21 Drops Blog

No visit to England—a country that prides itself on its passion for gardens—is complete without a visit to Kew Royal Botanic Gardens.

“All life on earth depends on plants. They harness the sun’s energy, provide the air we breathe, give us food, fuel, shelter and medicine.” – Kew Royal Botanic Gardens

From London, I took the scenic tour up the Thames River, seeing many historical points along the way. Upon arriving at Kew, which houses one of the world’s largest collections of living plants (30,000 different species) on its massive 300 acres, I quickly made a plan for my visit.

Of most interest to me were the special exhibits titled Rainforest Remedies and Healing Heroes. These displays showcased the benefits of medicinally healing plants and presented examples of  ‘natural’ pharmaceuticals.

These exhibits teach that plants and humans co-exist and depend on each other in many aspects of life. The fact that we can utilize their manufactured chemicals in the form of essential oils and modern day pharmaceuticals is a great bonus.

It was a beautiful day spent in the garden, appreciating the natural beauty that we have been     blessed with.

Rose-scented geranium has been proven to have antibacterial and antifungal properties, and Madagascar periwinkle has been proven to help fight leukemia and Hodgkin’s disease.

Next time you’re in London, you should definitely check out Kew Royal Botanic Gardens.

xo,

Cary