Spring at Kew Gardens: The Biggest and Brightest Display of Blooms in the Country

March to April 2013

Come and experience the stunning beauty of over five million spring bulbs in bloom. The swathes of snowdrops, crocuses, and daffodils are set to be a riot of colour to melt away the winter blues, and with Mother’s Day (Sun 10 March 2013) coming up it is a great way to treat the whole family.

On entering the Gardens at Victoria Gate, visitors will be greeted by a sea of over two million blue, white, and mauve crocuses (Crocus vernus) stretching beyond the Temple of Bellona, towards King William's Temple.

Be amazed by the carpet of sunny daffodils planted along the entire length of the Broad Walk, the perfect setting for a lazy stroll on a spring day.

Don’t miss your last chance to see the beautiful snowdrop collection in the Rock Garden, displaying 14 different species and subspecies of snowdrop and several cultivars.

For more unusual and exotic bulbs, visit the Davies Alpine House, with changing displays from March to May. For updates visit the Alpine House and Rock Garden blog (http://www.kew.org/news/kew-blogs/index.htm). Peak time to view the species tulip collection is late March.

Later in the season thousands of deep blue, starry flowered Chionodoxa siehei carpet the lawns surrounding White Peaks, where lovely lilacs also flourish. The delicate alpine plants are known as Glory of the Snow in western Turkey as they emerge from the melting snow of the mountains.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy the sight of Kew’s trees as they awaken from winter and burst into new life (keep an eye on the Arboretum team’s blog for updates on the many colourful and wonderfully scented flowering shrubs and blossom throughout the Spring- http://www.kew.org/news/kew-blogs/index.htm). Cherry Walk is a particular highlight from mid-March http://www.kew.org/visit-kew-gardens/garden-attractions-A-Z/Cherry-Walk.htm.

The 250 magnificent magnolias across the Gardens are a sight to behold in early April. The trees grouped together at Elizabeth Gate, with their large pink and white flowers, stand out as a special highlight for your visit.

Plan your visit to Kew and keep up to date with spring flowering with using the Bulbwatch Map: http://www.kew.org/visit-kew-gardens/BulbWatch/

David Nash: A Natural Gallery

Be sure to catch our critically acclaimed David Nash: A Natural Gallery exhibition before it ends on Sun 14 April 2013. The Gardens are stunning to visit at any time of year, but there is even more reason to visit Kew this spring. Not only can you see Nash’s exciting new works, which are on display in Kew’s indoor gallery spaces, but it is also a great time to re-visit Nash’s stunning outdoor sculptures which have taken root across the Gardens. From summer through to spring, the sculptures have responded to the changing cycle of the seasons, evolving and adapting to their environment – come and see how they are now transformed by delicate and pastel spring colour.

Blossom and Bloom tour

To really get the most from the Gardens at this wonderful time of year, put a spring in your step with a guided tour of the very best of the wonderful bulbs and blossoms on display during the Easter period, hosted by our volunteer guides. Discover classic favourites as well as rare species from around the world and hear about their habitats and the conservation issues facing them.

Date: 1 March – 30 April
Times: Daily at 12noon
Duration: 1 hour
Location: Guides desk, Victoria Gate Plaza
Booking: From 15 minutes before tour start at the Guide’s Desk. Spaces are limited – 15 people/tour
Groups: Groups of 6+ will need to book in advance. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Please contact us at tours@kew.org or 020 8332 5604
Check www.kew.org/events for details.

Ends

Notes to Editors

For press information please contact 020 8332 5607 or email pr@kew.org
Press images are available to download from www.kew.org/press/images. Please contact the press office for the username and password.

Spring species:

Narcissus pseudonarcissus (daffodil) http://www.kew.org/plants-fungi/Narcissus-pseudonarcissus.htm
Galanthus woronowii (snowdrop) http://www.kew.org/plants-fungi/Galanthus-woronowii.htm
Galanthus nivalis (common snowdrop) http://www.kew.org/plants-fungi/Galanthus-nivalis.htm
Crocus sieberi (Sieber’s crocus) http://www.kew.org/plants-fungi/Crocus-sieberi.htm

Visitor information:

Opening hours:

• Mon 25 Feb to Sat 23 March 2013 – 9.30am to 5.30pm.
• Sun 24 March to Tues 27 Aug 2013 – 9.30am to 6.30pm
(On weekends and bank holidays we close an hour later. Last entry to the Gardens, the glasshouses, galleries and the Xstrata Treetop Walkway is 30 minutes before closing.)

Admission: Adults £16.00, Concessions £14.00 (prices include £1.50 voluntary Gift Aid donation), free for children under 17 (with an adult).

Contact: info@kew.org, 020 8332 5655, or visit www.kew.org

Retail information:

Growing Garden Bulbs
Richard Wilford, Kew Publishing, Feb 2013
£7.00

This new gardening book in the popular Kew Growing series, focusing on growing temperate garden bulbs in the outdoor garden, is available to buy from Victoria Plaza shop. With some 30 years experience of growing and writing about bulbs, Kew’s Richard Wilford shares his expert knowledge on choosing the best bulbs to grow.

The Genus Tulipa: Tulips of the World
Diana Everett, Kew Publishing, May 2013
£42.00

New to Kew’s Botanical Magazine Monograph series, The Genus Tulipa is the most complete survey of tulip species to date. Each species is illustrated by a botanical painting by artist and author Diana Everett, with accompanying colour photographs of the plants in habitat and distribution maps. The high level of detail provided makes identification possible for the many species of tulips.