Kew Gardens: 'Orchids' - new exhibition

[JungleWriter]

Not sure what/who Cribb is! But showing people looking at plants shows how people engage with our photosynthesizing friends. So I think this kind of photo helps others see the beauty in plants, since we tend to relate to our fellow human beings more readily than a plant. Just a thought!

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by LostInPeru

What are peoples opinions of Kew who have been their. Is it worthwhile to visit.

If you are in the UK and even in London then yes I think it is. Apart from this exhibition they just have one greenhouse with Orchids which I spent quite a while in. I was interested in all the other greenhouses though and spent even longer in those and just walking around the gardens enjoying the pleasent atmosphere.

I was in the area anyway when I went and enjoyed my day there, but I'm not sure I would have travelled to London specially from where I am in the Midlands, though I might.

[Fairorchids]

Originally Posted by LostInPeru

What are peoples opinions of Kew who have been their. Is it worthwhile to visit.

Kew is absolutely worth a visit. You can easily spend a day there, and it is accessible by the underground.

[LostInPeru]

Originally Posted by JungleWriter

Not sure what/who Cribb is! But showing people looking at plants shows how people engage with our photosynthesizing friends. So I think this kind of photo helps others see the beauty in plants, since we tend to relate to our fellow human beings more readily than a plant. Just a thought!

Yeah it is a very modern and interesting way to showcase orchids but just found it strange how they emphasized the people over the plants. I kind of see orchids as an escape from people in a way lol and don't expect to associate them with the plants like that. I think a few of the shots need to have less focus on the people and more inclusion of the plant and surroundings of Kew so you can actually see what is in the greenhouse.

But on a more serious note yes I see your point about people relating to other animate objects such as people or animals more readily but I am very interested in peoples ability to relate to inanimate objects such as stationary plants.

Although people become strongly attached to all types of objects, but this happens especially if their animated, and with my interest in robotics I find the whole concept of the way people relate to objects in their environment and the parasocial relationships they form unconsciously with mere objects without being aware of it all rather fascinating.

For me I am perplexed by ones ability to form a strong emotional bond to a robot which is essentially a lifeless lump of metal and plastic, but once animated is considered to have feelings and emotions and possibly more human like qualities despite everything it is displaying being nothing more than a human transferred simulation and essentially a parasocial interaction.

Thanks for sharing your experiences of Kew. I would visit but find most botanical gardens rarely showcase the rarer orchids which is what I am always wanting to see when I go to these places. Guess the rarity equates to exotic and remote locals and is why I find them more appealing than the showy wedding look they have going on with the arches which I just associate with sterile modern European culture.

I have actually been to the UK and London before, a long time ago now, when the London eye had just opened. Although I found the London eye annoying as every where you looked their it was and couldn't escape it.