Kew - a wet New Year's Eve final visit of the year

 Despite the forecast being rain all day I was still heading to Kew this morning.  

My replacement lens arrived the day after delivery (good old Amazon) 

as it was Saturday, Kim was there too so we walked round together

I did my best to keep my camera dry 

heading down the Broad Walk, we were met by a pop of pink from the hellebores

and the rain had started to leave drops on the euphorbia

there wasn't a lot to grab my interest along the Broad Walk though

took the path past the Orangery restaurant to check out the Monkey Puzzle tree 

in the evolution garden, the skeletons of the hydrangea were still striking

and some seedheads

Kim caught sight of a robin in amongst some twigs

cropping helps!  

the snowdrops under the acer in the rock garden seem to have proliferated

lots of aloes nestling in the gaps between the rocks.

we both liked the red tips to the leaves

quick walk through the alpine house

the nerine still looking beautiful

and the teeny Narcissus 

I nearly poked my eye out on a leaf stem trying to smell them!

good thing they are soft 

then into the Princess of Wales

these orchids were small and really pretty but too far back in the bed to get a decent shot.

there are some very large fish in the pond in the POW

I was determined to get a less foggy shot of this pretty orange flower this time but still forgot the label!

I was pleased with this one I took on the phone, too.  

back down to the lower level passing the pink bananas

outside into the rain, we walked along to the lake,

signs still up saying don't feed or touch the birds - I assume in an attempt to stop the spread of bird flu, although I've not heard of any cases round here;  however prevention is key.   

I liked the numerous branches coming off this tree but it was too wet to stop and change lens

then into the Temperate House quickly (to use the loo mainly)

always love the teeny flowers on this erica 

on our way out I was struck by the shape of the leaves on this kalanchoe.

I'll look again next week

 

raindrops on the bottom of the signpost - but we went right, to the cafe 

for a quick pitstop of hot chocolate and a sausage roll (mine had loads of cranberries in it today)

and that's all i took - can't remember the last time I took so few!

thanks for looking again and Happy New Year to you.

See you again in 2023 when I start my next year's visits to my happy place!!