants along with carnivorous species, ferns and orchids. This house was
opened in 1987 by Diana, Princess of Wales in memory of Augusta.
7) The Tree Top Walkway : Located between the Temperate House and the lake this strong
bridge spanning about 200 metres at a height of 18 metres gives a spectacular view of tree
tops. One can go up by a staircase having 118 steps. Lift facility is also available. One can
look at the gigantic trees like the oak, lemon, pine and chestnut trees an also enjoy the sight of
various birds, insects, fungi and lichen on these trees. This was designed by the famous
Marks Barfield Architects in 2008.
8) Charlotte Cottage : used as a retreat by the queen Charlotte and her husband George III.
Built during 1754 and 1771, this red brick building with a thatched roof and pretty furniture
was used as a resting place for the royal persons. Once there was a small zoo in the paddock.
Now it has been converted into a garden.
9) The Japanese Pagoda : Designed by William Chambers in imitation of the Chinese Ta (Tower)
this 163-foot high pagoda with ten octagonal storeys was erected in 1762. There is a central
stairway with 253 steps.
10) The Japanese Gateway : This gateway was designed for Japan-British exhibition at White City
in London in 1910. In 1911 it was re-constructed on the Mossy Hill near the pagoda in 1911.
A close replica of the ceremonial gateway of Nishi Hongan-ji temple of Kyoto in Japan.
11) The Japanese Landscape: This was laid out in 1996 during restoration of the Japanese gateway.
Spreading over an area of 5000 sq.m. the Japanese landscape comprises three parts. The
Garden of Peace is at the entrance representing a typical Japanese tea garden with stone lanterns
and a dripping water basin. The Garden of Activity lies on the southern side of the gateway
representing the elements of the natural world such as waterfalls, mountains and the sea. The
gravel and rocks arranged in curved pattern shows the movement of the flowing water. The
Garden of Harmony links the Garden of Peace and the Garden of Activity. The stones with
typical Japanese plants and trees represent the mountainous regions of Japan.
12) Stone Tablet : At the side of the Garden of Harmony a granite block with a haiku (poem)
engraved on it is seen. This poem was composed by the famous Haiku poet, Kyoshi
Takahama. In English it reads like this; "Even sparrows
Freed from all fear of man
England in spring."
1) Kew Gardens : Located at Richmond-on-Thames ,10 miles west of central London. Founded in
1759 by Lord Capel , and extended by Augusta, Dowager Princess, Mother of George III.
2) Kew Palace : A pretty dutch mansion built by Samuel Fortrey in 1631. It was taken on
lease by George II in 1729 and later purchased by George III in 1781.The king and queen
used to stay here to relax along with their family whenever the king was not well.
3) Water-Lily House : Located opposite to the northern end of the Palm-House, this glass house having a 36-feet wide circular pond built in 1852. Many kinds of water-lilies, aquatic plants , and creepers are kept in this house.
4) Palm House : This green house (363 ft.x100ft.) was built in 1848. In the northern wing palms
from Asia, Australia and Pacific region are displayed. In the southern wing palms from Africa
and India are kept. In the central wing palms from America are seen. In the basement of this
house the marine aquarium housing marine plants is an added attraction.
5) Davies Alpine House : Located on the northern end of the rock garden, this 50-feet long glass
house has been re-built or modified many times. (1881, 1938, 1981 and 2006). Many rare
kinds of plants which survive in cool and dry Alpine Climate are displayed here.
6) Princess of Wales Conservatory : Designed by Gordon Wilson, this computer-controlled
climatic glass house re-creates ten climatic zones to preserve various types of dry tropical, wet
tropical and desert plants along with carnivorous species, ferns and orchids. This house was
opened in 1987 by Diana, Princess of Wales in memory of Augusta.
7) The Tree Top Walkway : Located between the Temperate House and the lake this strong
bridge spanning about 200 metres at a height of 18 metres gives a spectacular view of tree
tops. One can go up by a staircase having 118 steps. Lift facility is also available. One can
look at the gigantic trees like the oak, lemon, pine and chestnut trees an also enjoy the sight of
various birds, insects, fungi and lichen on these trees. This was designed by the famous
Marks Barfield Architects in 2008.
8) Charlotte Cottage : used as a retreat by the queen Charlotte and her husband George III.
Built during 1754 and 1771, this red brick building with a thatched roof and pretty furniture
was used as a resting place for the royal persons. Once there was a small zoo in the paddock.
Now it has been converted into a garden.
9) The Japanese Pagoda : Designed by William Chambers in imitation of the Chinese Ta (Tower)
this 163-foot high pagoda with ten octagonal storeys was erected in 1762. There is a central
stairway with 253 steps.
10) The Japanese Gateway : This gateway was designed for Japan-British exhibition at White City
in London in 1910. In 1911 it was re-constructed on the Mossy Hill near the pagoda in 1911.
A close replica of the ceremonial gateway of Nishi Hongan-ji temple of Kyoto in Japan.
11) The Japanese Landscape: This was laid out in 1996 during restoration of the Japanese gateway.
Spreading over an area of 5000 sq.m. the Japanese landscape comprises three parts. The
Garden of Peace is at the entrance representing a typical Japanese tea garden with stone lanterns
and a dripping water basin. The Garden of Activity lies on the southern side of the gateway
representing the elements of the natural world such as waterfalls, mountains and the sea. The
gravel and rocks arranged in curved pattern shows the movement of the flowing water. The
Garden of Harmony links the Garden of Peace and the Garden of Activity. The stones with
typical Japanese plants and trees represent the mountainous regions of Japan.
12) Stone Tablet : At the side of the Garden of Harmony a granite block with a haiku (poem)
engraved on it is seen. This poem was composed by the famous Haiku poet, Kyoshi
Takahama. In English it reads like this; "Even sparrows
Freed from all fear of man
England in spring."
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