Saturday, April 30, 2016

Kew - Sun - Tulips - Bluebells

Today being the start of a Bank Holiday weekend in the UK, we have sun... what? that can't be right... but yes, we do.. took a detour of a train ride to Kew (of course) because it's a Bank Holiday so there are engineering works on my normal direct route... but boy was it worth it!
Sit back and enjoy - as the title suggests, mainly tulips and bluebells, but lots of blossom still on the trees.. I did get a bit carried away...
 I love the rich velvety look of tulips, and this variety (Queen of the Night) is one of my absolute favourites
 planted amongst reds and yellows, she looks fabulous!
 look at the shine!

 this one is pretty gorgeous, too
 and these frilly ones remind me of raspberry ripple ice cream!

work is coming on a-pace on The Hive, he summer exhibit, to be a feature on the health of bees,  it sounds fascinating!
 these white tulips are obviously a lot earlier than some of the reds and purples, they're delicately dropping their petals, they look like the skirts of dancing ladies.
beautiful pink blossom...


 and tight buds against a gorgeous blue sky

 magnolia


 more frilly tulips outside the waterlily house

 outside the Palm House, the statue on the corner allowing a peak beyond to the Palm House parterre- full of more tulips
 quite stunning



 love the sun shining through these ones,


 the Cherry Walk looking fab again today
 so much better with blue skies, unlike last time!




 late daffodils just holding on at the feet of the trees

loved this wild meadow of bluebells and tulips mixed in, under the tree above




 lush green growth on the trees now

 and the sun sparkling on the Henry Moore statue

 lovely gnarled tree trunks
bluebells on the way to the bluebell wood!

 great reflection in the little pond
into the Bluebell Wood now, where it was so muddy last time


 but all dried out now!

 just stunning blue in the sunshine!




m ore blossom at the Japanese Garden


and heading back to the Palm House pond
 the blossom has faded here already, and is really pale now
 the fountain, in close up - the water was set to go on and off today, never seen that before - it's usually on, or it's off!
 see!



 more great reflections in the pond in the Duke's Garden
 love the mossy bark of this magnolia tree
 and pretty yellow tulips
 these were darker in truth, a quite stunning colour, love the even darker middles



 daffodils outside the Princess of Wales glasshouse, with a few bright orange tulips dotted throughout
 went back for another look at the Jade Vine
 and late daffodils outside the POW
back to the exit now, love the peek of the orange tulip bed (seen in the first photo at the start of my visit) with the pink and white of the magnolia and the bluebells underneath.


3 hours well spent, had a great time today, it wasn't cold at all though there was a breeze but in the sun it felt gorgeous.


12 comments:

Little Arty Journeys said...

Lovely photos - specially like the raspberry ripple tulips and all the pink tulips and pink blossom (but like all of it really!)

sam21ski said...

Wow, love that deep purple colour, it looks so rich and velvety. Glad it stayed dry for you, we've been lucky today too xx

Deborah Wainwright said...

Stunning photos, love the colour of those tulips. Looks like you had fun seeing all this stunning flowers xx

Sally H said...

wow, wow, wow! A stunning set of photos! I too love those dark tulips! Thanks for my tour of Kew in the spring. Sorry I haven't been over for a while. I love spring, but I seem to say that about each season as it arrives, lol!

craftimamma said...

Absolutely wonderful photos Helen! I do love tulips but those deep purple ones are so dramatic, they are breathtaking! The bluebells in Clumber Park have created a gorgeous dense blue carpet for me to see every time I've passed over the past couple of weeks on my journeys to the A1 and Harrogate. I've never had time to stop in the layby to take pics this year though :-(. Ok, I'm now going back to your post for another look at the glorious photos. Thanks for sharing with us once again.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Lin said...

oh my word fantastic piccies Helen..tulips are one of my favs and that purple one is gorgeous!!!!

Julie Lee said...

Helen, these photos are spectacular! I love them all, especially the bluebells, which are my favourite wild flowers. What a splendid array of tulips too! I'm also really in love with your photos of the beautiful still water in the pond. You have so captured the beauty of this wonderful spring day in a truly enchanted place. Thank You for sharing. xx

Kirsten said...

Stunning photos! Those tulips look amazing.

Hazel Agnew said...

Your photography just gets better and better Helen. Love the jade vine, and there are some excellent arty shots! X

pearshapedcrafting said...

Wow Helen! What a glorious treat! Your photos, especially those tulips at the beginning of your post and the bluebell wood are stunning! Hugs,Chrisx

Etsuko said...

Spring Kew is marvelous!! What a beautiful flowers and blue sky, you had a fantastic day. Thank you for share of the pics. I'm watching to enjoy one by one. xx

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I need to hurry or I will be THREE posts behind. I suspect you will be going this weekend to take part in the free activities.

The tulips and bluebells in that meadow are gorgeous. The bark on that tree is truly unique. And all the tulips and blossoms at the Japanese Garden are incredible. But possibly my favorite today is the statue, where you captured it both off and on. The cherry blossoms are also quite stunning. I suspect they smell heavenly, too.

Beautiful post and lovely photos.