In the last few months I have been off traveling again and as part of the trip I spent two weeks in England. I based for that time in the historical city of Reading. The train station was just a few minutes walk away to go off on day trips to London and Oxford while the local buses would get me to Windsor and Heathrow Airport. It was Spring so my favorite sightings were the bluebells flowering in ancient graveyards. Reading is built where the River Kennet joins up with the River Thames so there were scenic river walks to enjoy. In the middle of the city is the lovely Forbury Gardens next to the medieval abbey ruins. I was finally able to visit Kew Gardens on this trip. To get there I took a tourist boat from Westminster pier which I heartedly recommend. I got back to the city via train/tube. Kew Gardens was in full tulip mode and I enjoyed seeing the historic glasshouses with their exotic plant collections. I guess Kew Gardens was the garden highlight of the trip but another was a quiet walk around the water meadow behind Magdalen College in Oxford. Here are a few glimpses from the trip for you.
 |
| Bluebells in church cemetery behind pilgrims hostel, Reading |
 |
| The Geoff Hill Memorial Garden behind Watlington House, Reading |
 |
| Windsor Castle |
 |
| House entrances down alley, Windsor |
 |
| Addisons"s Walk around the water meadow at Magadelen College, Oxford. |
 |
| Tulips and wall flowers in stone trough, at entrance to St Edmund Hall, Oxford |
 |
| Back garden at Kew Palace Kew Gardens |
 |
| New Zealand natives in the Temperate Glasshouse Kew Gardens |
 |
| Part of a large, mind blowing tulip display Kew Gardens |
