Barbican Conservatory Home to over 2000 species of tropical plants and trees (some of which are rare and endangered in their native habitat), Barbican Conservatory is the second largest conservatory in London. With a vibrant mix of temperate and arid types, the plants range from areas as diverse as the rocky deserts and bushland of
Chelsea Physic Garden It’s hard to believe that nestled in the heart of Chelsea on the bank of the Thames is London’s oldest botanic garden. Home to 5000 different species of medicinal, herbal, edible and useful plants, Chelsea Physic Garden was founded by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries in 1673, in order to grow medicinal
Isui-En Isui-En translates as ‘garden founded on water’, an apt name as the garden is designed around two ponds fed by the neighbouring Yoshikigawa River. I can’t decide which is my favourite garden in Nara (a very hard choice considering Yoshikien is right next door), but Isuien for me is one of the most memorable.
Yoshiki-En We visited Yoshikien in early April. It was still unexpectedly cold for spring and apart from the cherry blossom, the trees were still very much asleep. Despite being a little bare, the garden was still beautiful. We arrived in Nara late morning, and while we usually like to explore and photograph nature in either
The Conservatory, Kyoto Botanical Garden It doesn’t matter where we’re heading in the world, one of the first things we’ll start researching are nearby gardens. Why I’d never visited the Kyoto Botanical Gardens before this spring then was a little mind boggling, especially considering it’s home to Japan’s largest conservatory. It’s also home to over
Okochi Sanso Another of my favourite quiet gardens of Kyoto is the beautiful Okochi Sanso. Formally owned by Japanese actor Okochi Denjiro, his house and gardens have now been opened to the public. Since it was built on the top of a hill, the gardens wind up hill – little stone paths leading from moss
Shōren-in Shōren-in is one of the five Monzeki temples of the Tendai sect in Kyoto and is nestled up a side street in the Southern Higashiyama area. It’s peaceful, sheltered and – for want of a better phrase – a little solemn. I visited on a rainy day in early April and as I sat
Honen-in Honen-in, one of my favourite temples in all of Kyoto. My first visit two years ago was beautifully peaceful – the kind of peace that only comes when visiting a serene garden in the rain. Part of me was hoping for a little downpour this time round as well, but sadly that came on
It’s impossible for me to name my favourite Kyoto temple or garden. With 1600 temples in to visit in Kyoto it’s no surprise really, and it’ll take me many many years to visit them all. There’s a popular walk Jim and I like to take when we’re in the northern higashiyama region. Starting from Keage