On choosing not to write a review of a botanical garden

How was it?

.

Orlando: Oddly unimpressive. After the entrance, and a very nice edible garden in a walled garden style in brick, and the African area, everything just seemed featureless. No inspired design. The foliage huddled on the horizon. Nothing towered. Plantings were dumped in clumps.

This was notable...

.

Sophia: (checking Tripadvisor): Ratings are 90% positive: 4/5, 5/5. Comments like “gorgeous gardens” and “wonderful walks”. Not so much about the variety of plants. And there is the usual crop of naysayers with comments like, “The place is half dead. Huge disappointment. Love gardens and flowers but this was a long drive to see mainly kids and dogs.”

.

Orlando: Personally, I put my negative impression down to the grey midwinter weather and a dose of backpain. So I won’t write any review.

_____________

Voice-over

Comments on attractions are subjective, influenced by disposition, weather, companions and logistics. So it is for gardens. Not all of them can be top-ranked with their numbers of species, provenance and heritage rankings: Kew in London, Orto Botanico di Padova and Singapore Botanical Gardens. But in these days of restricted travel, a local botanical garden is better than a journey around one’s room.

...