Easter Saturday at Kew

 A final chance for a 9am start and we were first in line. 

still grey skies and a stiff breeze blowing.. but dry..

making the most of the tulips along the pond edge 

and the beds in front of the Palm House are still fabulously yellow!

miniature daffodils in the hard to reach bed at the end of the pond... 

round bed looking down the Broad Walk more tulips

and some more of those little daffs

we headed down the Broad Walk 

those pretty pink and white tulips

swaying in the breeze!

first signs of alliums - yay!!

more tulips leaning into the breeze!

wild flowers growing near the foot of the hill round the Hive

we were headed the other way but had to pause at these beauties from last week as they were so gorgeous... starting to go over so i am glad we did...

then we carried on to our next planned stop.....

via the round bed at the end of Banks Avenue that leads from the Elizabeth gate entrance

gorgeous dark tulips

to Kew Palace.....

Judas tree

tulips in the formal garden at the rear of Kew Palace

and yes, the laburnum arch was starting to come into flower - this was what we'd wanted to check on... it is early I think 

but coming on nicely

the sun was trying, so that helped

through the hedge towards the little lake

it was spitting with rain (didn't last long)

there a coot (or moorhen) nesting in the middle of the water

roots [popping out of the water

closer look round the other side 

not been to these beds for a long time, near the Elizabeth gate entrance... more multi coloured tulips,  3 beds full.  

I managed to get the gates in, from the phone

(not bothering to change lens on the camera ; too impatient) 

this bed accent colour was dark red, the other 2 were more purply. 

then we took the path from Elizabeth gate towards the POW but we 

were heading for the old wisteria near the Hive.

it's not as "out" as I thought - and like last year, it looks a bit past it

but there were some decent blooms

from the inside looking up at the top of the tree

we headed round towards the POW (still closed, not quite 10)

tree in the Duke's garden

the windows of the Alpine house have finally been cleaned - what a difference

lots of blues and purples in the alpine house

outside,t he waterfall was fast flowing

it started raining a little harder, so we went into the Princess of Wales conservatory

a new titan arum was in place, growing (the other one has been moved to a different view point)

this looks like the "flowering" stage 

the leafy stage one!

jade vine still going strong

in the carnivorous room

arid section with the cacti

Kim noticed the "fluff" on this succulent-y looking thing on our way out 

we went round towards the Evolution garden 

the handerchief tree was looking good

we walked along the grass at the far left of the evolution garden

euphorbia

bed full of yellow!

camassia in the bed next to the veg garden

pasqueflowers in the evolution garden

along the left side of the evolution garden, close to where my favourite late summer beds are, is a new sign, which I tried and failed to fully capture on my phone... 

it shows the planting plan

I'll try again next time!

a few more peonies out this week

took the woodland path back to the pond to go for tea and cake!

the fountain from behind the tree... remember Harry Worth (if you're old enough you might get the reference)

the gunnera growing fast as it does

there was cake (we were at the Pavilion cafe last week where they'd run out)

carrot cake for me, today which was lovely

as we walked across the grass heading for the lake I took a shot behind me of the entrance

around 11 now and getting busier... and the sun trying to come out again

cow parsley under trees

at the lake we came across Glad (she travels up from Portsmouth, that's dedication for you) so stopped and had another chat (we'd met at the gate earlier)

she was watching a goose on a nest,  doesn't seem a very sensible place, right on the edge of the lake but in full sight of people 

not sure if we disturbed her or she just needed a stretch but she got up and walked around a bit

we left her to it (the male was there too) and she did get back on the nest.

a bit further on, and the Eygptian geese still have 8 or the original 9 chicks left 

near the lake crossing we saw greylags with 5 chicks

heading for a swim

mandarin duck, also heading for the water!

we carried on round the lake,

we both thought these looked like candles on a Christmas tree!

look at the right green trees on the other side of the lake

woodland time,  and loads of bluebells were out now 

I'm going to put Kim's in all together as I can't work out at which stage of the path through they  come!

where the sun was getting through it dappled nicely on the bluebells 

round by where the bird feeders used to be.

we stopped and chatted with Peter who was back after his knee op some weeks ago

we met the bear that is left from one of the old Kew summer features.

Kim told me to give it a hug...

blossom back near the Japanese Garden

oops, I have taken the Pagoda on the wonk....

Japanese garden

walking down from the Pagoda back tothe Temperate House

gorgeous blue skies now and it was sheltered here, so dispensed with my fleece,

that black mark is a bee, photobombing my shot!

we headed into the Temperate House

more bird of paradise out

can't beat light through leaves

outside, the tulips in Cherry Walk were fabulous again, more coloured ones now not just white, coming out.

the trees though have lost most of their blossom already

down low of course!

with the sun out they were looking fabulous

some of the cherry blossom on the grass that hasn't blown away yet!

from here we walked round to the Mediterranean garden 

because having seen the Judas Tree by Kew Palace, I knew this huge one would also be out and glorious 

and being Easter, it seemed appropriate 

my final shots today are the dark tulips by the exit 

what a stunning colour! 

thanks for looking (if you are still with me, lots of photos today... I took 367...)  

there might be a bonus trip this week as I have some days off tacked onto Easter, it depends on the weather....

see you next time!