Kew.. as it ever was

Well, today was my first chance to go to Kew since I attended the photography course my wonderful boss gave me for Christmas, last Sunday.   Determined to put it into practice and not just use the "auto everything" setting that I usually do... 200 photos later, here I am... some worked, some didn't. I played with the programmes, the shutter speeds, the light balances, you name it... I won't cos I can't remember from one pic to the next.

 As you know I love to do close ups so took lots using the tricks we were taught in "class"!

 today marks the start of the Kew summer season - this year, it's all about spice.  This is a fabulous stand with hundreds of jars of spices

will go back to study the displays more fully another time.

 the waterlilies in the PoW glasshouse were looking fine

 never noticed this blue bromeliad before

pretty irises

 

 peony

 always loved Californian poppies

and the traditional red opium poppy

 nigella (love-in-a-mist)

 can't remember what this one was called.

more peonies

 tried the shutter exposure tricks to blur the water, think I need more practice, but got some great shots of the water drops frozen!

this one is in the rockery

the tulips from the bedding in front of the Palm House are finished, replaced by beds of pink, blue and purple flowers

 and in the Waterlily house, got some good close ups

outside the waterlily house is this beautiful huge, white wisteria.

this was outside the rear of the Palm House.

allium

more iris

and finally wiegela

Thanks for staying this long, hope you enjoyed the visit today!  I did..