There are many wonderful and unique attractions that can be viewed at Kew Gardens.
The serene Garden of Harmony with the Chokushi-Mon (Imperial Envoy’s Gateway) are gems in Kew’s landscape.
The Japanese Gateway perched above the Japanese garden. The Garden of Harmony was designed in the style of the Momayama period of the original gateway.
The gateway is a four-fifths replica of the 1573 Nishi Hongan-Ji gate in Kyoto, Japan. The gateway was created for the Japan-British Exhibition in London in 1910. Once the Exhibition was over the gateway was dismantled and reconstructed on Mossy Hill, near the Pagoda in Kew Gardens.
Pagoda from the Garden of Harmony
The Great Pagoda was completed in 1762 under the supervision of Sir William Chambers from a design imitating traditional Chinese pagodas.
The ten story-high Great Pagoda is 163 ft high, making it an excellent landmark of Kew Gardens
The Great Pagoda offers a lovely shady spot in which to rest
We ended our tour of Kew Gardens with a relaxing break under the shade offered by the Great Pagoda.
We discovered this strange fellow near the Minka House in Kew Gardens, England. He was not disturbed by anything. Most people didn’t even notice him because he was so quiet. One man almost stepped on him, that’s how nonchalant this Golden Pheasant was.
Golden Pheasant at Kew Gardens doesn’t give a hoot
He will leave when he wants to, don’t mind him.
At Kew Gardens there is a lovely pair of Canada Geese who are very protective of their little ones.
Here they are starting off their morning stroll down the path.
The geese with a little one
The wee goslings would often stop on their walk to examine their surroundings.
Mama says, “Don’t stare at the strange man with the camera, dear.”
Mama would often give here brood tips on how to behave in public.
“Just walk along and ignore any strangers you might happen to meet.”
The morning stroll was enlivened when papa goose discovers a treasure.
“I found something!”
The little ones dashed over to see what papa had discovered.
“How is it? Is it good?”
After papa goose nodded his approval the little ones crowded in to get a taste of the delicious orange bread.
“What a great treat!”
But all was not well, for in Kew Gardens lurks naughty Raven, who is always stealing everyone’s snacks. Today was no exception, Raven was on the prowl for tasty pieces of bright orange bread!
Becoming more famished by the minute, Raven watched the goslings devour the scrumptious orange bread.
But mama and papa goose saw Raven watching them and were having none of his monkey business.
Mama and papa goose honked and hollered at Raven, but he did not leave.
Of course, Raven was too proud to be scared off by a bit of goose chatter, he dove in to claim his orange prize!
Papa goose saw Raven coming and stood his ground.
However, Raven was very hungry, a puny indignant goose would not detour him.
So, papa had to chase after Raven
And chase…
And flap…
And he even puffed himself up so that Raven would be frightened of him, puffing-up was papa’s secret weapon.
Finally, Raven gave up. Papa duck was very proud and strutted back to mama goose.
Papa goose proclaimed to mama and the frightened little ones, “Puffing-up always does the trick!”
With the naughty Raven out-of-the-way, the family was able to seek out and enjoy their yummy orange bread.
The wee goslings could not find the bread on their own, mama had to show them where to find it.
Once they had found the tidbit, mama goose sampled it to make sure it was still good for the little ones.
“Mmm… yes, that will do.”
Once mama gave her approval it was a free-for-all, the wee ones fought as vigorously for the bread crumbs as Raven had.
“What’s that there! No, don’t, I saw it first!”
“Aww! Come back here!”
Peace was restored, as it always is, when all the food had filled the tiny bellies.
“Come dears, its time to continue on our walk.”
All the little ones said yes mama, hoping that around the next bend would be more amazing bright orange bread.
A common theme that I noticed in London is that everything is rather large.
The tree trunks were tremendous.
Cross-section of a stump at Kew Gardens
The gold coins were giant.
This gold coin at Harrods was huge!
The columns were colossal.
Just look at this one, it is covered with bathroom tiles!
Minton tiled column in the Silver Galleries at the Victoria and Albert Museum
And the kitty cats were massive.
There were several cats at Trafalgar Square
He did not seem to like being called “kitty cat”
When visiting museums or even botanical gardens be sure that you look, rather than touch.
Taken at Kew Gardens
No matter how delicious the displays may appear, do not eat them.
Meanderings Abound 