Kew- Orchids Festival

Today sees the start of the month long Orchids Festival at Kew.  A wet start to the day but luckily the rain moved off.

 The theme this year, is India.  There are plaques up inside (which I will photograph next time) explaining how flowers and colours are used in India culture.  but for today, let's enjoy the flowers!

 just inside the Princess of Wales glasshouse, you are greeted by the first of several flower-strewn rickshaws - and an elephant,

which is largely airplants.  She (I think she has to be a she!) is gorgeous!

The Princess of Wales glasshouse is split into several different zones, each having a distinct feature.

into the tropical area, where they were just finishing spraying to increase humidity

You are greeted by a riot of colour and decorated carts

 the main display set in the small pond

 (change of lens to get closer!)

 gorgeous mix of white and orange, they've certainly got the feel of India

lots of hanging garlands too in this part

 close up of the top of the central display

 I love how they always mix bromeliads with the orchids for this annual display

it's not all orange -  bright magenta pink too

and climbing up some stairs you can see the airplants hanging, decorated with orchids

 time for some close up action!

 loved this one

 another rickshaw

 walking through into the arid zone, these aren't orchids, but so pretty!

 a floral peacock, very cleverly done

 one of several hanging displays with colourful banners in the colours of the Indian flag

 and a tiger

 back round to the pond, you can see all the garlands better here

 a last few close ups inside

 decorated floral garlands draping over the cart we saw at the beginning

so many colours of orchids!










and a floral Indian flag

 outside now, the rain has cleared and the sky is still grey, but the sun is trying to come out..
this witch hazel was fabulous, and smelled divine.

it's quite a large specimen!!

 the branches were all dripping from the earlier rain, I spent some time trying to get decent photos of raindrops on noses the edge of the branches (sorry, went all Sound of Music for a minute!)

 the dogwoods by the Palm House pond are still magnificent and underplanted with snowdrops which look fabulous now

spring is certainly on the way!

 as I walked past the Palm House end of the Broad Walk, I spied some colour and went to investigate - found these gorgeous pink Hellebores..

again, dripping with the raindrops from earlier...

 after a quick trip to the shop (didn't buy anything today) I went out the other way and towards the arboretum.  I wasn't straying far from the paths today due to the mud caused by the rain of the last few days, but I did venture towards this gorgeous branch, just love all the bright green mossy covering of the branch.

 into the Palm House and the ferns catching the sun through the window..










the bed by the Victoria Gate entrance is bursting into life, just love these  purple blue flowers, though I have forgotten what they were labelled...

 the name of this Dahurican Birch I did make note of though.   it was stunning!

 and more mossy stems

finally, on my way to see the exhibits for the International Photographer of the Year winners (being shown again at Kew for the tenth anniversary) I saw more growth, the magnolia buds all soft and fluffy - will be looking forward to them bursting into colour soon


Hope you are still with me and enjoyed the orchids - I will go again soon; they are there for a month if you want a visit.