another wet Kew trip

 ..although nowhere as wet as the forecast said...  as I got there I had a message from Kim saying she was waiting until tomorrow (it's meant to be sunny) so it was a solo walk today.

I spoke to someone from Kew as I was on the platform across the pond about how lovely it is to see it this close. 

as Kim wasn't here to take sneaky shots of me I had to do it myself.... the hat was to keep me dry rather than warm, it wasn't dreadfully cold 

at this stage it wasn't really raining, it did some and go a bit, but only light rain luckily

with the dogwoods in the bed in front it looked quite colourful

the huge weeping beech has lot a lot of leaves but 

is such an impressive tree

the callicarpa is losing berries, I expect birds are eating them and there were some lying in the grass

I had travelled light today, no rucksack (it's hard to keep it dry even with the waterproof covering) so I had one spare lens  nestled in a spare woolly hat in a big handbag!  so no macro shots today

I went into the Princess of Wales conservatory 

went to the upper level for a change

I had forgotten to put the lens cloth in my handbag so my scarf was put to use trying to de-mist the lens again

the new planting is starting to fill out  but it's still quite empty looking 

then it was round to the Carbon Garden

with the POW in the background 

then round the edge of the grass garden 

snowdrops under the acer in the rock garden 

back at the Palm house I walked through - I nearly went up to the viewing platform but decided against fighting the humidity up there with the camera 

I was going to go for an early cup of tea but decided to head for the lake first, taking the path round the rose garden which has now been pruned back for winter

the trees that still have leaves are quite colourful still 

the Lockerbie bench  by the lake

I could see one of the herons on the other side again, and paused under the shelter of the tree to change lens. to the other zoom.

as I turned round, 

I found him behind me, he'd obviously flown over the pond to say hello

I asked him if he wanted to come for a walk along the lake but he stayed at the bench.

I decided against sitting on the bench at the lake as it was sopping wet and even though I had something to sit on I kept going.. 

the island in the lake 

normally I'd be in macro mode here...

love the red of the leaves though

crossing the lake.  It had been very wet!  

I was going to go up the Treetop Walkway for a change

but what a surprise (not!) the lift was closed for health and safety reasons (again!)  so my legs said no thanks!  

I carried on towards the Temperate House 

and took a walk through half of it - there wasn't a huge amount that caught my eye today 

so I walked round the outside to look at the light trail - this one you need to see at night with the lights on,  

I took the path that leads to the Winter garden (the dogwoods in the middle at the back)

looking towards the gallery (where I was heading) 

but as I passed round the winter garden  I took some more photos

it's coming into it's prime season of course now.

turning to head to the gallery, this huge maple tree has some yellow and some orange and red leaves - it's a beauty

missing the macro lens though!

I paused to change lens before going into the gallery 

for another look at the artwork from the Singh Twins   I've linked to the Kew article on the website (which will work as long as the exhibit is on!) 

in hindsight I should have used the phone and got closer. 

I tried to take one of each of the big panels 

there are some fascinating images on each one 

coming back out again - this is the big maple 

I took the path through the Winter garden 

then walked along Camellia Walk past a bit more of the trail we'd not seen 

back at the entrance

on my way into the cafe I stopped to take a photo of the bauble tree 

I went into the cafe for a hot chocolate 

had to faff to load the photo, for some reason it wouldn't to start with.  blooming tech!  

before I left I walked round the side of the pond again - this berberis was looking good

shiny wet leaves!

as I made my way back past the bench by the pond I noticed this toy someone had obviously left behind, nestled in the planting at the side of the bench!

as I got back to Richmond (I get the bus there and catch the train from there on the way home) I stopped to catch this at the station 

bright and sparkly in the rain that was now falling again 

Thanks for looking - see you next week!