2023 IPS mid-term, London

[Tracy S]

Starting  a Thread for this Mid Term Trip

This was in the IPS magazine and was posted as proposed. Hopefully we can get updates on this thread

2023 IPS mid-term, London: Sunday May 21–Thursday May 25 Including RBG Kew, RHS Chelsea Flower Show and Wakehurst Place Capacity 50

[Kim]

This one ticks all my boxes for London. Chelsea Flower Show! Kew! I hope to be able to visit the Marianne North Gallery at Kew.

[Tracy S]

I made a trip to London specifically to see kew and it was amazing. Best botanical garden I have ever been to. I would love to see it again as one of the palm houses was closed for renovations. 

I hope I get to go on this trip!

[Cindy Adair]

And I hope to see you both there!
 

I will post here when I understand the process for deciding the non Directors who can be added and still keep the numbers manageable for our usually much smaller alternate year (Interim) Board meetings. 

Some historically have been definitely open to all, but not always long in advance.

Some have allowed life members and major donors the first chance to join up and others were first come first served or were only Directors, but I am told that is not today’s trend. 
 

I think much will depend on which Directors show interest and pay up and if they plan to bring a roommate. 

I believe our next zoom Director’s meeting is planned for January but lots of email discussions before then of course.

I for one plan to stay in Europe longer than the short meeting time as I have never even been to England and only one week decades ago (in Italy) as my total European experience.

So stay tuned.

[UK_Palms]

Wow I didn't realise they had an IPS visit to London. I'm not a member though, so wouldn't have received a newsletter. Many folk probably haven't visited in years, or decades, so they may not be aware of how advanced the London palm scene has become. Of course Kew Gardens is a no brainer and the Chelsea Flower Show is world renowned too.

For those that do go, I strongly recommend a trip to Chelsea Physic Garden in central London where there is impressive CIDP, Butia, Jubaea, Washingtonia, Chamaerops etc growing out in the open. You can do that garden in about 2 hours. After make the short 10 minute trip across the river Thames, via bridge, to Battersea Park and visit the subtropical gardens. There are CIDP Washingtonia Filifera, Cycas Revoluta etc in the park. The specimens are more impressive than most people realise. London's best palms are growing in parks and on streets.

If you are visiting Kew Gardens, these Robusta's are a 5-10 minute walk away on Mortlake Road in Richmond. Planted very small in 2012 and never protected.

 

Can't miss the River Gardens CIDP as well in Fulham, which is in central London. Probably the most iconic London palm out there. Planted tiny in the late 80's.

 

If you are in Wimbledon, you may want to check out the huge Filibusta on Darlaston Road.

 

If you are in central London, a quick trip to Egerton Terrace is highly recommended. There is also a Butia, Chamaerops & massive Yucca Elephantipes there too.

 

Some people may decide to visit the Greenwich area, which is quite popular, in which case there are a fair few Washingtonia about in that area, like this one on Ashburnham Grove. A trip to Burgess Park would also make sense if folk are heading out towards the Greenwich area. There is a public garden at Burgess Park with impressive Butia and CIDP.

 

Head to Warwick Gardens in Kensington to see self-seeding CIDP at street level. Central London again.

 

 

Those visiting Kew may also want to go to the Palm Centre in Richmond, where there is a stunning Jubaea planted out & a big Butia. Also an impressive Trithrinax planted out.

 

Nice Brahea Armata just round the corner from Kew Gardens as well for anyone interested. 5 minutes walk from Kew. There are bigger ones in north central London. Let me know if anyone wants the locations to visit them.

 

The Lambeth Bridge CIDP just across the Thames from the London Eye and Houses of Parliament may also be worth a visit, especially with an iconic London bus in the background!

 

Crazy number of Washingtonia if you know where to look. The big Filifera's are tucked away in back yards. I know of two separate 40 footer Filifera's in London back yards now. Most that are accessible at street level are hybrids. A 40 footer Robusta is in a private garden too. The Filifera below is at Falcon Way on the Isle of Dogs.

 

The St James Square Robusta's are conveniently in central London and easily accessible.

 

CIDP's are everywhere too if you know where to look...

 

Also you will notice wild parakeets flying around London, especially at places like Kew Gardens. They are incredibly loud and vocal. If you want to hand feed them, go to Kensington Gardens in Hyde Park, or you can go to St James Park. Both are in central London so quite accessible. I took these photos last month at Kensington Gardens.

 

I should take IPS folk on a guided tour haha. I could show you palms and exotics that would blow your mind for 51N of the equator. Anyway I have specified some convenient locations for street palms in relation to central London and Kew, for those visiting. A few east and south London ones as well. If you have a few days to spare in London, you can incorporate them into your itinerary. It would be crazy not to. There are lots of other big ones in other parts of outer London that are more off the beaten path, so less accessible.

 

Edited October 23, 2022 by UK_Palms

[Cindy Adair]

UK palms I am so impressed with all your great information and photos! 

Wow!

Even though as a Director one full day is devoted to a Board meeting I hope to explore some of the places you have highlighted so our paths might cross.

You should definitely join the IPS since the first level of membership is FREE! We plan other trips (with room for lots of people) like to New Caledonia and to Thailand plus our club is a non profit does lots of other good works too.

https://palms.org/membership/

[Tracy S]

Uk palms,

Thanks for the local knowledge! Those are some impressive palms. Please join IPS. We need more representation from th UK contingent. 🙂

[Kim]

Wow, nice palm tour of London, UK Palms! More species than I might have expected. British botanists have famously collected all over the world in the early centuries of exploration, so it should come as no surprise to see unusual plants pushing the limits of the climate zone. Please join the IPS! (...yes, there is an echo in here.) 😉

[Foxpalms]

Its probably also worth checking out the Norfolk island pines in London and of course if you have the time Cornwall is full of amazing gardens with nikaus and king palms. 

