Kew in glorious technicolour

We are enjoying a gloriously unseasonably warm few February days in the UK so I had high hopes today for my trip to Kew.

although it was still pretty foggy when I left for the station at 8.20...


I was a little early, so caught the earlier train and had hopes that I could get some atmospheric pictures of the churchyard on Kew Green...

 but although it was still dull, the fog had lifted

 and I only took a few pics on my way past

 I barely stopped for my traditional first photo of the Palm House, on my way to the orchids - there had been a long queue behind me at the gate and I wanted to get in quickly before it got too crowded



This is the first year they have used number control inside the orchid display

 the sun was burning through the remaining misty cloud though

still had the normal zoom on for the first few minutes

 from the side of the main display

 took this waiting for someone to move in front of me...

 went to the upper level first.  the wet floor indicates they soaked the place before the doors open, creating humidity and everyone's lenses to mist up....

much wiping ensues.

 but the arches are looking fabulous.

lots of people trying to take photos of kids and partners (and getting in my way!)

I had an email from Kew yesterday that says for the rest of the time the Orchids are on, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays they will open for members only at 9.    which is ok if you don't work....  Seems people have been griping about the crowds this year!

 time for closeups around the arches

 paused to take the sloth from the top of the steps

 noticed different orchids this time

 these were gorgeous

they covered the arch that has the airplants hanging from it

 you can see how many people there are down on the lower level (with the "colourful river")

 I edged my way towards the steps to join them....

 they really are fantastic

I looked hard for water dragons, but I really think they must have taken them elsewhere for the duration, but there was no-one to ask

 I turned at the door to the cool orchids room and as usual, took another pic or two of the"river"

 inside the cool orchid area, there was a delicious scent, not sure what from, it almost smelt like daffodils so I am not sure.

 centre of a big fern

 rhododendron

 I thought I had taken these on the camera as well as the phone, but seemingly not...



couple of closeups of water drops (you know me and water drops!)

 I love this one, with it's hairy looking bits!  reminds me of a moustache

 hadn't noticed these last time
the huge leaves (next pic)  had loads of these hanging under them

 this one shows it better but is over-exposed with the back lighting

 as I walked through the next zone, I noticed the light through the window on these huge leaves,

two steps to the left, looks totally different!


I decided as the sun had so obviously come out now, to double round again.

 big group of ferns

 one of the massive pillars of colour, this one covered in bromeliads

 and this one with purple and white orchids

this is the lower ground level

you'll remember I told you they were doing orchids after hours,
this is one of the uplights... I noticed a girl taking a photo of the pattern and whilst it was blinding me did the same

 the El Dorado bit

 as I went up the steps again the bit planted tubs in the pond were shining in the sun..

 so different to half an hour earlier when I'd come in!

 the petals and leaves were now iridescent with the light behind them

 I started to head for the exit.

base of a huge fern

outside, it was as I had guessed, bright sunshine!

 I went next door to the alpine house, whose glass windows were still shrouded in early morning condensation

 inside, tiny splashes of colour greeted me

not much of this iris seems to be in focus, but it's such a gorgeous colour I can't resist including it

 I was surprised to see people working in the family bed area that is being re-juvenated, as they don't normally at weekends
the mesh grid that stops you walking through was problematic for the camera!!

I walked along the path in the rock garden
these beautiful little flowers were in a huge patch

 and at the start of the woodland walk, huge drifts of crocus in the beds along with other growth emerging...

 everything was bathed in sunshine

this was really pretty (Edgeworthia crysantha if you're curious)

it had flowers at the end of multiple stems

 still obsessed by the drifts of crocus,especially in the sun!

 the gulls were raucous and madly flying all over

 the end of the snaking queue for the orchids
I swear it hasn't been this busy in previous years,

their destination
still loving the dogwood reflecting in the water

 I headed for the Temperate House and then the lake

 more of my latest obsession


crouching down as low as i could

 spring is definitely on the way!

 the light still seemed a bit misty in places... through the trees to the Temperate House

 many of the witch hazel shrubs have gone over, but this one was still looking good

 especially against the blue sky

see what I mean about the light!

 these trees are huge

(cornelian cherry)

 the trees on the walk to the Temperate House are under planted with tulips (you may recall from last year) and they are now peeking through the grass ready to put on another stunning display

inside the Temperate House

 I knew if I was patient, the lower buds would bloom for me...

 walking through the Temperate House,

 tubs of tulips emerging...

 and these ones from last week have opened and are nearly finished already

 love these yellow and orange ones

and you know I can't resist a water drop!

 pittosporum

 the roof.  looks like a ship in full sail

 middle of a tulip

 closer in on the tulip,

I thought I'd taken a pic of what this is called...

however, I have remembered.. it's a forest lily

 bird of paradise coming into flower again

 outside the sky was bright blue..

time for coffee and cake outside in the pop up cafe near the Temperate House (phone pic obviously as the camera is on the table!)

(lemon drizzle) 

 and the trees are blossoming into life again

 at the lake, the swans

 and geese - were splashing around

the light was gorgeous through the grasses at the end of the lake

catkins

 more crocus... are you fed up with them yet?


I'm not...

got the globe out!

 magnolia coming into bud

another "carpet"

 more globe play

 a new children's area is well under way, I've not been round this way to see what they've been doing (it's been behind big fences till now)

 errr...

 there was a dry patch of grass (nearly dry) at the edge of a path... so I did my first lie down on the ground (on my coat , which I'd been carrying for ages anyway)  for ground level view.

 a bit further on.   the bees and hovers were loving the pollen

 holly edge at the edge of the rose garden

 wandered up to the door of the waterlily house - still empty (they over winter them in a nursery so they can clean) 

 the sun caught the top level of the Palm House and a stream of people walking round

the queue is as long as ever. 

 in the Palm House

 spiky stem of something-or-other

 more bees!

 daffodils on a slope

 it was at this point my camera battery died... luckily I carry a spare

 paper bark acer

 chaenomeles

 last few, shimmering in the afternoon sun (had been here hours!)

 there were people picnicking in the sun, the place was packed!

 sat down to put my big lens away..

back at the station, and hope for a well deserved cup... several... of tea! 


hope you've survived this marathon crocus-a-thon!