Kew ORCHID Festival 2022: Virtual Tour!

[@Tommyr]

Spectacular Geoff! I could LIVE in there! Thanks for the tour!!!

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Yeah definitely - me too! It's just a giant greenhouse but there's way too much to see in just one visit, especially when you factor the crowds into it.

[@brigittejohnson1285]

Wow! What a show. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

I’m happy you enjoyed it, Brigitte! 😁

[@gartmorn]

Wow that's amazing! As you say, a tropical plant grower's dream!

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

I wish I worked there...🤷‍♂️

[@GardeningatDouentza]

Spectacular, Geoff. Thanks for letting us visit with you

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Cheers Rachel - it was a pleasure! I wish I worked in there...🤷‍♂️

[@karanmyers5879]

Oh my. The colors. Everything just beautiful. Thank you Karan🌲

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Thanks Karan - it's a good record of my visit - and I somehow managed to avoid filming the crowds!

[@marthalazar3021]

Beautiful! Thanks for putting such a lovely tour together for us.

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

My pleasure, Martha 😊

[@dixiechick6652]

The beauty of nature 🥰

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

I could have spent all day and night in there.😁

[@grannyplants1764]

Nice! I used to go to the International Orchid Show at the Winter Garden in NYC until the Towers next to it went down. Now the Bronx Botanical Garden has an annual Orchid Show, usually in April, that reminded me of this one at Kew. Really nice, orchids are just fascinating! I really liked the hanging Heliconia, they’re so weird and tropical. This was nice to see while the weather here is cold and windy. But the daffodil buds are coming up ...!😊🌱🌼

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Ah is that what the bright red thing was! I think the best thing about a visit in winter is the contrast between outside and inside. It was a rare sunny day, but still pretty drab in terms of plants, whereas inside it's this tropical paradise. All we needed were a few birds and butterflies and the picture would have been complete.

[@inmadom]

Thank you so much for sharing!!!

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Hope you enjoyed it! 😁

[@jennb3387]

Beautiful! I live up North and travelling to see it in person wasn't feasible, but this was almost as good.

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Glad you enjoyed it, Jenn! It's an expensive trip to central London but well worth it if you ever get the chance to go in person.😁

[@ellenfay9902]

Thanks for the memories. You didn't show the giant lily pads Boy floated on toward the waterfall! I haven't been there since I was 20 in 1979. Oh, to be that age again : )

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Pleasure! The giant lilies are in their own glasshouse which was closed unfortunately. You should definitely go again - worth the hassle getting there (from up North, that is!).

[@ellenfay3070]

It’d be harder than that; I’m in Florida.

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

@@ellenfay3070 That would be pretty hard for you I guess... 🤷‍♂️ 🤣 On the flip-side you do have your own tropical plants growing outside to look at all year round. 😁

[@canadianhaven]

Wow! Loved the tour Geoff, Thank You! I couldn't begin to pick a favourite. Could you try to describe the overall scent when you first walked in? Have a great evening.

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Glad you liked it Ruth. Erm, scent I’m not so good with! 🤣 It smelled like plants to me…🤷‍♂️😁 Was really amazing though, especially at about 5 degrees Celsius outside. A real tropical tonic in the bleak mid winter.

[@kathymacomber5115]

I would love to see Kew Gardens

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

And I would love you to see it.😁

[@mesandz2623]

Beautiful thank you. I’m a tad disappointed with this year Kew Gardens showing time table 6-10pm. And I’m sure the orchids on sale gonna over price!

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

I wish I lived close enough to go more often. I could spend all day in just the Princess of a Wales Conservatory. Especially in winter when there’s not much going on outside.

[@edwardwiper1323]

Just watched your virtual tour it was amazing.The only place i've been like that is the Eden project in Cornwall.I have been going to go to down to Kew for years but its a definite next year.

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Thanks Edward - the Eden project is fab, and we're getting one built up north apparently, although disappointingly it appears to be all about the sea rather than plants.🤷‍♂️

[@edwardwiper1323]

@@Grow_Up_Man55 O i had not heard about building one up north shame about it been about the sea it would have nice as im in West Yorkshire😞

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Actually after reading a bit more about it, it does sound like it could be pretty good: bit.ly/3Kh4aOq

[@christinenorton2510]

Well done Geoff that was brilliant. Can you buy any plants there.

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

Thanks Christine I appreciate that. No plants for sale, at least, not of the tropical variety. Kew are more into their scientific research and seed bank collection.

[@michaelmccarthy4077]

"another Genseriad on my wishlist" it was right there, just pinch off a piece, cross it off the wishlist 😉

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

I should have sauntered out with bits of stem protruding out of every orifice!🤣

[@kathymacomber5115]

I like to go with plant nuts like me and not rush through

[@Grow_Up_Man55]

That's the only downside - the crowds of people! If you're retired and can go during a working day perhaps it wouldn't be quite as busy but alas...I ain't!🤷‍♂️

[@kathymacomber5115]

Oh😩