You’ll find peace and serenity walking around the former moat of the Tower of London, a medieval fortress known for torturing prisoners and home of the Crown Jewels. Green space has replaced water. Now a flood of flowers has created a fantastic carpet of vibrant colors.
In honor of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Tower of London’s public caretakers decided to stage Superbloom, a summer-long event that requires a separate ticket purchase to enter. It’s well worth it.
Superbloom planning began two years before the Jubilee. The design team included the Historic Royal Palaces and public and private urban horticulture and landscape design experts. In March 2022, the design was installed. Seeding by hand started once the threat of a freeze passed.
A one-way curvy path immerses visitors through an artist’s pallet of 15 different wildflower mixes. There’s an amplified soundscape produced by a composer to enhance the experience. Various sculptures line the route, including The Nest, a walk-through tunnel made of hand woven willow.
Plant species with names like Toadflax, Pot Marigold, and Viper’s-bugloss attract bees and butterflies. The color mix gradually changes as autumn approaches. Superbloom ends September 18. Though it appears something like Superbloom might become a regular event, since the created natural landscape will remain in the moat as a Jubilee legacy.
Beuatiful! I wonder if these flowers are perennials and will bloom every year.
I believe they’re seasonal annuals. But you’re right, it is beautiful! Thanks for commenting.