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Botanical Gardens

Bernard67Arnold

Bernard67Arnold

master brummie
Yesterday I ticked another item on my "Bucket List" and
visited the Botanical gardens something I wanted to for
ages, since I was a kid in fact.After passing the old Fire
Station just accros the road from Steelhouse Lane I was
lost, luckly my daughter had a SatNav in the car!.I turn
my back for forty years and you have turned the city centre upside!down The gardens are well worth a visit but the weather was awlful, the admission charges are
reasonable and something of a minor miracle parking was free, very rare these days!
Quote;It took me 30 years to become an overnight
success, Val Doonican
 
It's years and years since I visited the Botanical Gardens - there used to be a very good restaurant there.

Being a lifelong aeromodeller, the Bot has a particular interest for me, as this year is the 100th anniversary of my club, The Birmingham Model Aircraft Club, whose original flying-field was, believe it or not, the Botanical Gardens. There are photos of stern-looking gents in chamber-pot hats holding their weird creations, and if I can get hold of the originals I'll post a couple. Of course, in those pre-WW1 days model planes were powered invariably with rubber motors and so were silent - hard to imagine anyone in the middle of Edgbaston putting up with the howl of a modern high-speed two-stroke engine.

Big Gee
 
Hi Dave: Thanks for posting the Birmingham Botanical Gardens youtube of the Japanese Bonsai. I sent it to my husband's computer since he has a collection that he developed himself and climbed high in the mountains to bring down specimens. He eventually joined a Bonsai group before I met him.
I visited the Botanical Gardens on my visit last October and spent three hours there in all. I took the train from Four Oaks to Five Ways and then literally wandered down the Hagley Road until I saw the signs pointing to the Gardens. After a long walk I arrived at the gates. I was on my own so I had a wander around the streets adjoining Westbourne Road admiring the
impressive homes before entering the gardens. I also had a walk along the street beside the Plough & Harrow Hotel. Some of the buildings are very old.
The Hot Houses were quite overgrown I thought but were still very interesting to go through. It was a fair good day outside and I had a walk around some of the huge parkland, visited the Aviary and band stand in the grounds. There was an Apple display in one of the buildings with many kinds of apples laid out. They all looked delicious but there were notices to say "Don't Touch".

I was totally in awe of the Japanese Bonsai Collection and Gardens, It is so beautiful and I can understand why the Bonsai trees are "behind bars" The buildings, layout and presentation of this collection is the best I have seen and the trees and gardens were just perfect. I remember at the Birmingham Flower Show in 1972 when I visited at Perry Park, there was an excellent show of Bonsai there which I was impressed by. The gift shop is excellent.I bought a few books and some postcards of the Bonsai Trees.

I had lunch in the cafeteria which has great views of the grounds and also viewed the inside exhibitions in the Convention Rooms. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit there and am very glad I went. Here are a few photos that I took. I have a few more which I will post in another message.
 
Jennyann on this visit I only took one pic of the Bonsai, the one looking like a forest, the bars are for security, they are worth a bob or two, in time will sort out a few more pics, Dave
 
hi jenny...thanks for sharing your memories of the botanical gardens and thanks dave for reminding me that its still there..i havent been for about 15 years and really must go again....

cheers

lyn
 
Dave, Thank you for the reply, I do hope they manage to put them back as it would not be the same without them.
 
Good news to hear that the pool has been cleared out. I am sure the fish will reappear soon. Here are some more photos I took
last October. The Cacti Hot House was fascinating (lst photo) The Entrance to the magnificent Bonsai collection (2nd photo)
Beautiful bougainvillea display (3rd photo) Long shot in one of the main Hot Houses (4th photo) Insect eating plant display (5th photo). I have a few more which I will post soon.

Dave, two of my husbands best Bonsai trees were stolen when we lived in a very secluded place many years ago and had them outside on the balcony. We never found out who took them but they were insured and we used the money from the insurance to buy a new fridge for our first house!
 
I'm going to that (Magical Lantern Festival) tomorrow evening. But it is forecast for heavy rain!
 
