Kew - sunny AND warm and full of blossom

 I set off early today and happened to bump into Lynda who I chat to in the queue so we had time for a coffee and scone before we continued our journey - the warm sunshine had brought out lots of early visitors this morning.

we went our separate ways as we entered.  I headed for the Palm House - all the beds now have daffodils in flower, in their staggered varieties.

I then followed the path round to the cherry trees bordering the rose garden... glorious!!  

I'd had to take my jacket off as we waited in the queue standing in the sun, but the wind was quite blustery round here so it went back on (for a short while!)

there are white ones and 

pinky ones

and ones that start deeper pink

I could see Lynda ahead of me on the path further along having already stopped at the blossom

lots of daffodils growing under the trees  to one side of the path

looking back at the Palm House

a deeper pink

the big white cherry tree on the corner is packed with blossom... it's just stunning

on the opposite corner is a pinker variety, not quite as far out yet

there were lots of people gathering at these trees

so I took the path that slopes up through the Mediterranean garden past the coreopsis (I think) 

which is looking gorgeous

and to Cherry Walk, where the first tulips are flowering now

hundreds more to come very soon!

and the cherry trees will be out soon too.  hopefully the cold snap we are due next week (compared to this week )  won't harm them too much

but there is promise of much beauty!

so then into the Temperate House

I always struggle to photograph this beauty well, not sure why

next stop of course, the Silver Daisy Bush

where the flowers are open fully now

and then up to the viewing platform

I've not carried the globe lens for a while,  I remembered to use it here, but then forgot it was in the bag

back down at ground level in the south (I think) Octagon  

the fixed camera that had been filming this last week has been moved on elsewhere

and the Strelitizia (bird of paradise) is flowering

and there is one last little clump of this left 

glowing in the sun

Cherry Walk continues the other side of the Temperate House and as we saw last week one was out - this week, more

looking back at the Temperate House

it's amazing what one week of sunshine will do!

this is why I come so often (ok, every week) 

at the Japanese Garden colour in the form of low growing azaleas  is developing

walking up the grass towards the lake

drifts of daffodils

and then towards the rhododendrons  although this is a malus I think

what a beautiful pink

walked down part of the path through the rhododendron dell

then across to the lake, and across it

there were several people at the top of the Treetop Walkway

I noticed a sign at the end of the path that blocks the access to the Walkway from this end,  saying it was because they are building a new lift - hurrah!!  It has been out of action for so long

watching me watching you....

I walked past some white daffodils 

with pretty yellow centres,  glowing bright in the sun

pas the end of the Mediterranean garden from the other side

and then past more blossom

and daffodils 

I noticed that behind the ropes the snakes head fritillaria are out  - the ropes obviously to stop you walking on the ones that are yet to come out so you can't get close to see them well

on to the magnolias again

I can't tell you how tall this gorgeous tree is by the magnolias

the yellow one is coming out now...

such a delicate shade

the amount of flowers on the trees is staggering

the forsythia near the waterlily house

as I walked past I noticed that the water is back in the pond so it will be re-open soon, and someone was inside watering the plants in there

I had to go back round the rose garden to look at the Yoshino cherry trees again, the wind was blowing the blossom at me,  

and I took lots more photos of it

I crossed the rose garden and sat on a bench in the sun for a few minutes enjoying the trees some more

then walked through the middle of the Palm House 

before emerging in front of the beds of daffodils

the beds are the far end have orange-centred varieties (no labels to show what they are) 

and I walked round to the tubs on the edge of the pond

which are pure white

then back to the end of the pond

where the scent of the hyacinths was wafting on the breeze

the cornus (dogwood) and other planting in the beds long the side of the pond have been cut back giving an un-interrupted view of the fountain for the entire length of the path

so of course it was play time -   I had intended before leaving home to use the globe lens here too, but as I said, I forgot

whilst I had the lens zoomed out I got a close up of the goose in the flower bed

before getting back to the fountain

next stop,  Princess of Wales conservatory

the jade vine has as I thought come out a lot more

fabulous light shining through big leaves

in the orchid room

the into the alpine house -  arum  a deep reddy-black

and the creamy yellow ones I admired last week

I never remember to note what these are, so pretty

it's a delicate little climber, several feet tall

the crown imperial fritillary are stunning

purple anemones 

the peony beds are being redeveloped this year,  and are growing nicely - got to love a peony so will be gorgeous later 

still lots of daffodils on the slopes by the Temple of Aeolus

more blossom, this time between the Broad Walk and the Princess of Wales conservatory

walking down the Broad Walk on the grass so at the back of the beds,  the sun on the euphorbias ws fantastic

illuminating more daffodils 

(blogger reversing order again but no matter)

more magnolias round by the Hive

and more daffodils

I sat on a bench again for a couple of minutes

but then crossed the grass to the swathe of Glory of the Snow (chionodoxa)  

I laid down on the path to get some birds eye views

before a wider shot to show part of the extend of the flowers

and then back up the Broad Walk 

and round the back of the pond

to check on the "weeping" tree

so pretty!

then it  was time to hed for the bus home!

thanks for looking - next week I  will be wrapped up in warm coats again