Kew - after another long gap

 As soon as the start of lifting of Covid-19  restrictions were announced I booked some slots for Kew and today was the first - hopefully of many!

What I didn't realise until I got there, is that there was a 9am slot (Easter weekend) that if I'd known about I would have tried for.  But no matter, 10am and I was in!  It's a cold dull day today sadly but you can't have everything!

joy of joys, the beds in front of the Palm House are fully planted and blooming - I'd seem them on the TV this week so had a sneak preview of the design

there are also 2  heart shaped beds at either end of the path alongside the pond, planted with a mixture of yellow bulbs

a sign tells you about it (they showed a drone shot on the TV so you could see it from the air, sadly not an option I have!)

they do look beautiful though

I pulled my hood up over my head and set off alongside the Palm House beds

the urns alongside the pond are also planted

I didn't get too close, I can't stand the scent of hyacinths!

and there are some early tulips flowering in another bed at the top of the Broad Walk

between the Broad Walk and the Princess of Wales glasshouse is a little grove of flowering cherries

this pink one is stunning and shows up even against the grey sky unlike the white ones

euphorbia

I've missed the bright acid green of these

I diverted off to the right to the side of the Rock Garden  next

the Pasque flowers are always gorgeous for Easter (it's name derives from the Hebrew for Passover which is this time of year of course)

I lifted one of the flowers to see the centre, as I couldn't  get my camera low enough to take a picture otherwise

There wasn't much blooming in the Evolution Garden, it's the wrong time of year, all cut back to new growth will soon emerge..

so it was time to head for blossom!!

I started with the Palm House Pond and the gorgeous flowering cherry

that droops  on long branches

it's always stunning, even though the blossom only lasts a short while

turning round for one last look (for today)

we'll head for those beside the Palm House!

whilst a lot of the daffodils have finished, there are pockets still blooming, under the cherries

I always forget how glorious they look in Spring!

a blue sky would have been advantageous, but maybe next week!

there are lots of legs going by because this forms part of the "Beano" trail (a UK comic) featuring Dennis the Menace and his pals) 

I decided to leave the little people to the trail and went a different way

the flowering cherries and the tulips in the beds near the Temperate House are on the way but not yet out - so will be a treat to come soon

walking round the Temperate House, the flowering cherries the other end are beautiful though

I headed up the garden towards the Japanese Garden  past the Pagoda as there are more flowering gorgeousness there 

none of the buildings or glasshouses are open yet (COVID restrictions)  

the Great White Cherry is just stunning

as I rounded the corner I saw a crowd of people on the path - then saw why -   just as the peacock lowered his tail feathers!

sweeping the gravel!

I cut across the garden to the path that leads to the lake

 

Ribes - flowering currant

rhododendrons 

the little pond half way up the pathway

more Dennis fun

skirting the top of the lake,  not a lot to see,

some fluffy bullrushes

I cut across to the rhododendron dell

and headed for the magnolias

this is a little azalea I think

the lady I see often at the gate (who I had seen today)  had said that this was really muddy a few weeks ago - she is more local than me so been able to keep visiting)

underplanted with daffodils

the snakeshead fritilliaries are coming out

forsythia looking stunning

heading towards the rear of the Palm House next,

framing the Palm House with the Japanese Cherries

heading past the top of the beds at the Palm House, a closer look

and the heart shaped bed (it's roped off as they are re-seeing the grass round the beds so you can't get as close as I'd like)

I managed not to topple into the pond taking this, always a plus!

it wouldn't be Kew without cake - although a limited choice today- banana muffin, wasn't as good as I've had before - and a hot chocolate (which was!)  

I sat for a few minutes, 

then walked past the beds at the Palm House again on my way out

these magnolias look like they've been dusted with gold but I think have actually been touched by frost

as I went back down the Broad Walk towards my exit I went to look at another huge magnolia

to the left in the distance was the drift of the Chionodoxa (glory of the snow)  so I had to go and see them too

a great carpet!

a tulip bed mirroring the one at the other end of the Broad Walk

love this colour, in another bed 

and towards the exit now

the magnolias on the corner by the exit (entrance)

at the Elizabeth Gate

what a gorgeous trip, how I have missed it!

Let's go again soon!