I have fond memories of the Botanical Gardens, in the 8o's they held Christmas Art Auctions which I regularly submitted paintings. The late Ernie Biddle (of Biddle and Webb), a lovely man, gave his services free. The Auction was held in aid of the Birmingham Mail Christmas Tree fund who received 25% of the proceeds, 25% to the Botanical Gardens the remaining 50% to the artist. One of my paintings, the Church in Berkswell went for £375 the highest amount I have ever sold a painting for bought by a couple who were married there 30 years before. They also hold an annual Summer exhibition, they still send me entry forms but I no longer exhibit. Happy days. Eric
 
Hi Dave and Stitcher
nice picture dave i enjoyed looking at , but i have to say to stitcher thanks for the memory,
because that picture brought back many memories for me as a kid,because the photograpth you have taken and shown today
of the joe public sitting around on the hill enjoying the weather and having picnics and to me the period is right
Early fifties was when we used to go on a sunday afternoon there would be about four or five of us local kids
ragged shorts and poor really i surpose , we was all from ladywood
king edwards road which was about bus stops up on the nunber 8 inner circle
about nine years old we would have been couple of older one in the gang
we would get up early and go for that round the 8 inner circle all the way around for sixpence each we would occuppy all the front deck seats and the back seats get home have dinner then beg off the old lady our mom for a three penny bit 3d coin
make our way up monument road to the ivy bush cheek people on the way up to the botanicle garden
and it would be 3d each to get in through the hot house then play or get chased by the old peacocks
that used to pons up and down the patheways there was quite afew in those day as you will recal
on a good sunny day the crowds with the kids would be there with there posh parents
and we would walk around and see whom as gone and have they left there masond pop bottle on the lawn
we would go over and race each other for the bottle so we would take in and get a 3d return and get an ice cream
on the subject that was my earlyiest days i ever went there, right up until the last four years now in my adult life
we go every year because they do a country and westeren week end venue with good well known country and western
bands and singers but as our friend they cover alot of things now all the year around and every week
on that very part of your photo stich is where they have a big band stand at the bottom of the slope
and the bands play in there and people dane on the lawns we go with a group of friends
whilstwe sit on the high ground and get down and do some dancing
this happens every year for one week end and beleive me they fill the place up
best wishes guys and thanks for yester years memory,s Alan,,,, Astonian;;;;;
 
Entrance from Westbourne Road (in 2012)



Earlier this year saw this sign on Church Road pointing the way to walk to it.



Later I'd either get the no 1 bus there and walk, or the 22, 23, 24 or 29 bus routes. But expecting rain. Hope the Magical Lantern thing is open!
Paid £13.87 for it (£12.50 online plus the booking fee of £1.37).
 
Some photos of the Botanical Gardens buildings from yesterday evening when it was heavily raining!







The trail was nice but was long queues full of parents with their children. Umbrellas all up.



One of the bull

 
Hi there Ell
yes over the years they have gone strengh from strengh and well expaned in every way shape and forn
there was none of those frontage years ago when we payed 3d bit coin of yester years it was just a little dor way
and a little office window on entrance but the fantasic hot house was there christ knows how od that brillient and warm
hot house was put up there aint many pea cocks around today we usaly see one or the two now
fantasic place to go for a day out but as you say now there is alsorts going on there now for every body and business meeting
great picture you put on , best wishes Alan,, Astonian,,,,,,
 
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https://www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk/visitor-information/opening-times/

1 adult now is £7.
Concession is £4.75

The first three photos show glasshouses dating back to Victorian times.

https://www.britishlistedbuildings....race-glasshouse-botanical-garden#.WE3SRlwayEY

WESTBOURNE ROAD
1.
5104
Edgbaston B15
West Terrace Glasshouse.
Botanical Gardens
SP 0485 SE 43/7
II GV
2.
1865. Symmetrical composition with central semi-circular pediment with 2 tiers
of radiating arches with glazing bars and doors below a cornice and, left and
right, lower glasshouses with long pitched roofs in 2 steps parallel with the
terrace. Arched glazing bars on a brick moulded plinth. Roofs inside of timber
and on iron brackets with circular spandrels.



Listing NGR: SP0486585449
Click to expand...

https://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-217794-palm-house-botanical-gardens-#.WE3SfFwayEY

WESTBOURNE ROAD
1.
sic%
Edgbaston B15
Palm House,
Botanical Gardens
SP 0485 SE 43/6
II GV
2.
1871. Big square glass house with pyramidal roof rising in 2 stages, supported
externally by panelled Corinthian pilasters on a blue brick plinth and thin
moulded vertical glazing bars. Interior with central square enclosed by round
headed iron arcades on twisted Corinthian columns with scrolling openwork
spandrels. It connects on the right with the West Terrace Glasshouse (qv).



Listing NGR: SP0491485440
Click to expand...

The Magical Lantern Festival is just temporary until the Christmas season ends.
 
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hi Ell
yes we go every year to the festivals and the country and western do,s
the prices are high but us pensioners get a concessery price discount
which aint to bad best wishes Astonian,,,,,
 
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The last botanical gardens I went to in summer 2015 was the National Botanic Garden of Wales. Large site. But they have buggies / golf cart type vehicles to get people around who are unable to walk all over the site.



 
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