Kew - a mixed weather bag - but it's spring!

 It was raining as I left home and I had to take an umbrella today.. I thought I was going to regret not taking the big Kew golfing umbrella but as it happened we were ok.... 

The bus was held up by the weather and roadworks so neither Kim nor I had as long to wait at the gates as normal... 

it was just a drizzle by the time we got in...

and there was a hint of sun trying to break through the clouds

we decided to head for the Princess of Wales first and hope it stopped raining whilst we were inside.

there were lots of puddles everywhere!

this rather scruffy looking thing is left from one of the arches fromthe orchid display in the first section you walked through

I quite liked the pattern

perlagonium in the entrance

walking through the arid desert section and the cacti

was already having trouble with the camera 

but for a change I took several of the cacti for the shapes 

and textures.

then into the steamy rainforest section

I remember this pink soft spiky thing from previus visits

hanging basket full of Easter (?) cactus

I assume so, too late for a Christmas cactus although the one Mum had never flowered at the right time either!

the floor under the jade vine was littered with debris from the vine, so i guess it won't last much longer 

in the pond  round a pillar

this hanging plant was lovely!

the sun was out, too shining through the windows 

on the upper level at the top of the arid section again

these beauties were on an aloe (I think) I couldn't see a label but the flowers were gorgeous

tangle of spikes!  

back in the upper rainforest level., just as well I tried again for this passionflower as the ones I took before were awful

there was someone watering !

beautiful fern

cool orchid room ( out of order!)

you couldn't get close to the tree stump referred to, or consequently the orchid!

they were pretty though

blogger is taking you on it's own route today.... 

out in the arid area 

steamy section!

opposite the orchid on the tree stump!

this one was hiding high up with big leaves in the way

back to arid....   

more perlagoniums

we walked back round past the pond to the other exit 

the boy with the hose had been busy!

the few tubs of orchids near the other exit are starting to fade, but the lovely chocolatey one is still lovely!

a couple of flowers on the grevillea

outside.   it had just about stopped raining 

the grasses are starting to grow back

alpine house

there was lots of colour

fritillaria 

outside, raindrops on the metal railing

looking through the alpine house out to the grasses 

rock garden,  looking down on the muscari

euphorbia

magnolias are bursting into flower in the evolution garden

looking for raindrops!

further on in the evolution garden

still love this (Leaf Spirit, bronze)

new growth everywhere 

raindrops on everything!

chaenomoles (may not be correct spelling)

puddle reflections in the mud!

as the magnolias in the evolution grden were bursting into flower I wanted to go tot he magnolia dell 

so we headed that way next

past some other magnolias 

a fallen branch covered in lichen

swathe of daffodils 

as we turned the corner in the path I could see ahead....

shame the sky behind was dark grey not blue though

we squelched across the very very muddy grass past some crocus

and then it was magnolia heaven!

if you get bored, keep scrolling!

fighting with the lens to focus on the raindrops....

trying to stay upright in the mud!  

ok so it's reversing them again

there was a magpie on a bench watching us

they will be fabulous - even more so - in the next week or so

this one looks as if it's been touched by frost

as we walked away

we headed across the lake

great reflections

we walked through the extension to the Temeprate House (as I always think of it, but I see from the map it's called the Exploration House)

there was a silver daisy bush inside -  the one in the Temeparate House that I loved so much seems to have disappeared though it's sign is still there

I still love it loads!

there's a gorgeous grevillea in there too

we headed down the path at the far end of the Temperate House past some budding cherry trees 

and went and had cake and hot chocolate.

Kim not wanting her photo taken... 

it was gingerbread cake again -   yummy!!  

we sat outside under the awning of the cafe - it was really mild 

you have a good view of the Temperate House

and look, blue sky!

after a brief rest we headed back to the Temperate House

and some more colour

this was gorgeous - it;s huge, climbs  right up one of the pillars

camera didn't want to play though

so it was as well that Kim snapped me ! 

order being reversed again but it's nearly tea time so I'm leaving them...

as we came out and headed up the path for the way home

these seedheads with the dramatci sky behind stopped me

blossom

I think it might be time to head home! 

back towards the Palm House

that;s one angry looking sky!

it was stunning!  

gorgeous blossom 

behind us, still blue!  

as we came past the Palm House

it was spectacular

but very much time to leave!

I took some on the phone too

Kim sent me this one she took of me trying to change the camera battery

and another one of me in the POW with the orchids

It started raining just as i crossed the road and stood at the bus stop

thanks for looking,  hope you enjoyed them 

see you next week!