it was a Good Friday at Kew!

Happy Easter to you all.  Today, Good Friday, forecast warm and sunny... only one place to go (when there are no Southern trains running into London Victoria...

stunning blue sky today  and although first thing it was chilly, it did warm up (9am start for the Easter holidays)

I was on my own today, although I had half expected Kim to also take in an extra visit!

loving the sun on the tulips in the urns on the pond edge

and these pale yellow ones in the beds are so pretty

early morning dew (or overnight rain) on the tulip leaves. 

I criss crossed the path between urns

and the beds 

for a change I decided to head first for the woodland walk so turned down the path alongside the rose garden past the beautiful Yoshimo cherry trees

they were gorgeous against the blue sky but truth the told the blossom itself was better last week in the grey  - it is so short lived.

still took loads though!

so pretty with the blue sky backdrop this week though 

stopped off at the magnolia dell,  boggy underfoot but a gentleman I spoke to said it had been worse last week (when Kim and I avoided it)

the big white magnolia varieties are fading - you can see from the petal on the right the weather damage they've suffered 

i nearly got distracted by the additional blossom beyond the magnolias but fought it!

(tomorrow, maybe!)

and instead carried on through the mirrors towards the lake and then the woodland

it was surprisingly dry underfoot between the two halves of the installation, they must have changed something as previously it's been a mud-bath!

you can see from my attire that despite the sun it was still quite chilly!

 

I took a couple on the phone too

the tip of my camera lens (this was before i swapped to the shorter zoom) and my shadow ..

along the side of the lake

the lake it always beautiful but today.....

amazing reflection of the blue sky and trees 

I had the zoom on still,  so could get more of the toad/Superworm in shot... there were lots of kids already following the trail so I left them to it...

and carried on towards to end of the lake

I didn't continue round though, as I was heading for the Woodland Walk

but I did allow myself to be distracted by the shrub with the white blossom... 

and look how many daisies there are in the grass! (tip of my head shadow in the bottom of shot!)

I am not sure what it is (hawthorn?)  

but it is smothered

carried on round the path to the woodland walk 

another shrub smothered with blossom

it was very peaceful  (in fact thinking about it I didn't notice many planes overhead today, far fewer than on Saturdays)  

I had specifically gone to the woodland to check for signs of bluebells (and wild garlic)  neither of which were out - although I could smell the oniony smell of the wild garlic at the top of the walk so it won't be long. 

shadows of trees on other trunks...

bright acid green leaves illuminated in the sunshine 

I headed back towards the Temperate House

via the Treetop Walkway (used the lift up, did walk down the stairs though)  

little bit hazy in the distance but you could see along way

the plaques at various stages round the walkway have been updated I think.  several of them look different 

towards the end of the path that runs up to the Treetop Walkway is a drooping tree just starting to blossom

you can stand underneath it to view out

then I got carried away by the silver daisy bush again

I stood on the benching that runs round the beds in here... 

you know how I love this when it flowers in the Princess of Wales conservatory

then I got carried away by the huge pink stunning shrub outside the back of the Temperate House.

it was just starting last week...wow!!!  

shortly after this I ditched the coat!  

there's a white variety next door.

along the path from the TH (towards the Pagoda)

but I was heading into the Temperate House

it was past "normal" opening time and already busy inside (in fact eveywhere)

the gerbera was positively glowing

I was still fighting with the camera on some shots...

up the stairs to the viewing platform

not sure why some people insist on ignoring the "up only" signs and go down the up stairs..... grumble grumble.

spiral staircases aren't meant for passing... too narrow.

these people were doing the right thing ha ha

looking through the structure

out f the window,  the top of this urn is all mossy

looking down at the pink beauty from above!  

back on the ground level.  blogger has decided to reverse order of this next batch.. can't be bothered to delete and re-do!

outside, the cherry trees in Cherry Tree walk are starting to bud, and the tulips underneath are starting to flower... can't wait for them! 

more reverse order, but the blossom is gorgeous!

back towards the Palm House now (was getting hungry!)

but took a diversion through some wet grass to some more pink trees!

and some delicate daffodils,

before heading back to the path round the rose garden

to carry on the other half of the semi circle

of Yoshimo cherry trees

half of the round bed of pink tulips at the junction with the Palm House

I was lucky to find a table in the sunshine for my sausage roll and coffee as the cafe was busy by now

as soon as I finished and went to get up to clear away more people grabbed the table! 

the family at the table in the top of the photo had brought their own picnic including a paper table cloth that they  laid over 2 pushed together tables!

off round the palm house pond past the weeping tree.... 

the gunnera are starting to grow 

round the side towards to the evolution garden

more blossom there

marsh marigold

tulips towards the vegetable garden

alpine house

cute daffodils outside the alpine house in the rock garden

just inside the doors

just inside the doors at the far end 

fir tree outside the Princess of Wales 

inside the POW

then I was heading back round the top path along the Rock Garden for the pasqueflowers

they were looking stunning in the sunshine

a lot of these were taken lying on the path 

and a couple from the phone to finish

I love how they grow along the edge of the path 

you can see why I love them! 

heading back now to the exit

the fountain had been off earlier but now it sprung into life, albeit with the jets set very low

good reflections 

I nearly avoided all the people in this shot!

it shows how it droops though

through the branches with the palm house blurred behind

on the way to the exit.

thanks for looking - I will be going again tomorrow, to meet up with Kim, but may (ahem) not take so many photos...