Note: I changed to counting down to counting up.
From original post: I will be turning 63 late next month. Sixty three! It is not an auspicious number. No big round number, no massive event. Just a birthday - hopefully the first in 3 years that isn't Covid screwed.
But, here's the thing, I am feeling pretty good right now (mentally). And I am looking forward to the next phase of my life. Having said that, it is time to look back fondly on what gifts I have been given. And, by gifts, I usually mean the pleasure of experiences with friends and loved ones.
These set of experiences changed the way I think about life, at least the sense of beauty I missed. I now love gardens - particularly botanical gardens that show you the beauty and diversity of unique places. Now, I love a great English Garden as well. And Kykuit almosts makes the grade here, but not quite.
#56: Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro built a garden from one its old armoury factories. He and I saw it many moons ago, and it is lovely. I can't find pictures I took from this place (or below), but it was stunning.
You enter through a promenade of huge palm trees through to a gorgeous fountain. And wander from there.
#57: Kirstenbosch Gardens in Cape Town South Africa.
Kirstenbosch is home to many indigenous flowers (including Bird of Paradise!) from the region. One type of flower, proteas, are indigenous to the region and ONLY in this region. The proteas are ancient flowers that have lived pretty unchanged since the dinosaurs. The exist here in large part because as all the continents moved around the globe, this one area in the world, did not really move. These flowers are perfectly adapted to this area, and hard to grow in most others.
#56 Akureyri Botanical Garden
Yes, I love Alpine Gardens. And yes, this one less than 35 miles from the arctic circle was the most spectacular.
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| The setting of the alpine garden. Each mound is displayed for different areas of the globe. |
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