Kew- crisp and sunny

Today's visit to Kew was perfect.  Very cold, but dry (yay) and sunny. The trains tried to make me late but failed

 it had been foggy at home first thing and frosty, it was still a little frosty but the fog had gone and the sky was already blue when I walked across the river

as I walked in I took a pre-opening shot

some contemporary Christmas trees although I was really taking the green variety!

 my  more usual opening shot
shade cast by the big trees over my left shoulder

but at least no dull grey sky today

and amazing colours and reflections in the pond

 on my way to the opening shot I had stopped for a shadow selfie, not had enough sun for this for weeks!

 and there's an unintentional one in the corner of this too

 I love the light on days like today, low bright sun, hazy quality after the earlier fog

but the remaining leaves were gleaming bright

 as I said when I shared a phone-version of this, what is better than rain drops?  Frozen raindrops! 

 as I turned the corner towards the Hive, the seedheads at the edge of the Broad Walk

 trunk of one of the oldest trees in Kew, the Japanese Pagoda tree

 I rarely take photos of it as you can't get much in at one time!

 view of the Broad Walk from the path round the Hive

 steps down from the Hive

they were washing the floor of the Hive so I couldn't go inside and had to come down again

 the leaves are still looking painted  and the frost was melting in the sunshine

 round the corner now


the Alpine House and in the foreground the Princess of Wales conservatory

 the frost on the windows was melting

 but it made nice patterns

 one of the water dragons was on the rock in the water again but the mangrove branches in the foreground made capturing it very difficult again

 so I left him to it and walked round

didn't come across any more anywhere (this time... tease, tease!)

 orchids

 outside again, all the leaves were soaking wet, from melting frost

 and I was able to capture some more drips

 a hop skip and a jump from there to the evolution garden

 snowdrops are emerging under the canopy of a large acer in the rock garden

 scillia are emerging in the alpine house

 

 I cut back past the Hive towards the Broad Walk

 were I crossed the path

 and headed into the arboretum

 with Kew Palace peeking through the trees

 I peeked through the hedge surrounding the children's playground

now that the leaves have dropped from the hedge you can see bits of it

 I crossed wet grass

 stopping for water drops

 towards the lake

 oh wow...

 Christmas at Kew

 the colours at the lake were simply stunning...

 above

 and below the water line

 I walked up the side of the lake

 another of those "painted leaf" trees round the edge of the lake

 beautiful reflection of tree trunks

 swan preening at the little pond along Cedar Vista

rather than take time to change lens I used the phone  for this one

just love the colours on this tree

 the rowan berries are still smothering the tree




I decided to walk quickly to the Japanese garden before the Temperate House

 more frosty berries

gorgeous red acer

 the waterfall in the Temperate House

 outside the path at the foot of the bank, a slight misty look to the view

 I crossed onto the grass to head for something to eat and drink (I was late, it was already mid-day)

I decided to sit outside for what will probably be the last time this year, 
the table was covered in dew drops or melted frost but the chairs were dry


soon after taking this picture (but after I'd eaten the case) a blackbird pooped on my coat sleeve from the tree above me.... thanks!

another hot chocolate, and a "Rudoph red velvet loaf"  was nice....

 I then walked  round the pond again

 some beautiful reflections

 a good thing about Christmas at Kew is that they build a viewing platform for the finale, light display over the Palm House, so you get a great view, slightly higher up than normal

 just love it

phone shot

 the sun behind the Palm House creates gorgeous sillhouettes

 I went inside as there was a cool wind here

 out through the "back door"  overlooking the rose garden

 and round to the side again

 past  the end of the Palm House beds

 and into the POW again,

past this cactus in the sun

 the water dragon had moved along the rock a bit and turned round but that was about it

 but through the tunnel, a group of people were gathered so I knew what I would find

 before heading back outside past some more orchids

and heading for the exit, and home


thanks again for looking

What a fabulous visit.