blue spaces, through waterways and parks. Also, did you know that London already has eight million trees? Tat’s one tree per capita! Hovering under that canopy of green, here is a taste of London’s garden delights:


Kew Gardens It’s difficult not to start with the phrase “crown jewel” when beginning to describe all the wonder that is Kew Gardens (www.kew.org). Kew is a UNESCO World Heritage site and contains the largest col- lection of living plants in the world, more than 30,000. I could probably stop there but there’s so much more to relish. Troughout the grounds, plants and flow- ers are arranged inside and around more than two dozen glass plant houses and or- namental buildings that allow for all-season climates and ideal growing all year. Kew is also home to an expansive arboretum that contains thousands of trees, with five trees – called the Five Lions – that date from the early days of the garden in 1762. And don’t miss the monkey puzzle tree near the or- angery. Te monkey puzzle is an endan- gered species native to South America that is known as a “living fossil” because of its hardiness. Kew organises regular events for visitors so no visit will ever be the same.


Queen Mary’s Garden Regent’s Park


Te Royal Parks charity www.royalparks.org.uk comprises eight park properties across London, which includes the epitome of rose gardens: Queen Mary’s


Garden in Regent’s Park. With 12,000 roses and 85 varieties, it contains the largest collection of roses in the city. Te garden is also home to National Collection status borders (yes, even borders have such a sta- tus!) with delphinium, begonia and Mediterranean variety plantings. Also part of Te Royal Parks are the exquisite gardens of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, as well as St James’s Park with its famous Buckingham Palace flower beds and peli- cans who have been in residence for 400 years. Further out from the centre of London is the rolling meadows of Bushy and Richmond parks, home to herds of deer.


Off the beaten garden path


When you’ve had your fill of London’s more famous gardens, save time for a few curiosities that draw much less of a crowd – which is what makes them so sublime. Bonnington Square Garden (www.bonning- tonsquaregarden.org.uk) in Vauxhall was es- tablished in a housing community built in the 1870s for railway workers, which was eventually threatened with demolition in the 1980s. Te current pleasure garden was born from a massive community effort to transform a wasteland of common area into a blooming green space. What grows there now has been described as an oasis in the heart of the city, as a friend of mine and former resident explained, it’s “a tiny piece of serenity within the sound of the Division Bell and the thok of leather on willow from Te Oval”. In its confines you will enjoy such blooms as lavender, hellebore,


10 FOCUS The Magazine March/April 2019


Mexican orange blossom and jonquil (daffodils). For those with a penchant for the myste- rious, Abney Park Cemetery (www.abney- park.org) in Stoke Newington is one of the “magnificent seven” garden cemeteries of London. It was first planned as a parkland in the early 18th century by Lady Mary Abney and Dr. Isaac Watts, a well-known theologian and author of the Christmas hymn Joy to the World (as well as an ances- tor to this article’s author!). Abney Park is the first arboretum in Europe to be com- bined with a cemetery and its carefully planned landscape of trees and plantings was one of the most impressive of its day. Te nursery that maintained it closed in the middle of the 19th century and since then the cemetery has been consumed by nature, leaving a haunting outline of its former beauty. Te sense of abundant life juxtaposed with eternal rest makes for a bewitching visit. Springtime is upon us so now is the time to plan your garden tour of London. Te blooms are waiting!


Melissa Romo is an American


businesswoman, writer and author of a historical novel about identity and


nationhood entitled Blue-Eyed Son. She lived in London from 2013 to 2017 and now resides with her family in


New York, happily tending to blooms in her urban patio.


www.focus-info.org


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