It cracks me up that one of my ride-or-dies in this life, @benindi, is so down to earth and humble that I only find out the coolest s#it about his ancestors when I accidentally stumble upon them—like riding our bikes by this park sign! (Or occasionally, he lets me interview him, and I do so much research that he can’t help but fill in the blanks.)

So, here Larry & I were, riding blind through London streets (ha), searching for the British Museum, when I saw street signs with a familiar name (Russell) and this park sign, having no idea we were in an area so steeped in Lord Robin’s history. (He didn’t mention it at dinner the other night and most of our texts these days are about how he can help save more Alpine Wild horses from sla#ughter. #Angel.)

Larry and I had to stop for a game of cards (I beat him 2-1, a rare feat!), and Robin told me the Park was designed in the 18th century by a landscape architect named Pepton, who created so many of the beautiful deer parks in England. With a little research, I could tell Robin something he didn’t know: Virginia Woolf set many of the scenes of her novel “Night and Day” (1919) in Russell Square! I also just found a random pic of the book I first interviewed him for, #LivesCharmed, published in Indonesia, which I never knew. As far as I remember, Mama didn’t get any royalties on that one! I’d better call my agent. Ha.

Life is amazing. I’ve got to get out more. xo

#VirginiaWoolf #RussellSquare #London #BookMamaMusings #GinRummy #friendsarelife ...

I’m back to work on Monday, so I’ll share a few last England travel spots I think you’ll love this weekend. First up, KEW Gardens, @kewgardens. 🌸 OMG. Have you been to this 18th-century marvel? If you read @elizabeth_gilbert_writer’s “The Signature of All Things,” you’ll remember Kew as a key location, where Alma Whittaker first falls in love with botany (the Herbarium alone holds over seven million plant specimens from around the world). The out-of-this-world beauty here gave me further insight into my friend Robin’s (@benindi, see previous post) lifelong ecological passion and commitment. His ancestors were part of the creation & restoration at Kew. Imagine being raised with this kind of awareness, access, and care. 🙏🌲

Here are then-and-now pics of the Palm House (under construction in 1847) and a walkway in 1890 where folks PROMENADED then and still do. (Thanks to #Bridgerton, I know that term and am always telling Larry to promenade with me.😂🎩👒.)

Needless to say, the nature lover in Larry & me lost our minds here. Of course, I took off my shoes and walked much of the land in bare feet for added energy. #Earthing 👣🌱

If you go, plan to make a day of it. There’s so much to see (and feel) you won’t want to leave. And seeing how spring has sprung and the crowds weren’t yet too much, I’d recommend late April and into May. 💚

PS. I’ll post more of the amazing trees at Kew in my stories and feed soon for breathing breaks. 🌳

PSS. Palm House & promenade pic © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew | © Ellen McHale/RBG Kew 🍀

#Kew #Kewgardens #treeheaven #livescharmed #thesignatureofallthings ...