Hello gentle reader,

this week again I’m taking part in the Thursday’s Children meme hosted by Rhiann Wynn-Nolet and Kristina Perez. It is “a weekly blog hop where writers come together to talk about whatever inspires them.”

Because this week has been full of sad news, I thought I’d share pictures of a place that is wonderfully peaceful and inspiring: Kew Gardens. All the photos are mine, so please mention my name if you reuse them…

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew are 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London. Created in 1759, the gardens celebrated their 250th anniversary in 2009.

The Palm House (built in 1844–1848)

Inside the Palm House…

The Cherry Walk, leading to…

The Temperate House (this greenhouse is the world’s largest surviving Victorian glass structure)

Kew Palace (the smallest of the British royal palaces, built around 1631. The home of George III and his family)

Do you have a favourite place near where you live? One that feels peaceful and inspiring when the world seems like a dark place? Feel free to leave me a comment below, and to visit the other Thursday’s Children posts here.