Kew

 We were back to dull today at Kew.  

but there were some great reflections in the pond

which had partly thawed out from the cold last week 

but there was a patch in the middle where there was still a thin layer of ice for the gull to stand on

we noticed some of the large black birds on the edge of the little island (they are a kind of cormorant)

the dogwoods still look bright even on a dull day

the pink hellebores at the top of the Broad Walk have picked up after being hit by the cold last week

the euphorbia are developing,  and there are daffodils poking through in the beds.  Spring is on the way!

there are large areas of the borders that have been dug over and mulched for spring, and things cut back

we noticed this little feather caught on a stem

the big patches of grasses have been partly cut back, 

but there were some tall stems left, all fluffy and soft

we walked round past the Orangery restaurant which is under scaffolding for it's refurb

past the Monkey Puzzle tree

of flip, blogger is reversing again...

never mind, 

we walked round towards the grass garden

the lichens are all over the branches of this

lichens 

this is opposite the monkey puzzle..

I thought (not for the first time)  as we reached the grass garden that the Alpine House from this angle looks like Darth Vadar... 

or is it just me?!

Kim noticed a flash of green in the grasses....

I've had to crop these as didn't have my long zoom today

it's a European Woodpecker, apparently 

it was having a fine old time digging in the grass, worms, presumably, for breakfast! 

then walked along the path at the edge of the Rock Garden

love the purple tinge to the edge of the leaves on this aloe

little dips in the ends allow water to catch.

(last week a different one to this was frozen to mush!)

couldn't read the label on this, but they were dinky little things

pretty patterns on the leaves 

and I've forgotten what they are

there wasn't much in the Evolution Garden

like this fluff though

another aloe outside the Princess of Wales conservatory

and  I noticed a new leaf on one of the agaves that was frost damaged last week 

I'm sure it was there last week too, just didn't notice 

a large witch hazel by the side of the path on the way from the pond to the cafe

Egyptian goose snoozing by the pond side 

It didn't move as I went closer...

we decided to head in for elevenses 

went back to the cheese and mushroom croissants today with our hot chocolate. 

hmmm  Kim said I was licking my fingers before I'd even started... 

we headed down Camellia walk towards the winter garden -  the magnolia buds are starting to open 

gorgeous huge tree, but a very grey sky -  no hint of rain luckily

we arrived at the same time as a group of people but took a shot as promised to show the scale/slope

and to the side of the sloping path

and then as we walked away.

it will develop beautifully over time 

we went into the Temperate House 

came across this fruit in a big pot 

I imagine it got damaged as it fell so they've left it for visitors to see inside

close by was a plant with another fruit still on 

just called Citron  - a huge citrus fruit

there were some tubs of narcissus in the octagon under the window sill  

on the window sill in the octagon was a large pot of coleus - variety called Henna -  you can see why, it was a stunning colour

more  tubs of citrus plants, this time a lime (no, I didn't pick one for my gin!  )

and a camellia 

part of the metal structure  It used to be a window opening mechanism but as they've allowed climbing plants to ramble up it I guess it no longer works

moving into the main part of the TH  as we went round by the ferns we heard a robin - we'd hoped to see it again as it was so keen to pose last week,

but this time it was on the back of the waterfall, singing away and couldn't be encouraged closer

as I didn't have my long zoom I couldn't get closer

there is lots of new growth on the ferns

they've opened out the beds in here too and cut back some areas 

so you can see things you couldn't before

this is the plant I like so much that you can see when you come down the stairs from the platform

this one is smaller and closer to the path

it's called Brunfelsia pauciflora.  

but it's beautiful for all that!  

 tree tomatoes ( think that's what they are called)

new growth on a tree stem.  looks like a tropical palm tree!  

random photo -  shoe on one of the statues in a corner

the African Hemp - much easier than it's Latin name

we could hear another robin in this section too,  singing loudly

but as we walked round although we saw it down on the ground in the beds, it wouldn't stop still for us

still going strong despite the sign saying it won't be there long!

I can enver see what these are called

we gave up trying to catch the robin 

and headed out again 

more lichens 

after Kew at Christmas they have lots of areasthat need re-turfing..

I said to Kim they look like a pile of Swiss roll chocolate cakes..  

just ready for the icing!  

we headed for the lake

but as we passed the Treetop Walkway,

we both noticed at the same time that the new lift was -  wait for it -  WORKING!

we made a beeline round to investigate

so we had to take a ride - it was much faster than the old one, 

you could see that from outside 

we walked round the walkway

the sky was an odd colour for mid-day 

it looked pinkish, almost like it should be sunset!

not a very good photo, but the trunk of this tree has been well pecked by a woodpecker

I like that you can see all the workings

just realised the photos are being reversed again.

can't be bothered to fix it.

put the short zoom on,  still and odd tinge to the sky (the sun didn't come out) 

we had to go down in the lift too - would be rude not to, after waiting all this time for it to be built

Kim took one of me inside it

it goes too quick to get much on the way down

view from the bottom

we nearly forgot to go to the lake after the excitement

another tree been cut down, recently, as the smell of sawdust still hung in the air

there was a patch of the lake still semi-frozen too, the gulls were standing!  

lots of tree reflections 

the swans were swimming around

love this reflection! 

good reflections of the swans too

as we walked across the lake we heard geese overhead - Kim was mid lens change 

I've cropped some of these as there was lots of dead sky!  

there were about 5 I noticed as I cropped,  they were too quick as I was snapping to count 

our final stop was of course, this!

no geese this week, instead the fox ran by...

Kim sent me some she took of me too

the fox was still hanging around - a group of people were crouching down taking photos and it must have thought they had food,  as it sat and watched them

there were a group of geese nearby too, that had been walking towards where the fox was, but they turned and headed the other way when it saw them and moved in their direction.

Hopefully it won't have caught any (I think they're too big for a fox to catch!)  but they didnt like him.

Next week, it's Orchid time!!  see you then.  Thanks for looking.