Thursday 9 June 2011

Botanic Gardens, Cambridge

I'm told that "botanical gardens" was a phrase I mastered at a very early age. It was a place my mother often took my brother and I when we were little; to feed the ducks rather than to study botany, it must be said.


You used to be able to walk around for free, but now you have to pay. It's worth it though.


I still like to have a wander around from time to time and enjoy the flowers. If I go with the children from school I get to feed the ducks as well!


I last visited on Saturday morning before taking myself off to Strawberry Fair, so I had a colourful day, though the gardens were a good deal quieter.



Thank goodness for digital photography; I used to shoot ridiculous amounts of film here!


The glasshouses are spectacular and a welcome refuge if it rains.





And there's a nice cafe where you can sit outside and enjoy this view:


Take care.

6 comments:

  1. Wonderful photos I especially like the one with the foxgloves and other pink and lavender toned flowers - just delightful.
    I'm surprised to read you have to pay to visit your Botanical Gardens - ours here in Australia are free.

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  2. John, as I looked at these pictures, I became so envious!!! My gardens are not half as pretty nor do I have a greenhouse. Most of the plants and seeds I got came from my Mom's gardens. So, I get alittle of her at my house, but not her greenthumb! Thank you again, for the wonderful places you take me!

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  3. Lovely! Oh my, I've got a long way to go to have anything even 1% as pretty as these photos. Thank you for sharing them.

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  4. You have to forget envy and just enjoy! The gardens are designed to be a teaching tool for botanists at the university which means that all the plants are accurately labelled, that's great if you want to get something for your own plot. But I suppose that's also why you have to pay for admission; after all it's not really a public garden. Thanks for all comments.

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  5. Cambridge is a city I've visited several times but I must admit that I haven't been to the Botanical Gardens yet. They look well worth visiting, like Dianne my favourite photo is the one with the foxgloves and other cottage-y flowers.

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  6. You're not alone, Rowan, the university don't exactly shout about the gardens and as a result most people miss them. There are also some interesting museums which the general public are largely unaware of. I must admit I'm a bit of a foxglove fan myself.

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