A damp Sunday (for a change) trip to Kew

 As I was visiting the Ally Pally Crafterama show yesterday (disappointing, but lovely to meet up with my good friend Lin after too long)  it was a Sunday trip to Kew this week.  Luckily, the rain mostly held off and I only got damp. 

to start with the sky was partly blue

the bed at the end of the Broad Walk 

I headed past the pond

and the daffodil covered grass at the bottom of the hill by the Temple of Aeolus

some big camellias 

and in pinky red

the other side is covered too

a carpet of blue flowers through the face sculpture as I took the path to the Princess of Wales conservatory

the orchids have been removed,  but the Rising Sun base is still in the pond,

the weak sunshine caused a great reflection through the glass roof, to give the impression of a Ferris Wheel   - love it!  

side view from the steps

and the upper level

I presume it will be gone by next weekend

there was just one pillar that had been left with it's decoration

you are now free to walk whichever way round you like now that the crowds of visitors are reduced

this is heading down the steps back to the lower level

the setting sun feature is still in place

in the orchid room itself, two of the arches remain,  

my camera wouldn't focus on these - too much white against white sky outside I think

some of the big pots of orchids have been left but grouped together 

the endangered golden frogs from outside have been brought inside to the little pond near the exit

and some more pots of orchids near the exit 

and another large tub of orchids in between the exit and the inner door

the bed outside the POW  full of daffodils 

swaying in the breeze

blossom and/or developing leaves on lots of the trees now

Alpine House

lots of yellow in there at present

imperial fritillarias in yellow and orange 

walked along the path at the edge of the rock garden

I think these are Pasque flowers starting to grow - they are normally Easter flowering (but Easter is very late this year!)  

there isn't a huge amount in the Evolution Garden yet,  most things were cut hard back 

but there are are a group of magnolias

between the Broad Walk and Waterlily house,  there's a raised area with more daffodils and at the foot crocus interplanted

had it not been wet and the ground so muddy I would have done what I have in the past, and laid down to get them both together satisfactorily, but not even for you today would I do that!

they are starting to re-plant up the Waterlily house, I peeked through the closed door

I crossed the path to the Palm House, noticing as I climbed the steps the Yoshino Cherries round the Rose Garden are bursting into flower

in the Palm House, I went up the spiral stairs (it's not long been accessible again after Covid restrictions reduced)

it's very steamy up there with the humidity and the frequent misting of the plants,  so the camera wasn't happy 

at the end of the walkway round (it's a very short section you can see)  you get to look along the inside of the roof - very rusty as you can see 

back outside and walked round the edge of the rose garden to see the buds on the Yoshino cherries.

such a pretty pink

they'll be gorgeous in a week or so.

looking along the path round the rose garden

this big tree is on the other side of the hedge running round the rose garden

more prunus trees 

before I headed for the Temperate House I diverted to the magnolia grove

it was raining now and very muddy underfoot

but the trees were looking glorious.

I stood and squished in the mud swapping lenses back and forth...

some younger trees at the edge of the azalea beds

it's hard to portray magnitude of these trees especially as I try to keep people out of shot!

I love the satiny sheen to the flowers

they were wet too but you can't see the waterdrops!

a man passing stopped and said that I matched (my hair colour) very well.... it's quite a bit darker than this in fact, but the base of the flower is closer!  I laughed, and agreed with him 

see how soft they look!  

I dragged myself away....

the other side of the path that leads you round the magnolias is a big bed full of forsythia - 

with the magnolias in the background

another mound of daffodils

the tulips growing in Cherry Walk approaching the Temperate House 

some orchids in tubs in the Temperate House

have to check the silver daisy busy

heading up the walkway

looking down into plants from the stairs

flowering aloe (made a note of it this week

these have nearly finished

outside,  another flowering cherry

I decided to head to the gallery and not visit the lake today

it's been a while since I took any photos - the display has been extended for a month till late April 

from the black side

and the colourful side

a new planted area being developed 

camellia walk,  on the way back to the main entrance

more magnolias

really dark hellebores in the bed at the main gate

heading for home along Broad Walk 

water drops on the euphorbias   - it had more or less stopped raining although there were several people still with umbrellas up

and some last magnolias over towards the hive

thanks for looking  - hopefully I'll be back next week, although just had a call from Lin who I was with yesterday who's just got pinged by the NHS app for a covid contact !  

final photo,  raindrops on a waste bin at the station on the way home 

can't beat raindrops, on anything!