Edited November 28, 2022 by Foxpalms

[Tracy S]

I have not been to cornwall at all. Online it looks like there are several gardens there. Which gardens do you recommend in Cornwall?

[Foxpalms]

On 11/28/2022 at 11:03 PM, Tracy S said:

I have not been to cornwall at all. Online it looks like there are several gardens there. Which gardens do you recommend in Cornwall?

The must visit ones are the Tremenheere sculpture gardens, lamorran gardens, The Eden project and of course the Tresco abbey gardens on the Scilly isles, which you can take either the helicopter or the boat from Penzance. Some other good ones are the Lost Gardens of Heligan which has big washingtonia, Glendurgan gardens which has a good sized juania australis. Some parks also have a nice collection of palms such as the Fox Rose Hill gardens which has livistona and the Morrab Gardens.  Here are some photos from Cornwall.

Edited November 30, 2022 by Foxpalms

[Tracy S]

Excellent information and I really appreciate the pictures. It sounds like I will need to extend the trip to get in all those gardens. Thanks so much!

[Duane PR]

So looking forward to the London trip in May!  The two closest lodgings were full, so I went with the third option, a 20-minute walk away.  I made a reservation for ten nights, and a flight reservation arriving early in the afternoon on May 19 (well after the coronation) and departing mid-morning on May 29.  After the IPS activities, I plan to visit some museums, and then to go to the Royal Opera House on back-to-back evenings, to see Sleeping Beauty (ballet) on May 26 and Aida (opera) on May 27 ... I already bought my tickets: nice seats.

[Foxpalms]

On 1/25/2023 at 9:35 PM, Duane PR said:

So looking forward to the London trip in May!  The two closest lodgings were full, so I went with the third option, a 20-minute walk away.  I made a reservation for ten nights, and a flight reservation arriving early in the afternoon on May 19 (well after the coronation) and departing mid-morning on May 29.  After the IPS activities, I plan to visit some museums, and then to go to the Royal Opera House on back-to-back evenings, to see Sleeping Beauty (ballet) on May 26 and Aida (opera) on May 27 ... I already bought my tickets: nice seats.

Definitely recommend looking at the CIDP, Washingtonia, Norfolk Island pines and howea forsteriana locations posted on here and checking them out in London. May is one of the better months to visit day length is around 16 hours then. The natural history museum has some nice CIDP outside of it and some good sized ones nearby in Knightsbridge.

[SHEP]

Hi, wish I could go, but will be in Prague at that time for a Rock Garden Meeting.  I love London.  Try not to miss the British Museum, right inside the front door is the Rosetta Stone, towards the back are the Elgin Marbles.  Remember, the museums in London are free.  Oh yes, the food in the cafeteria in the rear is excellent, so try to do lunch there.  Our favorite museum was the Victoria & Albert, by far.  They also have a rotating collection, it is usually very interesting.  I want to describe it as a cultural museum, but I know that's probably incorrect.  One time they had an exhibit on underwear garments of all things.  We also really enjoyed the Churchill Museum, which is underground war room from WWII.  

Also, if you have time, north of London is Waterperry Gardens, where they keep the National Collection of Saxifraga's, you will need a car to get there, but they should be flowering in May, and I am very sorry I missed that when we visited in October.  They have one Saxifraga, when we were there, that there are only two or three of the plants in the world.  Adrien Young, maintains them, and we were lucky he drove up to show us the collection.   Look up in google images,  Saxifragas are beautiful plants, fabulous when flowering.  The restaurant there is also very, very good (fresh pear juice from the Waterperry Gardens), and a historical chapel in the back (not advertised), from the Middle Ages.  Who knows, there may be a local Alpine Garden show nearby when you are there, and they have to be seen to be believed.  The Alpine collection at Kew is fantastic, but a great garden and not to be missed.  We took the train from London (it seemed short, less than 30 minutes, but we were coming from Richmond)  and walked a few blocks there.  The entire garden is a must see.  Cecile

[Cindy Adair]

Thanks so much for all the great suggestions!

I am teaming up with another Director for three nights (after the main events) in an airbnb in historic Conwy, North Wales near a botanical garden. 

 

 

[Kev Spence]

Great to meet all you guys at the Palm Centre in London yesterday fab weather great company

[UK_Palms]

Enjoy the visit to Kew tomorrow! Unfortunately I cannot attend as my father has his cancer treatment and I have a lot on in general, but I hope everybody has a great visit. The weather looks great with lots of sun and London is even forecasted to be a shade warmer than Los Angeles for the Kew expedition at 22C / 72F! In fact next week is forecast to be quite a bit warmer than LA for those in town visiting! Can't really ask for much more at 51N in late May, even though this spring in general has been on the 'cool' side for us. No proper warmth yet.

Also, if you are fair skinned, remember that sunscreen too as the Met Office are forecasting level 8 UV around midday.

 

I look forward to seeing the pictures. Hopefully the Phoenix Canariensis out in the open are starting to recover in the 'Mediterranean garden' after the worst winter in over a decade! I also hope that someone can get an updated, post-winter photo of the twin Washingtonia Robusta's on nearby Mortlake Road too! They must be taller than the house now almost.

Keep an eye out for all the parakeets as well. You will certainly hear them at Kew as they are the noisiest things in the city!!! I think Kew alone has about 5,000 resident parakeets now. I will try to visit the gardens later in the year around August/September and do my own, in-depth update. I wish I could attend to meet a few of you, but my circumstances prevent that. Enjoy your visit nonetheless. As I said, I look forward to seeing the photos!