Tourist taking video of blossoms flowers in rhododendron dell Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Richmond Surrey England Britain UK Europ
Rhododendrons are one of the largest and most spectacular groups of flowering shrubs, showing great variation in size, habit and form. Over 700 specimens of hardy species and hybrids are planted within the Rhododendron Dell, some of which are unique hybrids found only at Kew. Growing conditions are favourable for Rhododendrons within the Dell as the River Thames runs parallel to the area, increasing humidity. Shade is provided by many trees including the Oak trees, which form part of the Quercus collection. The soil, which is not naturally acid, is treated with high-acidity organic mulch and sulphur treatments to reduce the pH level of the soil to one that is more appropriate for Rhododendrons. While it may look a natural valley today, Capability Brown carved the area out of the River Thames floodplain in 1773, when he created what was then called Hollow Walk. It only became the Rhododendron Dell when Sir Joseph Hooker began bringing back Rhododendrons from his Himalayan expeditions in the 1850s.
Size: 5501px × 3682px
Photo credit: © Nick Hanna / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: biological, biology, botanic, botanical, climate, climatic, collections, conditions, conservation, cultivate, cultivation, development, diversity, educate, education, enjoying, environment, environmental, estate, expert, extraordinary, famous, flora, garden, gardening, gardens, green, greenery, growing, growth, herbage, heritage, historic, history, horticulturalists, horticulture, kew, landmark, landscape, landscapes, landscaping, life, living, nursery, organis, outstanding, patronage, people, plant, plants, research, residence, royal, royalty, science, scientific, site, specimens, status, structure, sustainable, tradition, unesco, vegetation, verdure, work, world, zones
