MAGAZINE

PUBLISHED BY THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW

Summer 2008 16 PROFILE Spirit of adventure Even a car accident in remotest China can’t stop Chris Leon in her quest, as Gail Vines discovers 18PLANT SCIENCE Solving Chinese puzzles Gail Vines investigates Kew’s groundbreaking work identifying Chinese medicinal herbs 22EXHIBITION In tune with nature Our selection of the best images from the Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition at Kew 24ALL IN A DAY’S WORK Rising to the challenges Tony Kirkham outlines the vital role ofKew’s dedicated Arboretum and Horticultural Services team

Cover Pineby Zoe Withey (aged 12), finalist in the 2008 Young Garden Photographer of the Year Competition.“I saw this leaning pine when visiting Kew – all the branches were at the top so you could see the texture of the trunk all the way up” See page 22 for competition and exhibition details IMAGES: G AVIN KINGCOME, T ORIE CHUGG/THE GARDEN COLLECTION, A NDREW McROBB, K ATE MILLER

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32EXPEDITION An Amazon diary What’s it like on a research trip to the Amazon? William Milliken’s diary provides a fascinating insight 38PLANT HUNTING Treasures from the Orient Jane Kilpatrick tells the story of Kew gardener William Kerr, who went to China 200 years ago and sent back many amazing plants 44KEW’S GARDENS At home in the Med Emma Townsend discovers how Kew’s Mediterranean Garden has been transformed 50NOW AND THEN Trees on the move We delve into Kew’s photo archives to reveal how the transplanting oflarge trees has changed

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3In this issue The editor’s letter

4Kew news The latest from all Kew’s gardens

7Direction Kew’s vital work with trees

10Cuttings Around-up of plant science news

43Kew plants Kerria japonica ‘Pleniflora’

49Kew tips Success with Mediterranean plants

52Treasures ofKew The ‘Old Lion’Robinia pseudoacacia

53Young Kew What happens inside a tree?

59Events Lots to do at Kew and Wakehurst

72Axis Sorting out the muddle of names

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