Saturday, January 18, 2020

Kew - spectacular after the frost, in the sun

Today was cold!  we had a heavy frost,the first for ages... but oh boy what spectacular pictures it provided..  sit back and enjoy, you could be a while!

I wrapped up well and headed to the bus... (trains still only half hourly so timings to go, work better by bus)


 despite the bus to Kingston (where I change for the second bus to Kew)  taking forever - I think he was going slowly for fear of icy roads, although they weren't that bad -  I was still first -just!


the sky was blue as I stood at the gate and I admired these trees over the road from Kew
 there was still a heavy frost on the grass as I entered so
 I took a couple of quick photos on my way to my starting point!
 Despite the cold (think it was about 5 degrees C)  it was beautiful and I knew I was in for a treat of a day as I mentioned at the top.
I mean, just look!
sadly the fountain was off again today

stunning reflections









 the primulas in the Palm House beds were frosty - at the top end - at the far end by the start of the Broad Walk, the sun had already done it's work and melted it.





I headed down the Broad Walk - didn't want to miss the frost so rather than head into the warmth of the glasshouses I stayed outside
 hellebores - at the sunny end of the Broad Walk so the frost was already melting


 off to the left (as I was walking)
heavily frosted leaf

 sun shining through a leaf

 euphorbia sparkly with frost


 cardoon leaves
the benches were frosty too!


 leaf litter in the beds
 signs of growth everywhere though - hope we don't get a really cold snap! 
 amazingly there are still a few roses hanging to the triangular structures at the corners of the beds on the Broad Walk

this was on the phone.

it looks like it's been dipped in sugar!











tree dripping with melting frost  as I crossed the grass - I was going to make my way to the lake early






 the waterlily house (closed for winter) sparkling in the frosty sun behind some trees..


I went to look through the windows



the patterns were on the inside.







I took a pic on my phone of the empty inside - they completely empty it to clean and overwinter the waterlilies offsite



 urns at the top of the steps outside the front of the waterlily house with some vibrant colour



 a favourite shot when the sun is low and the sky bright

 the rose garden was very frosty too




 For a minute I thought the hips had been cut back, but they were still there
 looking back as I walked on towards the lake
 hellebores
 witch hazel
 more frosty leaves in the grass

 loved the sun on the witch hazel bushes

and against the sky


a fat robin sat on the branch next to me


(I rarely crop my photos, but have this time)

 as I walked down the steps to the path up to the Temperate House,  the huge shrub that in summer is always smothered in (wasps I think)  was today smothered in these


 close up
 sillhouette.



I still can't see a label though!


 leaf in a frozen puddle


 didn't go in yet, was off to the lake!  on a mission!


 or go up here!
 daffodils emerging under a tree
 I knew it would be perfect here today.

the dogwoods on the little island, absolutely shining with light




(phone)

 dogwoods to the side of the lake crossing





 had to change lens for this tree to get it all in
 and looked back to the lake
 by the bamboo garden





went to see how the rhododendrons are progressing...

 more beautiful tree trunk patterns.

the knot is just like an eye!




there were a lot more flowers out on the pink ones








I know I always say, I know you're not meant to shoot into the sun....



I was nearly back at the lake,

 so I walked back right the way to the top
 willow, covered in soft fluffy buds


 at the far end of the lake

this was on the phone















 more reflections!


 it was time to head to the Temperate House









 in the Temeperate House



 still can't resist stopping at this
 felt a bit sorry for this bird of paradise flower, it seemed to be struggling

 these flowers were teeny

 my lovely silver daisy bush!




 up the stairs....




 reflections in the water
and this is a few steps further, looking back at the same water








 huge tubs in the doorways with pops of colour




 the orchids were looking pretty (and not destined for the POW display, more of that soon)

 still looks like a cartoon face to me!



the second one had fallen off and the "ears" were on the floor
 walking back up the grass past the witch hazels





 more breaking of photographic rules!




 lichens on a tree branch
 winter aconite, outside the Victoria Gate entrance


it was finally time for refreshments (noon!  late today) 

decided on a sausage roll today for extra nourishment and warmth,  and hot chocolate.

it was nice, but they zap it in an oven and over-crisp it so the pastry flaked off badly. 


 heading back out, past the pond  - had to go and check out the POW for water dragons..



there were some children feeding the gulls on the far side so they were flying around



 what a view!

 I went into the POW - they have started installing items for the Orchids festival.


no point asking me what things are as I don't know yet!

they were working on the centrepiece in the pond



 I walked round as much of it as I could (parts were roped off where they were working)  looking for water dragons, but no sign of any today

 have ladder, will decorate a tower!

 lots of "creatures" hanging on the mangroves
and out in the entrance space, lots of boxes of orchids.


there were also lots of parasols suspended - with "Indonesia" on  - so that is obviously the inspiration this year




next door in the alpine house, the scillia flowers have really come on in a week.

the bottom flowers are opening out



 I always forget they do this! 

 sempervivium babies
 quick walk through the rock garden



 and through the Evolution garden


globe artichoke seed heads
 water drops (all the frost has melted now!)

on a euphorbia
 another clump of snowdrops
 the large tree at the top of the Broad Walk
 the beds in front of the Palm House,  the flowers are coming out nicely now
back down the Broad Walk.  in the sun, happy now the frost had gone



 tiny funghi under a tree on my way to the exit


thanks for joining me again!  same time, next week?! 


8 comments:

Virginia said...

I adore the photos, but particularly love the frosty ones - nature at her finest!

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Helen, great photos. It's lovely the effect that frost has on everything. Have a lovely week, Angela xXx

Sue said...

After my visit to Kew (via your stunning photos) I need a coffee and a sit down:)

Hope you have had a lovely day. Sue

Diana Taylor said...

Frost makes everything beautiful doesn't it. I love the frosty leaves you captured, both the 'sugar-dipped' ones and the more subtle ones. The hellebores are stunning too. Just a lovely wander through Kew again, seen through your magical camera lens - thank you!
Diana xx

Crafting With Jack said...

Helen your photographs are amazing, Kew Gardens is really your second home x Angela #31

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I apologize for being so late visiting. I would have been here sooner, but I was so ill I didn’t even want to get out of bed, much less be on the computer. I'm also grateful for you stopping by and checking up on me when I was missing from blogland.

Wow, your usual opening shot looked simply amazing with all that frost. I knew I was in for a treat, even if I worried that I would last through it all. Brave you to "abandon" the warmth to take photos of the frost. They were magnificent. I'm surprised those roses weren't stiff and frozen.

WOW. What great shits of the waterlily house after it had been emptied. LOVED the photo of the robin on the branch.

In photo 60, that is one of those photos you could guess for months and never know what it was unless (and until) you told me.

Maybe my favorite photo of the day is 80 with the eye in the tree trunk.

Did you ever find out what the yellow flowers in front of the Palm House were called?

Thanks for sharing these. Actually, I hope to be here SOONER next week!!!


Words and Pictures said...

The sugary leaves, the rosehips and the mystery wasp-shrub berry heads are the highlights for me this week... oh, and those crystalline reflections in the lake. I don't think we've had a frost that heavy yet this year - we've only had one frost at all, and we're only just north of London. I'm trying to remember Saturday's weather - I don't remember all this sunshine... envious!

Thanks, as always, for sharing these amazing photos.
Alison x

pearshapedcrafting said...

What a fabulous cold and frosty morning- your photos are wonderful! Hugs,Chrisx