At Kew Gardens' Tropical Extravaganza:

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When you go in to the heat and humidity of the greenhouse, the camera lens steams up. These were my first pictures inside; just a bit on the misty side. You're spared the full glare of those colours.

And what colours. The flowers were so bright, the crowds so dense, the heavy-duty camera equipment so intrusive, that it felt like the Disneyland Tropical Greenhouse Experience. Every year the display gets more garish, louder, more extreme. Colour intensity turned up to 11.There were recorded bird screechings and gaudy model parrots stuck in the branches. The only thing missing was attendants dressed up as giant orchids. Next year perhaps.

But there was the occasional island of classic beauty:

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2 responses to “The Tropical Greenhouse Experience”

  1. Noga Avatar

    Perhaps the garish, louder, more extreme colour intensity, the recorded bird screechings and the gaudy model parrots stuck in the branches were designed with an appeal to children in mind. Children also think hamburger and fries are the height of culinary experience.

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  2. Mick H Avatar
    Mick H

    Yes, no doubt. Overall they’re aiming at making Kew a much more kiddie-friendly place.

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