Kew: part three

This being the third and concluding part of notice of our recent visit to Kew, with the second part to be found at reference 1. A part which closed with me heading off to the redwood grove.

On return, some sumac like shoots, with zoom failing to resolve the odd-pinnate question to my satisfaction. Superficially odd-pinnate, but would that stand proper inspection of the lead with a magnifying glass?

Plus a white version of the orange bulb mentioned at part two.

The trees above the shoots. Zoom suggests that they are part of the same complex. Noting in passing that I read at reference 4 that some complexes of this sort can cover many acres - and be very old - but aspens not sumacs.

Something had been digging, with there being several patches of this sort of thing. Presumably moles rather than pigs.

A rather blacker view of a different specimen of the black pine noticed previously.

After this lot, off to the Botanical Brasserie for lunch, to be found at reference 2 and by the Victoria Gate, which comes with facilities much more like those which we are used to at the entrance to Wisley, complete with shop.

My father was something of a pioneer of dwarf cyclamen in the garden, and I am sure he have been very amused by this fine bed of same outside the toilets at said gate.

Checking this morning at reference 3, turned up with no difficulty by Bing, I find, rather to my surprise, that Kew gets twice the visitors of Wisley, despite this last being bigger, having a much bigger shop and a huge car park. Somerset House well up at No.8. Hampton Court Palace well down at No.50.

For us, a simple lunch of bread, beer and chicken schnitzel. A very good schnitzel is was too. Some of the party went for a veggie risotto. A place we shall visit again, should occasion arise.

On our way out, we found but did not have time to visit the famous hive. Puts the usually rather naff outdoor art to be found at Wisley in the shade.

Bicycle litter on exit.

On the bridge, traffic was still heading more north than south. It included a No.29, but nothing nearer No.39.

Was it old or was it new? Chimneys says old, so I go for extensive remodelling of an old building. Not quite a fake.

RPPL had a peripatetic librarian in attendance and she helped us to a good haul of botanicals, one of which has already been noticed at reference 6.

While the little book at the bottom was presented by the author, Frank Darling, to R S R Fitter, civil servant turned naturalist, to be found at reference 7. However did it wind up at Raynes Park?

Search for St. Mochua today is confused by: '... there are reputedly fifty-eight Mochuas among the saints of Ireland...'.

On the other hand, I may, quite by accident, have solved part of the mystery of all the botanical books at RPPL, with this very booklet having once been offered for sale by the chap snapped above, to be found at 137 Grand Drive, Raynes Park. A private house, just down the road from Raynes Park Station.

Where he keeps all his books I don't know, but his catalogue includes a lot of specialised and valuable stuff. Too rich for me, so perhaps I shall try the Linneal shop in Piccadilly instead. See reference 8.

Leaving Ewell West, we managed the first small bump with our new car, leaving an almost invisible mark on the front bumper. This last had done its work and absorbed the blow.

A good day but a long day and we were pleased to get home.

As it turned out, Kew was a quite different garden than Wisley, partly because it was a lot older. But my impression was much more of park with fine mature trees than the fancy planting you get at Wisley. But do not mistake me: both have their place. We shall see how long it takes us to get back to them.

PS: the building at the corner turned out to be well documented. The the Star & Garter Hotel clearly marked above. Plus the waterworks previously noticed, now a museum.

Google then offers the story above.

A story which includes this 1929 snap from the London Museum and the (insecure) story below at reference 10. A hotel which was certainly around in 1789. A story which includes the big chimney, previously noticed. I failed to find out how to take legitimate copy of the snap above.

References

Reference 1: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2025/11/kew-part-two.html.

Reference 2: https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/eating-and-drinking.

Reference 3a: https://www.alva.org.uk/details.cfm?p=423. The visitor counts.

Reference 3b: https://www.alva.org.uk/index.cfm. The home page. President: Lord Lee of Trafford.

Reference 4: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lee,_Baron_Lee_of_Trafford. Accountant and banker before turning to politics and public service. His private life appears to be private.

Reference 5: Trees: Their natural history - Peter A. Thomas - 2014.

Reference 6: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2025/10/a-trophy.html.

Reference 7: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._S._R._Fitter.

Reference 8: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2025/11/leaves.html.

Reference 9: The cattle of St. Mochua: A paraphrase of the Irish tale - Frank Darling - 1950.

Reference 10: http://www.web40571.clarahost.co.uk/Strand/Development/Hist19C.htm.

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