Sunday, August 9, 2009
Kew footnote
Emma obviously liked the student veg plots, too. Here's another photo, this showing the lettuce gone to seed and looking very architectural.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
A day at Kew
My last day in England was breezy, a mixture of sun and clouds but, most of all, DRY. It was a perfect day to visit Kew Gardens. I went first to the Xstrata treetop walkway, with some trepidation. Walking along the treetops is a very appealing concept, but a bit scary in reality. The 118 steps up were fine, but looking down was definitely a bad idea.
I did manage to take some pictures, then walked carefully down, gripping the handrail the entire time. I'm sorry to tell you that, two stairways from the ground, a small child ran down behind me and shrieked randomly, causing me to blurt, "Jesus Christ!" We both stared at each other, then continued on our separate ways.
The rest of the day was much calmer. Took a garden tour with one of the docents, who led us to the Palm House and through several other conservatories dedicated to Alpine plants and to a variety of climates that showed off desert plants, ferns, and rock garden plants. She also told us about the catastrophic hurricane that struck England in 1987 and destroyed 15 million trees, including hundreds at Kew. The good news is that one of their oldest trees, first planted in 1798, which had been looking "sulky" according to the guide, perked right up after its root ball was lifted up by the storm. Apparently the aeration was just what it needed, and they've been aerating their mature trees ever since.
After lunch, I wandered through the order beds, which are very much a work in progress, then to the first-year vegetable gardens. It seems that it's quite competitive to enter the three-year garden school at Kew - only 15 are accepted - and part of their first year's progress is measured by the vegetable gardens they create. I was impressed by all of them.
Next up were the Duke's gardens, perennial borders in the good old style. After that, on to Kew Palace, the somewhat forlorn home of the late lamented George III, he of the American revolution and the madness (actually caused by porphyria). The Queen's garden was quite formal, the kitchen garden a delight.
A restorative cup of tea and cake (what will happen to me??), then a walk to the Sackler Crossing over the lake, filled with water fowl including a swan and her teenage children.
A peek into Evolution House (tracing the evolution of plants from algae to stromatolites, to ferns and so forth), then a stroll through the Temperate House (world's largest indoor plant), and a wander back toward the entrance. Read for a bit under a catalpa tree to gather my strength, then left around 5:00 for the slow tube home.
I did manage to take some pictures, then walked carefully down, gripping the handrail the entire time. I'm sorry to tell you that, two stairways from the ground, a small child ran down behind me and shrieked randomly, causing me to blurt, "Jesus Christ!" We both stared at each other, then continued on our separate ways.
The rest of the day was much calmer. Took a garden tour with one of the docents, who led us to the Palm House and through several other conservatories dedicated to Alpine plants and to a variety of climates that showed off desert plants, ferns, and rock garden plants. She also told us about the catastrophic hurricane that struck England in 1987 and destroyed 15 million trees, including hundreds at Kew. The good news is that one of their oldest trees, first planted in 1798, which had been looking "sulky" according to the guide, perked right up after its root ball was lifted up by the storm. Apparently the aeration was just what it needed, and they've been aerating their mature trees ever since.
After lunch, I wandered through the order beds, which are very much a work in progress, then to the first-year vegetable gardens. It seems that it's quite competitive to enter the three-year garden school at Kew - only 15 are accepted - and part of their first year's progress is measured by the vegetable gardens they create. I was impressed by all of them.
Next up were the Duke's gardens, perennial borders in the good old style. After that, on to Kew Palace, the somewhat forlorn home of the late lamented George III, he of the American revolution and the madness (actually caused by porphyria). The Queen's garden was quite formal, the kitchen garden a delight.
A restorative cup of tea and cake (what will happen to me??), then a walk to the Sackler Crossing over the lake, filled with water fowl including a swan and her teenage children.
A peek into Evolution House (tracing the evolution of plants from algae to stromatolites, to ferns and so forth), then a stroll through the Temperate House (world's largest indoor plant), and a wander back toward the entrance. Read for a bit under a catalpa tree to gather my strength, then left around 5:00 for the slow tube home.
Shorter and shorter
As the week draws to a close, I seem to have less time to post. I promise to catch up when I return - for now, here's a look at my visit to Down House, Darwin's home in Kent, yesterday afternoon. Sheer heaven for a Darwinite after a week of total immersion in his life and work. Many are grateful they did not have to join me and spend three hours there...
I noticed this shop from the window of the bus on the way to Downe (the village has the extra E) and wondered if it had anything to do with Darwin.
I noticed this shop from the window of the bus on the way to Downe (the village has the extra E) and wondered if it had anything to do with Darwin.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Catching up
Running out of time... want to report on the Russia Today sampler session by the scholar, the garden tour, the amazing visit to the Natural History Museum, the view of the Cheshire Cat's tree, the final classes, and tonight's talent show. But it's late and I need to pack up for tomorrow morning when I set off for London and perhaps for Down House. More later.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
The day ahead
Lying in bed this morning finishing my explication of Chapter III, The Struggle for Existence, which I am submitting in lieu of my essay on the secularization of the 19th century. When I get home I will read "Middlemarch" instead in penance.
After our seminar this morning devoted to the reception of The Origin, a busy afternoon. From 1:45-3:45, the gardener here at Rewley House will lead a garden tour. Apparently she decides on the day which gardens she will include, so it will be a mystery until then. At this very moment, the sun is shining and the sky is blue, but who knows what it will be like six hours from now. Of course, even in the rain the gardens will look beautiful, as you can see from this shot of dahlias in Balliol yesterday afternoon. Since the college was closed to visitors, I had to teeter on the steps and zoom in to include the "day-lias," as they pronounce them.
