The Chelsea Physic (for healing) Garden ⇒ was established in 1673 and is the second oldest botanic garden in the UK after the Oxford University Botanic Garden ⇒. The garden has approximately 5,000 plants including those with exotic scents. It is a very peaceful and pleasant walled garden hidden away in west London.
There are some free tours upon entry but there is an entry fee and charges for the workshops, courses and special tours. Please see the website link above.
The easiest approach is by the 170 bus (bound for Roehampton) from Victoria Station to Chelsea Physic Garden. On alighting, just outside the gardens educational center, walk back a short way along the bus route to Swan Walk and the main entrance is little way down that road. Map of the Garden ⇐.
The garden is next to the the Royal Hospital Chelsea ⇒ (home of the Chelsea Pensioners).
Chelsea Physic Gardens Views and Flowers
In the Greenhouses
Pelargonium Rosa
Pelargonium Milfield Gem
Pelargonium Bute
Pelargonium Copthorne
Around the Gardens and Outdoor Flowers
Statue of Sir Hans Sloane
Sir Hans Sloane ⇒
Helienthus Annuus – Ring of Fire Sunflower
Sweet Pea
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August 14, 2016 | Categories: Flora, Flowers, History, london, natural history, places to photograph in london, Places to Visit, Travel, uk, West London | Tags: garden, helianthius annuus, pelargonium, Sir Hans Sloane, sunflower ring of fire, sweat pea | 19 Comments
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Humpback whales around the globe are mysteriously rescuing animals from orcas
Scientists are baffled at this seemingly altruistic behavior, which seems to be a concerted global effort to foil killer whale hunts.
Humpback whale to the rescue? (Photo: Wiki Commons)
Humans might not be the only creatures that care about the welfare of other animals. Scientists are beginning to recognize a pattern in humpback whale behavior around the world, a seemingly intentional effort to rescue animals that are being hunted by killer whales.
Marine ecologist Robert Pitman observed a particularly dramatic example of this behavior back in 2009, while observing a pod of killer whales hunting a Weddell seal trapped on an ice floe off Antarctica. The orcas were able to successfully knock the seal off the ice, and just as they were closing in for the kill, a magnificent humpback whale suddenly rose up out of the…
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August 1, 2016 | Categories: Animals, natural history, Science, Wildlife | Tags: humpback, nature, orcas, whales | Leave a comment
Whilst this world was young,
Before names could fall from human tongue,
There was no I, nor thou, nor thee,
Only flower and grass and tree.
No sound but sweet refrain,
Of wind and sea and rain,
No less a flower without a name,
A living beauty just the same.
🙂
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July 10, 2016 | Categories: Flora, Flowers, natural history, Photography | Tags: blue flower, photography, poetry, purple flower | 2 Comments
The Natural History Museum, the very interesting Science Museum and fabulous Victoria & Albert Museum are all close together and very near South Kensington underground rail station. All are free to enter, although a small donation is usual, and have picnic areas (a wise choice).
The Natural History Museum also contains The Earth’s Treasury and The Vault of precious items. Both are worth seeing. It is advisable to arrive early at the Natural History Museum to avoid queues and download/save/print the the map. The website. Here is the architecture and a few of the exhibits.
The Architecture and Charles Darwin
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Charles Darwin Statue
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The Exhibits
Diplodocus
At the main entrance “Dippy” (diplodocus), sometimes a Blue Whale, welcomes visitors with equal aplomb. Dippy likes walks in the park, sushi and going to the theater. Would like to meet similar, must have good sense of humour.
At the side entrance one is greeted by a smaller cousin. And then ~
The escalator to hell. It actually leads to a display of information about the earth’s early years and volcanoes. Included is a mock min-market that shakes to simulate an earthquake. It wasn’t working when I was there. How come they always turn off the dangerous stuff whenever I arrive ? It’s a mystery to me.
Near the elevator, on the ground floor, you can meet one’s ancestral relatives. The top row is the present and then seven rows of one million years each. Spot anybody that you know ?. To read the labels, click on the image and then again to magnify.
Unfortunately the dinosaur gallery was closed during my visit, but there were a few on show.
This little tyke is animated. Noticeably breathing and occasionally moving in his/her sleep.
Cynognathus
The Cynognathus was supposedly about the size of a dog. If that’s true, I wonder if Lord Baskerville knows it’s out.
Megatherium Americanum
Aka, prehistoric stick insect.
Killer Bird and Pseudo-elephant
“My mother always said you were a skinflint, look at me when I’m talking to you and when are you going to fix that shelf and stop calling me beaky”. “Aaaarg”
Shell and Triton’s Trumpet
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Baler Shell
The Baler Shell, so-called because it is very useful for baling out canoes (honest).
Queen Conch
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There are loads of stuffed animals. I picked just one.
Dodo Bird
The Dodo bird, it is reported, became extinct because it was not sufficiently afraid of mankind. There’s a lesson in that somewhere.
Ichthysaurus Fossil
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Goethite
I can take a hint.
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February 28, 2016 | Categories: Central London, History, museums, natural history, Photography, places to photograph in london, Places to Visit, uk | Tags: architecture, charles darwin, dinosaurs, fossils, museum, prehistoric, skulls | 8 Comments
More from the Earth’s Treasury at the Natural History Museum London. There is also Earth’s Treasury 1 and The Vault of precious items.
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And crunchy chocolate cake to finish, I think.
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February 26, 2016 | Categories: Central London, museums, natural history, Photography, places to photograph in london, Places to Visit, uk | Tags: amethyst, crystals, earth's treasures, fire opal, geology, museum, natural history museum, topaz | 5 Comments
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It would be rather marvelous to think that this opalescent wonder is a moon rock. Even more marvelous to realise that it came from our own Earth.
More pics ↓ with an ocean in a small opal and still more at the Vault and more at Earth’s Treasury 2 .
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This a real monster at around three feet tall, but it lacked a little colour, so a tiny tweak and ~
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If that were a drink it would be so delicious.
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There are literally hundreds of these.
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I’m not sure what a carved meerschaum pipe is doing here but I think she would be welcome anywhere.
Such wonders all around,
We need but stop and search the ground,
We need but pause and view the sky,
And cherish time before end is nigh.
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February 21, 2016 | Categories: Central London, minerals, museums, natural history, Photography, places to photograph in london, Places to Visit, uk | Tags: crystals, gemstones, geology, meershaum pipe, minerals, museum, opal | 11 Comments
I first noticed a few bright blue flitters beside the Thames near Hampton Court some while ago. I thought at first they must be butterflies. It turns out they were Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies. I finally discovered some in the wetland area of Bushy Park. I also discovered, eventually, that they fly away if you let your shadow fall upon them.
Damselflies and Dragonflies have a number of charming names in folklore across the world, including sewing needles, snake doctors, horse stingers, mosquito hawks and devil’s darning needle..
Beautiful or gruesome ? It probably depends on how close we look and, of course, the eye of the beholder. Certainly, I think, one of nature’s wonders.
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October 7, 2014 | Categories: natural history, Photography, Places to Photograph Near London, Places to Visit, West London, Wildlife | Tags: beautiful demoiselle, bushy park, damselfly | 5 Comments
Freed From Time 