London-Kew Gardens

Went with my family including Grandma to Kew Botanic Gardens yesterday. My grandmother loves looking at flowers so she enjoyed the flower beds and roses. The 'Spectral Garden' was showing itself well. However it is summer so many of the blooms in the other part of the gardens have whithered eg azaleas and rhododendrons.

Trees and tropical don't excite my grandmother as much like those in the Palm House Conservatory. " Just a palm tree. We've got lots of those at home. A banana tree? The ones in my backyard look better." "Those periwinkles. They're confined to graveyards."

But she admired the flowers. "They have good soil and good climate here. I can never get my roses to bloom like that no matter how much cow manure I pile on."

Tea and scones at the nearby Maids of Honour tea house finished off the afternoon. This place was recommended by Aunty Siew. Their specialities include the 'Maids of Honour' Tarts (no pun intended) served to King Henry VIII and his royal household, so proclaims a plaque. The 'authentic' English feel was slightly lost when the waitress said with a heavy Eastern European accent, "We clozeeng feefteen meenoot."