Kew - in search of blossom

 today started breezy but sunny

we headed round the pond first 

the blossom has come out on this gorgeous tree, it's one of my favourites,  

the blossom is short lived so pleased to have caught it with some blue sky behind it.

the breeze was blowing across the water creating strong ripples! 

there were pretty little blooms around the pond

magnolias on the mound 

they've been damaged by the weather,the petals were tinged with brown

we headed to the evolution garden with their magnolia groups

the wind was playing havoc with the branches!

pretty violas alongside the vegetable garden

blossom along the wall at the edge of the vegetable garden/rock garden

euphorbia in the rock garden

Kim had been to Kew twice in the week on a week off and had said there were some new flowers in the alpine house

blowsy tulip

we met the couple of members we'd not seen for months, in the alpine house too so had a catch up.

the backs of these petals were really pretty, got a better one below on the phone 

Kim getting down close

I wanted to check out the development of these along the top path of the rock garden 

(pasque flower, pulsatilla)  

there are a few clumps, so far with more coming. 

they are so pretty

outside the Princess of Wales

inside the POW cactus area is a massive prickly pear that is covered in blooms

bet they're gone by next week! 

in the entrance area, (blogger playing games again) 

spiky spikes on a big cactus.

into the rainforest section

still going strong

more pretty pink flowers

catching the light 

jade vide 

heading to the upper level

part of a fern. had trouble with the camera in this section!

there was lots of watering going on!

we walked through the orchid rooms

patterns on leaves..

pattern on a trunk 

the orchids in the doorway have turned yellow !  so pretty

magnolias opposite the Hive

they're losing loads of petals rapidly - there was a heavy hailstorm close by yesterday so the associated rain probably did for them! 

then we headed to the glory of the snow which Kim had seen yesterday

luckily the path runs close to the edge of the planting so I could lie down and stay mud-free!

such a pretty sight, they spread a long way now (and outside the roped off area too at the far end)

I got Kim to record the event!

further up the path is the magnolia dell

with some smaller trees on the way

it was seriously squishy underfoot, Glastonbury  muddy as Kim called it

I picked my through the mud

more wind/frost damage

but some blue sky yay!

pleased to have the sun shining through the flowers 

just beyond the magnolia dell is a group of flowering cherries that were planted a few years ago

it was still windy!

such beautiful blossom

I was fighting with the camera again

different variety, stunning pink flowers

they're like weeping willows!

another magnolia

we headed to the lake

these have lost their pretty red colour from a couple of weeks ago

before walking through the exploration house 

can't resist my silver daisy bush, as you know and this recent find is stunning 

next to it is a pretty mauvy purple flowered bush 

with delicate soft grey stems

along the path from the Temperate house,  buds on one of my favourite trees shows promise of delight soon! 

another flowering cherry

we headed to the pavilion restaurant for food...

it was a bit fresh outside and the lemon cake was very sweet - should have gone for the gingerbread cake for the 3rd week running!

we walked up to the Japanese garden and whilst there was some colour, the blossom I thought might be out, wasn't yet!

so we headed back to the Temeprate House

the camera couldn't decide whether to focus on the TH (which is ok, ) 

or the blossom (which I wanted!) 

I had more luck with this beauty this week although as you will see, the photos are in the wrong order

pretty gerbera

just inside the doorway!

ok, back to where we were!

it really is a beauty

love the purply red underleaves 

heading back to the exit now 

more clouds coming, but stayed dry today

these are in the entrance and we look at them through the gates but in our eagerness to get to the gardens never stop ....

took this through the gates on my phone whilst we waited!

thanks for looking , hope you enjoyed the walk

see you next week - it will be a late start (11am) as the Richmond Run prevents me getting in earlier...