If ever there was a most relaxing part of a trip then this was it! Glasgow Botanic Gardens is quite small, at 8 acres, and so easy to traverse. Whilst a Londoner like me might be used to the behemoth that is Kew Gardens, that place makes for a very tiring day out; this doesn't.
A special shout out to Glasgow Subway, which got us the four stops to where we needed to be (I don't drive, and many of my posts reference using public transport.) It opened in 1896 and is the third oldest underground train system in the world, after the London Underground and the Budapest Metro.
The trains were super cute!
Back nearer to the subject, and here we are at the entrance to the gardens, looking back at Òran Mór. Once Kelvinside Parish Church, it is now an impressive entertainment venue.
I'll leave more pictures of that for my general Glasgow blog, though.
Looking over the Main Lawn, with the Main Range of Glasshouses in the distance...
This glasshouse is called Kibble Palace...
Back view, and it seemed to be quite low and flat...
It contains this stylish and elegant rotunda...
The gardens started off life a couple of miles away in Sauchiehall Street, in 1817. The gardens flourished, and a new home was acquired. They opened on this site in 1842.
The entrance fish pond has an Australian Soft Tree Fern growing on its central island...
On entering the main circular section we are greeted by this sensual statue...
Eve
Statues also adorn the outside of the circle...
Ruth
The Kibble Palace was once a private conservatory- designed for John Kibble- situated in Coulport, on Loch Long, about 42 miles away.
The Sisters of Bethany
This looks like a fox running across the armrest.
🤎
The Kibble Palace was moved here in 1873, and initially operated as a concert hall...
The Elf
These stained glass artworks are from a collection called...
Photosynthesis
I saw three of these- apparently there are nine in total.
They represent divided light...
Photosynthesis is a system of biological processes by which green plants and other organisms convert light energy into growth energy...
Kibble Palace was also a meeting place, and the likes of Gladstone and Disraeli have spoken here...
Stepping Stones
The Nubian Slave
Glasgow Corporation took over the running of the gardens in 1891...
Kibble Palace houses temperate plants...
...Including the national tree fern collection; containing plants mainly from Australia and New Zealand...
Plants from southern Africa, temperate Asia and South America also feature here...
The flower beds are interspersed with colourful plants...
Strelitzias. They are named after Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and I adore this flower- it reminds me of a bird of paradise.🧡
King Robert of Sicliy
Cain
A section dedicated to carnivorous plants is housed inside one of the transepts...
These are called sundews...
Sarracenia purpurea (purple pitcher plant).
Pitcher plants are one of my favourites. I always seek out paintings of them when in the Marianne North Gallery (my favourite artist) in Kew...
The curator gave us a demonstration of how a Venus fly trap works...
Peter Walker Memorial Fountain, 1906.
He was a wealthy Glasgow businessman who frequented the gardens.
Expect to see begonias, orchids and palms in here...
Is this a bug hotel or just a decorative feature?
These look like bromeliads, but don't quote me on that- I didn't photograph the name and I am no botanist!
It's like a jungle in here...💚
Succulents...
Orchids...
This didn't look like an orchid, but apparently it is of that genus...
Arid and alpine plants...
Cacti plain...
Closer view...
It's free to enter these gardens, and it's certainly worth a couple of hours of your time...
Is this an irrigation or heating system? I'm asking as I wouldn't have thought that these would need much irrigation- horticulturally minded friends, help me out!
Purple profusion...
This part really was like being in the jungle...
It was warmer in this part of the glasshouse, and I had to be careful to ensure my camera lens didn't steam up!
Palms...
This tropical section was the pinnacle of this glasshouse for me...💚
Glorious fern curtain.
Inside the Main Range Glasshouse, and it starts with an explanation of a biome- a geographical location with a distinct climate, and vegetation and animal life specific to its region.
...And more filmy ferns...
More beautiful, fecund succulents.
This botanical garden was a real treat, and I'm already looking forward to coming back here...
Abundant ferns...
💚💚💓💚💚
Plants being nurtured...
It was such a lovely surprise, finding a little pond here. It reminded me of a similar unexpectedly placed pond in the conservatory at Syon House, Surrey.
Red hot cat's tails...
The handrails are very rickety, though...
This woodland bridge runs beside- not over- the River Kelvin...
Looking over the River Kelvin...
...And the other way, over towards Queen Margaret Bridge...
The Humpback Bridge...
These were labelled Alexander 'Greek' Thomson's 60 Steps, so we thought that's what they were. But we were wrong! These steps lead up to a road...
Potted begonias...
Closer view...
Purple and pink (my favourite colours) flourishing flowers...
Goldfish swimming in the pond...
I can see a pinecone ginger plant peeping out at the top left...🧡
Outside, we took the steps down to the River Walk, which was labelled as closed on maps I'd seen. But they appeared to be very much open.😕
A bit of belated online searching reveals that the actual 60 steps referred to are a short walk away, and here's a PDF of them...
Pergola...
Arbour...
Roses at the end of the Rose Garden...
Hangin' out with my friends...
Scented Border and Herb Garden...
More little friends as we made our way towards the Vegetable Garden...
This part was the Potager, and the word is French for kitchen garden. Potagers traditionally are supposed to be visible from the house, so therefore should be aesthetically pleasing.
Saying goodbye to the Main Range of Glasshouses...
As we left, Dean said: "Oh look, there's you in the flower bed at the front!"
There was no need for that now, was there?!😆
Glasgow Botanic Gardens I will return- more investigation has revealed the existence of two disused railway stations on this site, so some nosy-parkering beckons. We also missed the Long Pit Glasshouse, so I'll make sure that doesn't happen again, plus I'll slip around the back and find the OTHER Alexander 'Greek' Thomson stairs!
Until then,
TTFN
Miss Elaineous.
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