Glasgow's Botanic Gardens and Spring Flower Gallery.

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A spring visit to the Botanic Gardens and Glasgow's West End- since the 1800s the poshest part of the city with numerous examples of grand period architecture, often based on earlier classical Greek and Roman  styles. The parks of the west end also have the most colour in late spring so I always try to visit, especially when the tulips and rhododendrons are in full bloom. The above photo is near the entrance at the junction of Great Western Road (a busy duel carriageway that doubles as a fine unofficial linear park in itself with several miles of colourful trees and flowers planted along its length) and Byres Road- a trendy shopping street running through the university district from working class Partick to upmarket Dowanhill and Kelvinbridge. (you can feel incomes rise accordingly as you walk up this street from dowdy Kelvinhall Subway Station to Great Western Road with its grand period mansions and prestigious hotels.

The Botanics of course are famous for the range of Glasshouses and Hothouses, pleasantly warm in winter and sometimes steaming and uncomfortably tropical during rare and sporadic heatwaves.

The range of colours here are always vibrant year round but in spring it's a kaleidoscope inside and outside.

Inside a hot house.

Glasshouse and spring sunshine.

Kibble Palace inside. This large glasshouse used to stand in a very remote spot attached to a large private house situated among the rugged mountains of the North Clyde Estuary. It was later handed over to the growing city and transported here which was lucky as no trace of the original house remains.

The view that awaits visitors to the Kibble Palace. Bard in the Botanics was a popular summer
entertainment for a while here.

The full building.

The Elf.

My favourite. The carnivorous plants section at the Botanics.

Insect devouring Sundews can be found in the Scottish Highlands of course with poor soils demanding extra nutrients from unlikely sources.

Going in is far easier than getting out in this kingdom of greedy plant mouths.

The former Hillhead Salon Picture House. Taken when it was a bookclub just off Byres Road.

Across the street from the Botanic Gardens at the top of Byres Road stands the Oran Mor- a former church converted into an entertainment venue with performing plays, bars and live music inside. Seen several bands here in the past but not been in for anything else as my social life does not involve much outlay of money sadly :o(   Sniff, sniff, wah!.

A sneak peek at the interior entrance hall. I know acclaimed artist and writer Alasdair Gray completed a large ceiling mural in this building but I'm not sure if this is his work as well.
Link here to the beautiful ceiling mural and brief history. (Now discovered it is his work from his own painting gallery inside this link. Worth a look.)
http://oran-mor.co.uk/history/alasdair-gray/

The Oran Mor Church and outside Botanics pond reflections.

Period elegance.

Flowers that resemble cranes.

Assorted bluebells.

The far end of the Botanic Gardens park lands near Kirklee.

Period tenements beside the old BBC HQ, now relocated into new accommodation beside the Science Centre close to Prince's Dock on the River Clyde.

Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, being the other jewel in Glasgow's West End crown along with Kelvingrove Park and the River Kelvin- Glasgow's other major river flowing through the inner city districts.

A lush beauty spot near the city centre district.

As is this... believe it or not I put a lot of thought into matching up videos to posts and this just seems to fit somehow as the Botanic Gardens are twinned with Oceania. Suitably exotic, tropical...and expensive looking. Could easily be a grand mansion in the West End- apart from the outdoor swimming pool that is :o)  I heard a small snippet of this catchy and unusual song on a recent TV advert several times and was interested enough to discover and hear the full version.