Magnolias in flower at Kew

I follow Kew Gardens on Twitter and saw a link to their Flikr group during the week - when it was all blue skies and sunny - that the magolias are blooming - so decided to go yesterday. Natch, it was much less sunny (like it rained a bit) and the skies weren't blue - but the magnolias WERE flowering! 

Am having a few problems with my SLR 35mm camera so think I may upgrade soon to a digital one....
Anyhow, it wasn't particularly cold and the trees were pretty!

This is a blue carpet - Glory of the Snow it's called - I can't remember, spell or pronounce the Latin name!

I did what I have often longed to - knelt as low down on the path as I could - practically lying -  luckily it was still dry here! to get a bird's eye view.

This would have looked so much better with a bright blue sky behind it (or photo shop on my pc!)

I did get a bit carried away, this is just a few of the frames I shot!

 I missed the best of this tree last year!

And when I went into the Princess of Wales glasshouse to escape the shower, this little fellow was out enjoying the steamy atmosphere.

It's meant to be nearly Spring

but it was very cold yesterday at Kew!! However, I wanted a last chance to see the 2011 Orchid "extravaganza" before they dismantle it today, so off I went.  Warmed myself up at Clapham Junction waiting for the connection with some hot chocolate (and a chance to "borrow" some wooden stirrers from the cafe....Does anyone else do that - I have a handy few now - they are so useful to us crafters!)

Ok, so where was I?  It was also a very dull, cloudy grey-skied day, so I knew the photos wouldn't be the best.  However, a few of them are worth showing here.

"When" I win the lottery (ha ha) and upgrade my camera to a digital one,I have promised myself a really good macro lens for close ups!

A host of golden daffodils??

I love how these drifts of crocus seem to go miles into the distance. I was cold coming out of the glasshouse so didn't follow them all the way!

I loved how the bare trees seemed to change the landscape totally - I don't think I've noticed Kew looking so open like this across the lake before  - something seems missing. (they have cut back the dogwood along the edge of that path at the water's edge, that must be it)

And this vista looked very open too.


Hopefully next time I go, it will be a)sunny and b) warmer!  Sorry about all the big gaps, I had some trouble loading the photos and moving them around today!




Ok, got to grab a quick lunch then it's Livepool v Man U - fingers crossed!!