Chelsea Physic Garden

Today, as a direct antidote to yesterday's pomp and grandeur, l went to the Chelsea Physic Garden. This is 31/2 acres of serenity in the middle of London. Established in 1670s as a garden for apothacaries it holds plants from all around the world, all divided into sections and is used for studying and propagating plants and trees to this day. Utter peace.

The statue is of Hans Sloane, an Irish man, who originally studied in this garden and later became its chief benefactor leaving it in perpetuity to the nation for the sum of £5 a year (not bad for what must be some of the most expensive land in the world).

PS for NZers, there is a very sad looking Rimu tree but a few thriving Pungas