After missing last week (weather partly, but mostly due to a hair appointment) I set off again today... Forecast was for rain from lunchtime/early afternoon so I was keen to make the most of the early almost sunshine!
I started at my usual first photo stop.. the primulas, especially the yellow ones, are developing nicely
the sky was very grey, but it was quite bright
lots of the (empty) urns had several gulls sitting on the edge... straight after I took this one they all took off!
still loving the Dogwood
decided to head straight for the Life in Death exhibit - I can't keep away!
beautiful camellia
there were only two other people in there when I arrived so it was easy to avoid them...
I put the longer zoom on and shot at 135mm today so a different perspective
the longer lens length allowed me to shoot towards the ceiling and avoid the lights.. love this one!
ok, that's probably enough for today!
back outside, it was spitting with rain. boo!
(it didn't come to much till I got home)
drifts of spring... crocus ...
the work coming on, re-placing the planting inside (re-opens 5 May)
it was too muddy to kneel on the grass but got some low angle shots by putting the camera down low..
do love the shape of this tree
the trunk looks like arms
lovely little ball of fluffy stuff in the nook of a small branch..
daffodils emerging from the leaf litter... a sure sign of spring around the corner!
drifts of snowdrops
I headed for the lake...
there was a fluttering of wings, someone was feeding the gulls along the lakeside a way....
I crossed the crossing and walked along the other side, they suddenly took off...
these crocus were more open than the earlier drifts..
knobbly tree trunks..
hellebores... more crouching down..
because I don't use the 'live shooting screen, it takes a lot of pics to get the blooms in the right place!
After warming up over a coffee and something to heat, I started down the Broad Walk, intending to head home but remembered I hadn't popped in to the Princess of Wales glasshouse to see how Orchids at Kew is coming along - it opens on 10 February and I'd seen some tweets of pics of the progress...
past another knobbly tree!
there was a delicious smell ...
and the centre piece is in place.. awaiting decoration!
so it's going to be a bull...wonder if they'll cover it in flowers or leave it like this...
into the cool orchid area...
these are in the Alpine house..
gorgeous colour
mini hellebores..
the grasses outside
couldn't pass up a visit to the Hive...
lots of lights on, so lots of activity in the actual hive!
I had to have a rest (almost fell asleep) after getting home before tackling today's photos!
Thanks for looking!
