Ananda Expeditions

View Original

The University of Oxford Botanic Garden

Founded in 1621, the classic 17th-century walled garden is the oldest in Great Britain. Funny fact: when they built it, they spent so much on the wall... that they had little left to buy the actual plants!

 

 

 

 

 

I fell in love with the garden's black pine tree that was planted in 1800, making it the oldest specimen of the species in Britain.

Apparently J.R.R. Tolkein was a fan of this magnificent tree, too.

THEN, you'd never believe what they have growing in one of their glass houses.... This:

It's a Victoria Lily, and it looks positively prehistoric — don't you think?!

LILY PADS in bloom

A patch of cheery poppies

For more on the history of the garden: http://www.botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk/history-botanic-garden