Tate Britain

As a Turner fan, I have been to the Tate Britain several times (just search "Turner" for previous posts). We saw all the Turners, again, and also breezed through the historical collection and a couple of the special collections, and, of course, the superb gift shoppe. But it was the Rex Whistler Restaurant and its 360 degrees of Whistler murals that got my attention this time.

Cute Reynolds

The Victorians were big on moralistic art... this from a series
entitled Woman's Mission: Companion of Manhood, George
Elgar Hicks

My personal favorite, Comfort of Old Age

P honing her interpretive skills

Don't remember what Hockney was doing at the Tate, but I admire his early
dabbling in acrylics and later use of a Mac

Under the big top at the Tate

Now in the Rex Whistler Restaurant at the Tate; students of this blog will recall
our last Whistler encounter, at Plas Newydd (http://roadeveron.blogspot.com/
2016/07/plas-newydd-2016.html)

This is a similar but much larger version...

A few views

An attempt at a 360...

Whistler's bill for materials

Must eat there next time...

With Penelope Among The Britons

While we were touring Hampton Court, grand-daughter Penelope and her parents were arriving and setting up housekeeping in central London. We spent most of the next few days with them, visiting old and new sites in the big city before taking P with us for more camping and touring in England and then across the Channel.

First stop was the Eye and a ride P had been promised

We carried on up the river to the Tate Britain
(later post)

Construction cranes dotting the horizon

Nice literary tribute

Really loves her Grandma

Interesting sculpture at the British Library (see the forthcoming
British out-takes post)

Three generations of readers...

Street scene

The British Library

P with one of the more interesting Tube buskers

Victoria and Albert probably didn't plan it this way, but the
major use of the pool and fountains, especially on warm days,
is entertainment for the kids

Now aboard Le Duc and ready to carry on
carrying on

Hampton Court Gardens

The Hampton Court palace gardens are vast and diverse, including most of the major types of garden...plus much topiary, the world's oldest still-producing vine, the oldest garden maze, the longest herbaceous border, etc. We would have been totally blown away, but Kew Gardens was next on our agenda.

Color everywhere

Along one of the two great borders

Where else to see this?

One of many long avenues

Pano of the back 40 and its avenues...

The grand canal

In the vast formal gardens

Am I using the word "vast" too much?

Rare plants outside the old orangery

Dutch gardens borrowed largely from the French

Largest wisteria ever, so far

Allegedly the oldest still-producing vine

Ripening for the fall

Inside the oldest maze

The longest border

Along the Thames near the original entrance

Yes, even Capability had a hand in the gardens
at Hampton Court, although he was by no
means the only designer

Another incredible home and garden!