Finally Finding the Isabella Plantation

In my five years in London, I had never been to the Isabella Plantation. I had wanted to visit, but it had always been a bit too far away. Richmond Park is big, and feels even bigger when you've already spent the day walking along the river, or around Kew Gardens... This was why I didn't make it last year, either; I just took the boat back to Westminster instead (travelling in style).

I had wanted to see the Plantation in May, when it's supposed to look the best–so I waited another year, and finally went last weekend. It really is an amazing place, like I had imagined, and what I loved was that it felt like exploring a secret, forgotten world.
The azaleas and rhododendrons are in flower at this time of year, and they do not only look stunning, so very colourful, but they fill the garden with a lovely sweet scent as well. I was happy to see the bluebells in bloom, too; with all these other colours around, this is probably the prettiest bluebell walk that I've seen.

Isabella Plantation
The Still Pond - 30 April 2011

Isabella Plantation
Azalea light and colour reflections on the water - 30 April 2011

Isabella Plantation
Azalea walk - 30 April 2011

Isabella Plantation
Bluebell walk - 30 April 2011

Isabella Plantation
Rhododendron blossoms - 30 April 2011

More pictures can be found in this Flickr set: Isabella Plantation

Comments

  1. Spring in Isabella Plantation is so beautiful!
    It was autumn when I was there - I only saw heather.
    Have you been to Epping Forest?
    Just wondering if I would to find sea of bluebells there...

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have not been to Epping Forest yet, but I've read about the bluebells there--apparently Linder's Field is a good place to see them.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Gorgeous! I'm heading to Richmond (Petersham Nurseries) today so might have time to visit here too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Beautiful colour combinations and lovely photos. If I lived nearer London I would definitely be paying a visit to the Isabella Plantation.

    ReplyDelete
  5. skirmishofwit, funny; I was at Petersham Nurseries yesterday, too! (Went there after a visit to Kew and walk along the Twickenham riverside, no Richmond Park for me, that would have been too much.) Did you go to the plantation?

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment