This beautiful presentation about the grounds surrounding Buckingham Palace (the Queen's Garden), gives the viewer a tour of a vast urban oasis. An amazing space, it could also be called the Queen's backyard since it is mainly located behind the palace. It is where the Queen's summer garden parties take place and we are told, it is about 30 acres in size and dates back before the reign of Queen Victoria.
What I found most interesting is how it is managed year round. It is the home to many species of birds, plants and trees. All the dead plant material is recycled and combined with manure from the Royal Mews to produce a rich compost that every year enriches the gardens. One of the interesting by products are some very rare mushrooms. A pond on the property is home to to small birds and larger ducks and herons. The pond also was the scene for skating parties in the colder winters of the 1800's. The magnificent spring blossoms occur a month before other parts of Britain with the help of the urban heat environment of London. The Queen herself and her sister Princess Margaret used the outdoor property as a playground. Their nanny Marion Crawford recounted how the two children looked beyond the trees through the fence to imagine life beyond their "gilded cage".
This enclosed area provides employment for a staff of gardeners, grounds keepers, and even a highly valued beekeeper. The garden is superbly maintained and honed to perfection before the annual garden parties. The Queen herself is shown thanking some of the staff personally for their work. The Queen's Garden is an excellent show. Thanks to PBS for offering it to their North American audience.