My birthday and RBG Kew

First I wanted to say thank you so much to everyone, over 100 of my friends, for wishing me a Happy Birthday yesterday on my Facebook. I'm absolutely overwhelmed with the outpouring of love. Thank you my friends. I treasure each and every one of you.And second, I'd like to tell you that I had the most fabulous birthday in the world!As usual and traditional for us, Robert took me to RBG Kew for the day.It was overcast and misty, and, since we usually have hot summer weather at Kew, it was wonderful to walk around in the fresh and cool. We were saying that Paris in April is nothing as romantic as our version of romantic: Kew on a drizzly summer's day. :DTraditionally we head to the Orangery for tea and lunch, plan our walk......and head out to the gardens.Each year there is a new summer theme at Kew, and this year it was all about spice.Various areas in the garden had self learning booths set up with information about a spice, drawers to open to smell them, and historic examples on display. Did you know that one variety of star anise, a native Japanese variety, is actually highly toxic and often used for incense, and sometimes the spice has been mixed up with culinary star anise resulting in deaths? I never knew that!We walked around the student gardeners' beds, (good to see that even expert gardeners have weeds, lol)Love the stick and pot method of keeping the nets up.We took photos everywhere.R is very skilled at photobombing! He makes me laugh so much. :DThen I have to say to him, "Oi, get out of my photos!" And I get the lost little puppy look.At one point R had a rest in a little pergola while I walked around some more of the garden.And late into the day, we climbed the 60" up 6 staircases to walk in the Kew treetops.R ran the last couple staricases taking the stairs two by two, and when I got to the top I looked at him and said, "show off! :D " The middle-aged British couple beside us sniggered ever so politely (although they tried not to show it...in that very British way.)What could have been better for me? I don't know.A day of love, companionship, garden and photos.Happy day. :D