I was looking for a small palm tree and couldn't find any at the local garden centre. Heard about…read morethis place on the radio and searched for it on the internet. If you are in the market for a palm for your garden, roof deck or balcony then the Palm Centre is the answer. It's in a beautifil location on the outskirts of Richmond, slightly tricky to find and has a huge stock of palms ranging from small plants to larger specimens. They also have outdoor ferns, citrus plants, olive, bay trees and many other specimen plants to enhance your pad and create that feeling that you live in a tropical place, when really you don't. The staff were really friendly and very helpful in helping us select the right variety and wrapped it up tightly in plastic film for easier transportation. We bought a few items and the prices were very reasonable and the quality of the plants is high. Now my neighbours are asking where I bought the palm tree from! This is it.

This is predominately a trade place but also open to the public. I often go there if i am seeking…read moreinspiration. As the name suggests they specialise in Palms, ranging from tiny baby plants which you can lovingly nurture, and think In a few years given the right climate you will grow to be that size....or maybe not ;) Or if you are lacking the patience and wish to make an immediate impact in your garden then there are colossal size plants. It is easy to get attached and over awed by their beauty and stature that you kind of forget the logistics of how you might possibly manoeuvre such a fine specimen, a crane or forklift truck perhaps. There is also a section for Bamboo plants which is one of my favourite places to stroll down, first eyeing the traditional Golden Bamboo but then been lured by the gleaming and seductive Black Bamboo with its wonderful architectural form. This is one plant where if you start with a nipper, it will grow and grow....until you have a pantomime cast on your doorstep requesting to rehearse there. It is a strong and exceptionally hardy plant and if your not careful will take over the garden in no time, which can be great if that is the desired effect, personally I prefer to contain their growth and show it whose boss...they still flourish. Then there are the banana plants or Musa Basjoo very hardy and can quite happily flourish in our climate out doors. If planted correctly it will produce many babies which you can then transplant else where. I have successfully grown them to over 20ft , but I would add they do need shelter from the wind. I obviously am not going to list the Palm Centres entire stock list, besides I don't know it. They do though have a web-site where you can browse. If Palms or tropical plants do not stir your passion and your searching for something nearer to home. Then they have a wonderful selection of Olive trees, and as you look at these old trees you wonder what things they will have witnessed. Again it hard not to be taken by the larger plants and you might say to your partner, remember that holiday in sunny ..... you will both sigh, or one might mumble begrudgingly ...but in the end you decide to find a home for this magnificent tree. I have not given the Palm centre 5stars for two reasons, the first you have to pay for delivery, does not matter how much you spend..and secondly they will only deliver to the front gate...after that its your responsibility....there are ways round it..but that does urk me a tad. However, I do still rate the place and if you are wanting something different , or your just about to create your garden then its worth going. I should point out its not cheap..especially if your going for large plants. However its what i call a good investment and it can bring endless pleasure.

My oh my, such a disappointment. We booked afternoon tea, months in advance, as is necessary…read more Here's what we learned. This is what could reasonably termed an "experience", but it fails on every point. Service is lackadaisical( difficult to see how they justify the service charge). The food looks pretty, but isn't very special in terms of taste or presentation ( probably not helped by the fact it has to be carried in from a separate building), and was served on a ridiculous cake stand/vase that effectively conceals your dining companion. Crockery is cheap looking and charmless. The price difference between the plain tea and the version with a single glass of Cremant ( served, disappointingly, in a warm glass) is £15 ( 45 versus 60). It's easy to buy an entire bottle for that, at retail prices. God help you if it rains ( you'll be dripped on- the greenhouse is not weatherproof). Don't bother, especially if you're paying.

The Nurseries is one of those gems that you don't want to share with everyone ;))) It's only open…read morein the sunny days of the year and it's because it's hidden in the old glass house of the Nurseries garden center. Old & disparate furniture is scattered around, directly on the nude earth floor and in between large pots of green & colorful plants. Beautiful flowers are set on each table. It's like a picturesque scene of Alice in Wonderland. You feel like a little kid entering a magical wild world, where birds talk and nature is alive. It's all very comfortable and cute. And on a sunny warm day, it's the ideal getaway for lunch. The menu is small but fresh and seasonal. Vegetables seem to be at the center of many dishes. And fish was quite predominant when I was there. Everything sounds delicious and it definitively is! They well deserve their 1-star michelin. I had the squid to start with and it was super nice!!! I'm usually not a big fan but the squid was very well cooked (quite soft), on a yummy piece of bread and in a very tasty sauce. Then I had the halibut. The fish was cooked to perfection, very moist and the mayonnaise was mouthwatering :P For desserts, we shared the rice pudding and the chocolate tart. To die for. Both of them. Point. The staff is friendly and fast. So all good there. If you want to spoil your better half, this is the perfect summer romantic spot. The gardens are a nice little after-lunch discovery too. And if you feel really chilled out, you can sit next to the fountain and profit from the sun rays. Or just roll out into the fields around and have a lazy rest in the green grass of Richmond park.

I have a lot of time and respect for Molesey Pet store because they introduced me to the love of my…read morelife. His name was Tom, and he was a big fluffy ginger furball. I hope by this point you realise that I am talking about a cat. Anyway, my baby Tom was a Molesey boy until he went of to join the great cat heaven in the sky. Nowadays, Molesey pet store rarely sell cats, but occasionally you can find some kittens here. A few weeks ago there were some gorgeous Burmese cats here, but they didn't stay long. They treat what ever animals they have here really well. There are no dogs sold here, which is a good thing - I don't like the idea of pet stores selling dogs anymore. But they do sell plenty of doggy treats for all you pet lovers out there. This is where I pick up my dogs chocolate buttons, which are so much cheaper here then they are in Tesco's. They sell a few different types of birds here, like love birds and parrots. Plenty of fish too, and some bunnies, guinea pigs and hamsters. I melt when I see anything furry or fluffy, so I try not to come in here to much, as I would probably leave with something squeaky.

22/12/2011 This pet shop has a wonderful range of animals…read more My favourite is a white and yellow, friendly bird called Chris. He can say hello, and makes the most outrageous roar you can get! Sadly, Chris is not for sale. . . He is the owners pet, but he is adorable! My favourite animals are the degus. They are wonderfuly active, and are so cute and fluffy! I would just love one! Right now they are doing a deal where when you buy a cage - hamster cage. You get a free hamster with it. I realise that the hamsters are only £10, but this really helps when it is only three days from Christmas! Anyhoo, I recommend this pet shop to anyone reading this because it is truly delightful, and they will get you a great bargain!