The bulk of Kew's grounds is devoted to the cultivation of trees, some over 250 years old (a Sophora japonica, see the 99 visit report), but many much younger... and ALL with a label!Some had impressive trunk architecture (like the pine above left), others had wonderful bark (like the paperbark maple above center) and others were very rare, such as the Meliosma pinnata from Korea, pictured above right. However, most of the trees were laid out in majestic fashion, with ample room to grow and expand to full size. There were gigantic red oaks (largest I've ever seen), huge lindens (Tilia), chestnuts (Castanea), Indian horsechestnut (Aesculus indica), European beeches, ashes, etc, etc.
The trees helped define the various long vistas at Kew (right), many of them ending up on the famous Pagoda (below), placed there mainly to offer a focal point and reflecting the fascination of early Victorians with China and Japan.
