Kew - December already

 Welcome back for another visit to Kew - a cold December morning but at least it is dry

I beat Kim there today for the first time in a while, no disruptions or diversions on the journey for a change

it was a cold wait to get in and we were glad to get moving once the gates opened 

it was very grey, as you can see...

but sill lots of colour from the dogwoods round the pond

and on the trees around the Broad Walk

not a lot of interest at this time of year along the Broad Walk, it has been largely cut back for winter in preparation for next year,  and without water drops on the euphorbia there wasn't a lot to keep us

so we headed along the path past the Monkey Puzzle tree

which is still fascinating

and towards what I class as the "back door" of the Princess of Wales conservatory

the yellowy green on the left is a ginko 

luckily the grass wasn't too long or wet, as we crossed to see closer...

lots of leaves on the ground

we had to double back on ourselves next as there was no access to the path beyond this tree 

on the right is where  the huge wisteria  is and on the floor, thousands of leaves 

just beyond the gorgeous orangey red (the leaves of the smoke bush) is the Hive

we noticed that the water feature in the middle of the secluded garden, was on today so as both Kim and I are fans of this we had a closer look 

standing on my tip-toes I could gt a look at the top of the lowest of the tiers

I tried standing on a bench but they're not close enough!  

then we went into the vegetable garden

they've cleared a lot of the beds to over-winter things for next season

we liked the "christmas tree"  the "baubles" are filled with beans and legumes

the multi-coloured corn cobs were funky!

we walked round the Evolution Garden,  

not a lot of colour left,

some interesting things though-  this is Sacred Bamboo

behind it are berries, 

these are still going strong, the leaves have dropped but the berries remain

and some allium seed heads 

this one made me think of a butterfly landing on a twig,  with half the allium dropped...

fan-shaped palm

then down the salvia border 

blogger has decided you want to see them out of order...

the bee wouldn't stay still !  

this was the first one

we went into the Princess of Wales conservatory to warm up

pink bananas...

we both had trouble with misting up lenses due to the contrast from the cold outside..

there were a few gorgeous orchids

although the flash kept insisting on firing

as we had entered Kew I saw a poster advertising next year's Orchid event, which is celebrating orchids from Cameroon.

bet it will be fabulous

was a big shock back outside in the cold again!

Weeping beech leaves..

walking back round past the pond

great berries

 these leaves were growing on the wall of the ladies loo by the pond

we stopped for hot chocolate and a sausage roll (as they didn't have any of the cheese and mushroom croissants today)  

we made sure to ask for "hot" hot chocolate after the one we had from this cafe last time was so tepid.  

both were delicious

then headed out again 

it had warmed up a bit by now - not much, I think more it was the breeze had dropped

not sure what these berries are, I couldn't see a label

gorgeous trees 

walking along Camellia walk (there were several in flower and lots in bud)

at the corner by the gallery, this huge acer (it's actually 2 growing close together)

stopped us in our tracks

I've always loved it (them) 

the leaves on one are more yellow

than the other 

from "inside" the branches

look, shadows!  a tiny streak of sunlight

knobbly tree trunk

we followed the path all the way to the Pagoda at the far end of Kew (rather than the muddy grass)

over towards the Japanese Garden

George was there again in the same spot as last time

(a couple with 2 small children were feeding him, and called him George, whether that is their name for him or his actual name i don't know)

every time I went to take a photo he moved..

but I quite like this one of his neck feathers!

it's a shame there is no female for him to woo come spring !

look at the colour on this tree still!

more bee action

we walked down Cedar Vista toward the little pond on the left (where the bench is)

there were lots of crows (or rooks not sure) flying around and lots of leaves blowing off the trees - missed the birds, caught a plane (hadn't noticed it at the time)  and some of the leaves  - which is what I'd hoped would show up

colour by the side of the pond 

they're better on a blue sky day, but still pretty vibrant!

as we walked on, love the pampas grass in the foreground making the splash of white

by the side of the lake now.

the acer Winter Gold, living up to it's name

carrying on round the lake

it looked like the tree was decorated!

from the other side of the lake

pale reflections

as we got to the crossing at the halfway point of the lake, Kim 

got out the food for the birds... hoping to avoid pigeons 

it was mostly gulls and as she threw down the food a mass of them flocked to us...

and one goose!  

it was nearly time to head for my train home but first ...

Kim was ahead of me as I had to change lens...

it was fun to play with them again.

paused on the way out by the tree for a bauble selfie...

thanks for looking, hope you didn't get too cold!