The Darwinians in attendance might duck out a little early in order to meet Emma and the others at the Natural History Museum at 3:30. There's a small Darwin exhibit she wants us to see. At 4:00 we are scheduled to see the very room where the famous debate took place between "Soapy Sam" Wilberforce, the Bishop of Oxford, and Darwin's friends Thomas Henry Huxley and Joseph Hooker. The room is now being used for storage, but Emma has persuaded Rowan, her contact, to give us a look.
After our seminar this morning devoted to the reception of The Origin, a busy afternoon. From 1:45-3:45, the gardener here at Rewley House will lead a garden tour. Apparently she decides on the day which gardens she will include, so it will be a mystery until then. At this very moment, the sun is shining and the sky is blue, but who knows what it will be like six hours from now. Of course, even in the rain the gardens will look beautiful, as you can see from this shot of dahlias in Balliol yesterday afternoon. Since the college was closed to visitors, I had to teeter on the steps and zoom in to include the "day-lias," as they pronounce them.
The Darwinians in attendance might duck out a little early in order to meet Emma and the others at the Natural History Museum at 3:30. There's a small Darwin exhibit she wants us to see. At 4:00 we are scheduled to see the very room where the famous debate took place between "Soapy Sam" Wilberforce, the Bishop of Oxford, and Darwin's friends Thomas Henry Huxley and Joseph Hooker. The room is now being used for storage, but Emma has persuaded Rowan, her contact, to give us a look.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
This is for Patrick
The weather has been uncertain all week, but today it just teemed and poured. Emma has told us that today's presentation can count as our final piece of work and after dithering around the secularization of society for a couple days, I give in. If I had world enough and time, I might be able to make a stab at it, but I won't.
Instead I went out hoping to tour the Bodleian, but they were booked. So I went to the Sheldonian Theater, famous for being designed by Christopher Wren, who managed to build a huge open space with no columns. Here is an informational placard about how he did it, and a model of the ceiling supports.
More interesting to me was the climb up to the cupola. It really felt like climbing up into the attic of every old house you've ever lived in. Here's a view.
Once at the top, the cupola afforded views in every direction. I could see the Chiltern Hills for the first time (look closely). Broad Street, Radcliffe Camera and the Bodleian in the rain.
The interior is famous for its painted ceiling showing Arts and Sciences expelling Ignorance from the University, "a task successfully accomplished." Here's a view of the organ with a snippet of ceiling.
After this, visited the Museum of the History of Science, which had an exhibit on early architecture. Astrolabes, clocks, compasses, microscopes and other scientific instruments, along with Wren's plans for St. Paul's Cathedral. Somewhat wasted on me, but I thought of Patrick and persevered.
Instead I went out hoping to tour the Bodleian, but they were booked. So I went to the Sheldonian Theater, famous for being designed by Christopher Wren, who managed to build a huge open space with no columns. Here is an informational placard about how he did it, and a model of the ceiling supports.
More interesting to me was the climb up to the cupola. It really felt like climbing up into the attic of every old house you've ever lived in. Here's a view.
Once at the top, the cupola afforded views in every direction. I could see the Chiltern Hills for the first time (look closely). Broad Street, Radcliffe Camera and the Bodleian in the rain.
The interior is famous for its painted ceiling showing Arts and Sciences expelling Ignorance from the University, "a task successfully accomplished." Here's a view of the organ with a snippet of ceiling.
After this, visited the Museum of the History of Science, which had an exhibit on early architecture. Astrolabes, clocks, compasses, microscopes and other scientific instruments, along with Wren's plans for St. Paul's Cathedral. Somewhat wasted on me, but I thought of Patrick and persevered.
The last two days
Yesterday we discussed Darwin's theory, trying not to include any modifications introduced because of new information. If only he and Mendel had been able to communicate! But never mind. We also talked about Darwin's hesitation in publishing and his friendship with Hooker. Emma brought in wonderful quotes from Darwin's papers, like this one from one of his notebooks.
In Darwin's shorthand, a defense of relativism. As Emma noted, he might not have said what he believed (religiously), but he could say what he doubted.
Darwin is a very appealing character. Here he is complaining about his eight-year study of barnacles (cirripedes): "I an becoming rapidly a Cirripede in my mind."
Today each of us presented a chapter of The Origin to the group, with mixed but mostly good results. Ken, who has grumbled darkly that Darwin is a gradualist when really it's all about catastrophes, gave an even-handed presentation of "On the Imperfection of the Geological Record." Darling Kumi ended her chapter presentation with an unexpected and spirited defense of her Christian beliefs. Several of us commented on Darwin's sometimes lyrical language as he persuades the reader of the truth of his theory. Altogether a satisfying, if unexciting, class.
It is absurd to talk of one animal being higher than another. We consider those, where the cerebral structure/intellectual faculties most developed, as highest. A bee doubtless would when the instincts were.
In Darwin's shorthand, a defense of relativism. As Emma noted, he might not have said what he believed (religiously), but he could say what he doubted.
Darwin is a very appealing character. Here he is complaining about his eight-year study of barnacles (cirripedes): "I an becoming rapidly a Cirripede in my mind."
Today each of us presented a chapter of The Origin to the group, with mixed but mostly good results. Ken, who has grumbled darkly that Darwin is a gradualist when really it's all about catastrophes, gave an even-handed presentation of "On the Imperfection of the Geological Record." Darling Kumi ended her chapter presentation with an unexpected and spirited defense of her Christian beliefs. Several of us commented on Darwin's sometimes lyrical language as he persuades the reader of the truth of his theory. Altogether a satisfying, if unexciting, class.
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