My wife, Melissa, and I had the opportunity to make it to London, England, in July, 2013, staying at the Thistle Kensington located just across Bayswater Road from Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. We spent many hours walking the 650 acres of the Park and Garden where the Kings and Queens and their Courts have walked and gather since its aquisition in 1536 by King Henry VIII.
I was surprised to find the majority of Kensington Garden and Hyde Park consists, not of "gardens" as we would understand the term in the United States, but of open lawns and ancient trees through which ran broad boulevards for strolling, running and biking. These areas are more like NY's Central Park or St. Louis' Forest Park. The seeming monotony is broken by occasional fountains and formal displays of flowering annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees. When we discovered these, I was ecstatic.
The formal garden of Kensington Palace, known as the Dutch Sunken Garden, is lush and vibrant in July, boasting extravagant displays of a wide variety of flowering perennials as well as palms and evergreen shrubs and trees.
I was surprised to find the majority of Kensington Garden and Hyde Park consists, not of "gardens" as we would understand the term in the United States, but of open lawns and ancient trees through which ran broad boulevards for strolling, running and biking. These areas are more like NY's Central Park or St. Louis' Forest Park. The seeming monotony is broken by occasional fountains and formal displays of flowering annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees. When we discovered these, I was ecstatic.
The formal garden of Kensington Palace, known as the Dutch Sunken Garden, is lush and vibrant in July, boasting extravagant displays of a wide variety of flowering perennials as well as palms and evergreen shrubs and trees.
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| Kensington Palace Sunken Garden |
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| Kensington Palace Formal Pool surrounded by cut flagstone walks and topiary in planters close trimmed lawns and vibrant floral and foliar displays. |
Notice the contrast as well as repetition of color throughout the garden. Color is repeated from bed to bed using a variety of flowering plants, creating continuity while still maintaining interest that draws the eye deeper into the garden to discover the uniqueness of each area.
The Steel Blue of the Globe Thistle seen here in the foreground is repeated by the Lavender, drawing the eye deeper into the landscape.
A wide swath of wine-red bipinnatus Cosmos creates a stunning complementing backdrop to the Globe Thistle.
The striking red flower of 'Bishop of Llandaff' Dahlia stands out dramatically against its black leaves and stems which, in turn, are complemented by the open flower heads of the nearly spent pink Purple Loosestrife(?).
Bee Balm and Ligularia 'The Rocket' in the foreground.
Large topiary Arborvitae leading to the Queen's Alcove and arched walk around the Sunken Garden form the backdrop.
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