Kew - twas the week before Christmas

 I can't quite believe it's a week to Christmas - which means no trip to Kew next week!  I am really hoping that with the rising Covid numbers that I will be able to go in between Christmas and New Year (we are not working in between) if the government doesn't impose restrictions again.  

it was a dull but mild day... 

I walked round the pond first,  one of the few bursts of colour from the dogwood

then I went into the Princess of Wales conservatory 

some orchids  - I'd lost the lens cap on the way there  and I was having the usual misting up trouble 

round by the pond in the POW  - no sign of water dragons today, I looked hard 

they have a huge hanging basket of Christmas cactus by the door out from this section

I love these delicate little flowers

then outside to the Evolution Garden,  no real colour left and lots of the growth has been cut down, but there are some seedheads left 

I loved these

they look totally different from the other angle due to the way the light hits them

the berberis has pops of colour in it's leaves

and so does the mahonia,  

couldn't see a label on this and I can't remember what it is

I like the stripey effect though

the grasses are looking good, not had their winter haircuts yet

in the Alpine House

one or two Nerines still flowering

vibernum

on the Broad Walk,  some more grasses

in the Palm House

steps up to the top walkway (out of use at present)

walking out through the rose garden these rose leaves were fascinating 

the witch hazel flowers have started to burst open in the last week

ivy

in the Temperate House, the silver daisy bush flowers are growing... 

lots of the beds have been cut back, I liked the look of the stems of this, cut down to ground level

little narcissus

then it ws round to the lake,  no reflections today, too dull

lots of birds about

walking back past the Mediterranean garden

another look at the Christmas baubles

and a final liquidamber tree that still has some leaves left

Can't quite believe how few photos I took today, the fewest for I don't know how long... but thanks for looking

Happy Christmas and hopefully we'll re-group in between Christmas and New Year for another walk.

Kew - then booster day - and hello old friend!

 I'm starting with a glorious sky this morning as I left for the bus (train cancellations due to crew shortages)  

it was very short lived though and by the time I'd got to the bus stop (ten minutes) it had gone

I arrived early enough to go to the cafe up  the road for a coffee and (warm) croissant for breakfast before heading to the gate

once in, I headed for my traditional first stop 

then a walk round the pond 

there was a good reflection of the sky from the viewing platform (for the Light display)  in the pond

even without the fountain playing, it looks good

I went into the Princess of Wales conservatory first

today I saw the name - Heliconia 

already blogger is reversing the order of the pictures... 

misting lens!  

there are always such interesting plants in the POW  

and as I walked up the steps to the upper level, I was delighted to catch sight of the Chinese Water dragon on the rock - for the first time in months!

I cropped a copy so we can see it better

I am so glad they are still around, I was getting quite concerned not to have seen one for so long.

Sadly where he was sat I couldn't get any better photos.

 

upstairs now,  some rare sunlight through a window illuminated some ferns

outside at the top of the rock garden the little blue  had gone but these huge pines (I think)  stood out against the sky

I walked through the alpine house

it seems to be an in between time for much colour, but the little narcissus are still gorgeous

the berberis in the evolution garden is turning a golden orange 

and the mahonia was looking fine 

sedum seedheads

couldn't see a label on these, there were 2 but I loved the fanlike shape of the leaves

love teasels!

then back round the pond to the Palm House - going inside this time

love the dogwood stems 

this flower had fallen off it's host (no idea what it is)  and was on the bench at the exit of the palm house

the witch hazel are in bud.  hopefully we'll be able to come and see them in bloom after Christmas,  if covid levels don't keep rising to cause more restrictions (missed them last year)

trying for some arty shots now with the Temperate House in the background by the (ivy?)  

this is the mass of shrub I tried to identify many visits ago  

needless to say blogger is reversing the order again!

the cloud parted momentarily 

so the treetop walkway was bathed in sun

and so too the cherry trees in cherry walk 

I found some orchids in the temperate house 

and some more narcissus in the octagon

the fern stems are always a favourite, gleaming!  

the ferns at the edge of the path through the centre of the TH against the waterfall - I was trying to catch the splashes from the water !

the silver daisy bush  - my favourite in here - is starting to bud up ready -  again, I missed this in lockdown last year 

I made sure to look up at the mass of pink flowers (forgot to look for the name again)

and got shots from different angles

it obviously likes to grow towards the light as all the flowers - or the majority - are congregated at the top of the plant

on the way through the next octagon I stopped to photograph the aoenium again

I love the glossy shine!

by the far door there was a kniphofia flowering

outside round the back of the temperate house, is the next part of the trail,  

this will look better at night!

but the carousel ride is great day or night

the sun was creating a great look on the temperate house

walking past the treetop walkway towards the lake -  not taking the time (or energy) to climb it)

there were several people who were, however

nearing the lake,  this is one of the huge ancient trees in Kew, I love all the knobbly bits!

the dogwood by the edge of the lake are in leaf

and there's another larger patch a little further along - a rare reflection now as it had gone quite cloudy

i walked to the far boundary of the gardens then through the woodland area (usually only do this at bluebell time)

some fluffy seedheads

part of the Christmas at Kew - can't remember what this was called, something about birds though

I went into the gallery to see the Zadok Ben-David exhibition - only two photos today of the shadows in one of the perspex displays

from there I went back to the exit to visit  shop (bought a couple of Christmas presents)  and headed home having realised I was running the risk of being late for my Covid booster jab (I was in time)  

Thanks for looking,  hope to see you again next week!