From: Cooper@wordshop.demon.co.uk (Gary Cooper)
Subject: Re: English gardens
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 22 Feb 1994 00:03:27 +0000

Gary.Rebholz@mixcom.mixcom.com "Gary Rebholz" writes:
> The Chelsea Physic (it's been a number of years - the name is
> approximate) garden - an ancient, little, walled garden dating back
> at least to the 15th century.  Featuring herbs, medicinal plants,
> it's hours are sporadic - say one or two days during the week.  It's
> in Chelsea and in the guide books.

Thanks Gary (good name you have there! :) )

As a 'friend' of the Chelsea Physic Garden, here in London, it's
always nice to know that this wonderful garden is appreciated.

The garden was actually founded by the Society of Apothecaries of
London in 1673. Pisa University had opened the first physic garden in
Europe in 1543, and Oxford beat Chelsea to it by opening theirs in
1621.

Visitors to the CPG are always welcome, but it is only open to the
public on Wednesdays and Sundays, between 2 and 5pm.

Personally speaking, I wouldn't want anyone to visit in the hope of
seeing wonderful landscaping or tremendous beauty in the obvious
sense. The real beauty of the CPG, to me, lies in it's deep layers of
history and the role it has played down the centuries. At times it is
*not* particularly visually beautiful - plants are left to run to seed
because seed is what is required for exchange programmes, and
financial constraints mean that the garden can look a little scruffy
at times. For all that, set close to the very heart of London, the CPG
has an immense, timeless tranquility and can offer many hours (years
in many cases) of fascination for scientific, historical and spiritual
reasons.

For anyone planning to visit, the CPG is situated very close to the
Royal Hospital, Chelsea at 66, Royal Hospital Rd., London SW3 4HS. The
telephone number is 071-352-5646.

I hope the above helps.

-- 
Gary Cooper