Kew, crisp, sunny, misty - it doesn't get better than this

 Today started cold but was bright and beautiful.  Kew was pretty perfect. 

deep shadows hiding a slight frost on the Palm House grass

I back track a bit, when we came in, to our left, some fabulous mist rising off the cold ground in the sun..

just gorgeous 

we made long shadow selfies on our way to my opening shot!

the lilies on the pond were looking fantastic so we headed round to walk over the pond again 

there was a bit of frost on the approach

but what reflections!

it's going to be one of those posts today where blogger f*c** with the photo order...

anyhow, the reflections of the dogwoods were fabulous too. 

we went round the Palm House to double back 

tubs outside the back of the Palm House have been planted 

to get some more of the misty shots before the sun burnt it off 

the sun through the trees with the mist was fabulous 

trying not to topple backwards leaning up to the top of the tree! 

*I think this might be the other side of the lake but I can't be faffed to move this) 

heading towards the lake

shadows everywhere 

lots of gulls at the lake

the tree by the bench was so bright in the sun

no sooner had we sat down than I caught the heron landing on the side of the lake beside us

and several Canada geese flew in to land...just caught the splash

I normally miss it

heron looked on, chilling but his chest feathers kept ruffling 

view across the lake

lots of crows behind the bench (they come for Kim as they know she has monkey nuts for them)

looking toward the lake crossing

last pic of the heron, can't resist him 

dogwood at the side of the lake crossing 

as we started to walk acros the lake, there was a great kerfuffle of squawking and birds flying around.

signalling Peter's arrival at the bench we'd just left. 

the reflections in the water are stunning on a sunny day!

it's easy to get carried away. 

 the island close to the crossing 

reverse order again never mind

I wish you could see the shimmer of light moving across the end of the crossing, from the reflection of the rippling water (I should have taken a video)

Kim assures me I am halfway across in this photo. you need to click on it to see me against the light!

sparkly fir trees 

slightly out of focus but the cobweb caught my eye 

it was a sunglasses on, sunglasses off kind of day, couldn't see for the bright light without them, couldn't see through the viewfinder with them....

heading past the Treetop Walkway.   what a surprise, lift still out of order  -again!!  

lots of lichen

lots of lovely shadows

we went towards the Japanese garden as we've not been there for a while

blossom in the Japanese garden 

Pagoda

heading for refreshments,  passing the Temperate House

gorgeous berries

lights in the sunshine

we managed to sit outside although the tables were wet and so were the seats but we have mats to sit on! 

pretty leaf pattern on my hot chocolate, and Kim had brought the treats - gingerbread kitkat, who knew!   

when I posted this on FB, Peter commented that there is a mocha one too....

next, the Temperate House

tree tomatoes (tamarillo)  are ripening 

walking through part of the Mediterranean garden we found some 

Paperwhite narcissus flowering under a tree

which must be roughly where this one fits in!  

the "orchestra" lights on the Christmas trail 

more lights 

the Yoshino cherries round the Rose Garden are budding already

Christmas lights outside the Palm House in the rose garden 

heading round to the Princess of Wales now 

outside the POW

inside, the cacti area 

in the rainforest bit 

for some reason these don't like my camera, they never focus well -this is one of the more successful ones 

orchids

passionflower

the gorgeous paperbark maple outside the POW

still a few rudbeckia in the carbon garden, mainly cos they were planted later I think

the top of the mushroom looking gorgeous in the bright sun 

POW from the carbon garden 

alpine house across the grass garden 

grasses in the sun 

it looked so good IRL  the photos don't totally do it justice 

but they were sparkling in the sun

alpine house 

snowdrops under the big acer 

agapanthas seed heads in the evolution garden - a quick walk through  

cardoons at the end of the evolution garden still standing tall

back at the pond and the lights on our way out

and the last few shots 

of a stunning morning at Kew... 

thanks for looking  and I hope you enjoyed it as much as Kim and I did.

see you next week 

just been going through the pics Kim What's App'd me I think I missed this one out.  not sure where it fits.. 

early on, as I still have my hat on! 

hey ho...