Kew - the day after storm Eunice

 I debated about trying to get to Kew today after the violence of storm Eunice yesterday, there were trees down and roads closed on my route from work (and therefore to Kew as it was a use the bus day today)  but in the end it worked out fine.  It was even sunny for a while

though the sky was grey and cold for my opening photo

it was obvious as soon as I entered the gardens there was significant damage - and this horticulturist was surveying the damage

they'd been busy with the red tape making sure visitors didn't get too close

the daffodils beyond the tree though had come out since last week

signs of Spring in the round bed at the end of the Broad Walk

they had had some damage to the Princess of Wales conservatory (damaged glass from what I could see when I walked all the way round it), so the orchids festival wasn't open to visitors today

I walked passed the start of the woodland walk, lots of crocus under the trees

and daffodils on the hill under the Temple of Aeolus are much more visible

there wasn't much to see in the Evolution Garden,  nor damage either luckily

the vegetable garden, including the grass has been completely stripped back to bare earth to regenerate before spring sowing

Alpine House

back outside at the far end of the grass garden, more red tape...

that's where the branch was torn off

the magnolias opposite the Hive are start to flourish into furry life! 

I was drawn to the storm damage though

this is at the corner of the path crossing the Broad Walk 

the daffodils i photographed earlier by the first fallen tree,  from the other side of the hill

more damage

you can't see, but the crocuses were looking a bit flattened  lol  and lots of leaves amongst them

I took lots of photos of the damage especially the fallen trees, as I am sure by next week the trunks will have been removed, unless they decide (as they often do)  to leave them to encourage wildlife.  Maybe a bit too many to do that though

cornus, a bit of brightness in the sadness of the damage

before coming to another expanse of red tape... it was truly sad to see so much damage, but hardly surprising after such a strong storm

leaf litter amongst the daffodils as I walked through the grass 

I was surprised to see a bright pink rhoodendron flowering already in the rhododendron dell...

yellow tape this time!  the damage had been partly cleared as there was lots of sawdust at the base of the trunk so I think this may have been from a previous storm not yesterday's (possible Dudley earlier this week!)

the lake from the crossing

more damage alongside the lake walking up to the far end

this bench nearly ended up in the lake - just imagine the force to turn it over and over (it's about 5 feet out of position) 

as I walked round the lake I saw the door to the Arboretum Nursery was open -  a rarity for visitors

you don't get to see far inside for bio-security reasons to keep infection and contamination out

I took a few shots

there was a film playing just inside the door

before heading back outside 

to the big fallen tree I'd been heading for when I saw the open door.,

it was definitely the right decision to keep Kew closed yesterday with all these trees falling!  

walking away from the lake towards the Treetop Walkway - they are working on something at the base of the walkway from this direction and it's boarded up - although you can still access the stairs from the other direction.

I am hoping it is the lift they are repairing!!

anyhow, I took some photos of the rusted steel supports which I love, in amongst the trees 

to the left of the path I cut through,  a large trunk - a much older felling - love the cuts in it

although I suspect it may be from an inexpert tree feller!  

into the Temperate House from the far end so I came to this first 

and some big palm leaves

 as I walked through into the octagon I took some photos of the narcissus in their tubs

you can see how huge they are (tubs,not the flowers, they're small!)

coleus 

some more of the narcissus

round to my favourite, Silver Daisy Bush

they are so delicate,  and you can see the silver stems here 

then it was up to the viewing platform

the tree ferns from above look stunning, and they are so tall now

at the far end of the platform I looked out of the window,  there was a cherry picker and a trailer full of plant debris

I thought initially it was from outside, but not sure now ;  it might be - the palm leave threw me, but there are some by the Palm House near that first fallen tree I had seen

back down on ground level, behind the waterfall in the TH   a white rhododendron in flower

and some unfurling ferns

last week i told you that the tulips in Cherry walk have poked through -  they are properly visible now

I crossed the grass towards the gallery 

and first had a walk round the International Photographer of the Year exhibit - outside this year, not in the Nash Conservatory like it has been recently (a covid thing I imagine)

there were some beautiful winners

someone else likes taking photos of building reflections in puddles!  

I wish I could take pictures like this - although a lot of these are enhanced in "post production"  something I never do (other than an occasional bit of cropping)  

I did go into the gallery but didn't take any photos this time as they are the same as before!  

another bank of daffodils 

walking back along Camellia walk to the exit,  a magnolia starting to open 

and that, as it was now raining, is that!

Thanks for looking,  see you next week - hopefully I'll be able to use my Orchids time slot  and there;ll be no more storms to report on.