Kew

 

It's been really cold all week but there was no frost this morning (which I'd been hoping for for some gorgeous photos!)  but no sun either - but although it was cold waiting to get in to Kew, it wasn't really that bad

Christmas at Kew is over and the majority of the lights - including the ones on the pond, and the bridge over it, have gone.

something has gone funny, I can't delete this huge space below.. I was trying to move some photos and blogger put them in the wrong place, now I can't delete the gap.  sorry

we decided to go into the steamy Palm House first to warm up

several other people who'd been in the queue, followed us!

we took a slightly different route to the lake past this shrub which I didn't make a note of the name of... I think it was Indian currant or something 

the lake was still partly frozen  

and the swamp cypress the other side of the crossing had shed it's leaves - probably in the windy of the storm the other  day and they were stuck on top of the ice

we didn't sit at the usual bench today

this is the swamp cypress, with a carpet on the ground!  

the gulls were still sliding about on the surface

it was a good thing we stayed on this side of the lake as a bit further along we came across 2 swans  - they've been missing most of the autumn and someone had seen a single one a couple of weeks ago,  today there was a pair.

they were so funny, skating about on the ice , we sat and watched for some time

despite the grey day, the ice allowed for great reflections

a pair of Egyptian geese came and joined in 

carrying on along the path,  reflections of the clouds in the ice 

far end of the lake looking toward the lake crossing

in the woodland looking for Goldie (the pheasant) - but no sign of him but lots of great tits and blue tits - which flit in for seed and off before the shutter releases - but the parakeets will sit longer 

heading for refreshments... holly berries 

and the cherry trees are starting to bud.... Spring must be thinking about returning!

I had a really hot, hot chocolate today and they warmed the brownie - the girl serving today has been off for a couple of months and she is always the best of them in the Pavilion cafe! 

oh dear...   I like to entertain so am including them!  

the brownie was delicious!  

10% of hot drinks till March which is a bonus. 

back outside and the short way to the Temperate House

more cherry buds

inside the Temperate House, aloes are flowering 

and so is the hemp

walking through the first octagon 

we walked round the Temperate House central area 

I love this huge yellow plant (never learnt it's name)

there are some huge tubs of narcissus in the main "back" doorway - a couple have started to flower 

because the Christmas lights are over, the upper walkway (which is used for some of the rigging for the lights outside the TH) is now re-open to visitors.

I always liked the shapes of the structure and haven't been up here for quite a while 

you do get a good view. 

I think this is eucalyptus  but it's huge, it nearly reaches the top of the roof

there used to be flowers on this lower towards the ground but now you need to be up high to see them 

they are really pretty

and you get a great view of this coming down the stairs 

we carried on through and came to the pineapples we saw last week.

near the far door there was a little sun illuminating this rhododendron leaf 

paused on the steps to take a picture of the treetop walkway

then headed back through the Mediterranean garden and back to the path round the rose garden 

there was a flicker of sun on the windows of the Palm House

and trying to come through the clouds 

the pond looks so empty without the bridge and the lights 

from this angle the dogwood don't look so colourful but we couldn't get closer

into the Princess of Wales conservatory now - they'll be closing it soon to get ready to install the Orchid event which starts in February 

more aloes flowering 

I think (given the time of year) this must be a Christmas cactus in the start of the rainforest    

they had already got parts of the POW blocked off ready for orchid installation so outside again 

the Hive 

the giant wisteria now all bare 

the mushroom in the Carbon garden

the POW 

from the grass garden

the alpine house

agaves outside the alpine house

inside the alpine house 

evolution garden

witch hazel back near the palm house pond 

fab reflections 

the pond looks huge now it's empty again 

now you can see the colours of the dogwood better 

peeking through the trees

thanks for looking - think we are due rain next Saturday but it'll be milder... think I'd rather have dry and cold!