Banish the winter blues at Kew's Tropical Extravaganza and see over 5 million bulbs melt away winter in spring 2012.

Admission to Kew Gardens is £13.90. Concessions £11.90. Pay at entrance.
(Free with Kew Membership card.)

I have one spare member's pass (has to be male I'm afraid, so first chap to book!)

Meet in the Victoria gate Cafe. The Victoria Gate is the one in straight line from Kew tube station. Bring sketchbooks/camera - whatever your passion.

The forces of nature....

Tropical Extravaganza is a celebration of all things bright, beautiful, and, of course, tropical. See amazing displays of tropical plants and flowers against the lush green backdrop of the Princess of Wales Conservatory.

This year's festival is inspired by the 'forces of nature' - fire, air, water and earth. See the lush tropical landscape of the glasshouse contrasted with vibrant floral displays - fiery reds, yellows and oranges, and shimmering silvers and blues. Discover the fascinating ways plants depend on and balance the effects of these elements.

Fiery displays

Imagine the heat from the striking red leaves of foliage plants, and walk through floral arches that look like flickering flames.

Many plants interact with fire in fascinating ways – developing amazing adaptations to spread their seeds or help them get more sunlight. Learn more about these remarkable relationships in the Princess of Wales Conservatory, illustrated by breathtaking floral displays.

See fiery displays of yellow Oncidiums, orange Anthuriums and red-tinted Guzmanias. Above your head a floral comet leaves a colourful trail of flowers behind it.

Light-seeking blue vanda orchids represent the classical definition of the element fire, which includes the Sun and light. Walk through their trailing roots under a bright floral archway.

Water Displays

Come and see red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) in the Princess of Wales Conservatory

This amazing plant has stilt roots adapted to withstand total submersion in salt water and the action of tidal waves. They act as ‘living armour’, protecting tropical coastlines by dissipating the energy contained in storm waves breaking on the shore.

See the sculptures

While researching the elements, sculptor Emma Garofalo met with Kew mycologists to explore the different fungi to be found in tropical environments, and to learn about where and how they grow.
Emma selected five fascinating fungi to inspire her sculptures:
Earthstars (Geastrum) with fruit bodies that split open like flower petals, exposing the central dome (pictured)
Stinkhorns (Phallus indusiatus) that have spores which ooze out of the top in a slime that smells of rotting meat
Wood recyclers Camillea leprieurii, plantpot dapperling (Leucocoprinus birnbaumii) and Favolaschia


If you are late, catch up with us in the Princess of Wales Conservatory for the Tropical Extravaganza. Mobile 07850 111553

 

 

 

 

 

 
We will also visit the
Marianne North Gallery inside Kew Gardens. Born in Hastings in 1830, Marianne North devoted her life to travelling the world and painting plants.

 

 

 

 

Inside the Marianne North Gallery