Orchids at Kew - week 3

Another dull day for my weekly trip to Kew - but another Orchid time slot would ensure colour!

 I got a message as I was on my way to Kew that Kim was poorly with a cold and not coming today 

first stop was the orchids for my time slot.

I decided to go for the macro lens today and mostly close ups

I love the speckles and splotches on these ones 

some are hanging overhead

close up of the main feature

I couldn't get back far enough to take this without knocking visitors over

one of the birds flying over the scene

pillar in the pond 

the flamingoes again, 

the back drop of the pond the other side of the stairs features a picture of Machu Pichu

from the arch in the rainforest section

the next few are out of order, but never mind!

the titan arun is growing well 

hope it waits for next weekend!

after I finished in the orchid display I went round to the alpine house 

evolution garden 

I walked back through the woodland garden

witch hazel by the pond

snow drops under the dogwood along the pond

the beds outside the still closed for winter waterlily house are full of open daffodils!  

a quick walk through the Palm House

even on dull days, the dogwood give good reflections 

seedheads in the Mediterranean garden

inside the Temperate House - the lady who often paints in the POW orchid room in her temporary home!

I went up the viewing platform 

salvia in the TH

I headed out of the Temperate House before I remembered the big tubs of daffodils in the central doorway (and realise I also forgot to check the lemon trees on the opposite side)

so quickly went back in

before then crossing the path to the Davies Exploration House

daisy time!

didn't climb on the concrete for higher views today

I had intended to head to the winter garden next but headed to the lake!  

had I done so I would also have seen the International Photographer of the Year exhibition outside the gallery which opened today, but will go next week!

near the sweet chestnut trees the friendly squirrels came rushing up to say high

and I was also surprised to see two of last year's cygnets and their parents back 

they too hurried over to say hi!  

I had no food for them so tried to keep my distance a bit

they ran fast and up and down the trees and up to me and away again

the swans took to the lake and sailed across to the other side, so I made my way over the crossing to catch up with them

there's new planting areas along the side of the lake at this point so I couldn't get closer

grasses at the end of the lake

I headed across the grass towards a patch of crocus I was going to photograph but 

came across Dave (who runs the Merlin the Magic Squirrel FB page) watching a fox - this is Max, the grand-dad!  

(he seems to be laying claims to a new area, Dave says he thinks his son Sebastian has evicted him) 

he was eating cheese Dave had given him

we chatted for a while before I left and made my way home.

Thanks for looking - there are 2 more weekends of Orchids to enjoy - who knows, maybe the sun will shine for one!