Kew with a guest

This morning I was joined on my trip to Kew by my cousin.  We had a great time, but I didn't take as many photos as usual.... still plenty to share though!

we started with blue skies  and light cloud but it was still quite chilly (well I was!)

the geese were still trimming the grass,


the primulas have really opened out since last week

I took this one later on as we returned but am including it here.

 we went part way down the Broad Walk first before turning off to the Princess of Wales glasshouse to see how the orchid display is coming on...

 some more "animals" have appeared

and I still like the orangutans

 in the cool orchid room

 the sun shone through the roof illuminating the display beautifully

it looks just about finished in this room,  and is stunning.

 we went up the steps from the cool orchid room

 you have to look, up , down, sideways, so as not to miss anything

 huge leaf with water droplets

 the display downstairs, from upstairs lol 

 had to point out the"eyes" to Angela

 as always, there are arches and pillars, covered in colour


the sun was shining through them

 this is the top of one of the pillars.

 on one of the arches

 another pillar

 top of an arch (I'll take some wider angle shots next week so you can see the overall effect better)

 centrepiece in the pond, still being worked on

 arch

 we managed to catch it without any people!

rather than change lens I took some on my phone ( you may have seen this on FB)

 as we came back downstairs to the start of the main area, by the doorway in from the catcus bit,  we were stunned by these blue orchids - what a colour!

it looks painted  (guess the Fresco paint shade....)

(edit - since found out from someone at Kew on their FB page that they are dyed) 

swapped to phone

 we couldn't walk right in front of the centrepiece as it was barriered off for them to work on

 that big bird in the doorway just next to the blue orchids.

 out in the desert section

 we headed outside


you'll recognise the face sculpture

 the grass in front of the temple, on the hill, is starting to be covered in bulbs - snowdrops out a the bottom, daffodils emerging further up

 Angela wanted to see the snowdrops in the rock garden

 before we went into the alpine house

scillia

 we headed back for refreshments

we both had hot chocolate and my favourite, the chocolate ombre cake,

 then it was over the the big hellebore bed

 and witch hazels round the corner (my cousin was amazed how much further on they are here than Coombe Wood that she visits - here lots of them are nearly finished)

 there are so many shades and patterns of colours

 in the Temperate House now



perlagonium

 Babaco  (none the wiser)  not seen it before, must have been brought in this week

 heading to the lake,  drifts of snowdrops and purple crocus... spring is on the way!

 it was hard to get close enough without treading on them, there were everywhere

 the sun went in just before we reached the lake, typically!

finished with looking in rhododendron dell.


lots of pink blooms, now the frost of the other week seems to have gone.



So, not many today (although I've included many of the ones I did take)   Thanks for looking (and your company, Angela,

I have managed to book some timeslots for the orchids for the next two Saturdays so will be back again!