Kew in December sunshine

 we were lucky today, the forecast drizzle didn't happen, we even had some sun!

took the opportunity to go across the pond again, to look at the lights with blue sky!

the phone got some great reflections 

and shadows!

it was a treat to get up close the dogwoods from this angle 

lights for the Broad Walk

heading round to the POW

where these orange berries are still going strong

and some orchids in the cool orchid room

I still had the short zoom on so could get the big palms in

and the leafy stage of the titan arum - it's been sat there for weeks in front of the film room, but doesn't seem to be doing a lot... it's a slow burner, this plant!  

in the arid section, signs of flowers on this tall aloe (I think)

pretty grasses catching the sun as we walked through the rock garden

to the alpine house

the nerines were looking great 

we took a quick walk through the evolution garden, which was muddy underfoot but not masses of colour -  most of the planting has been cut back now

this berberis was lovely though

and the roses through the middle still had lots of hips

we were encouraged by signs of blue sky still behind the trees 

the Leaf Spirit sculpture, with lots of fallen leaves underneath

the weeping beech

opposite the beech was this tree covered in orange fruit, but the  tree was far back in the bed and no chance of reading the label

the hive always looks good with a blue backdrop

and the mushroom in the carbon garden was shining too

cotoneaster near the hive/carbon garden

we carried on round past the giant Monkey Puzzle tree which was looking gorgeous

and as we were at the Orangery decided for an early pit stop for tea

I had hot chocolate and I'd brought some of my current favourites, the M&S gingerbread and white chocolate cookies (I am going through packets at a rate of knots!)

Kim had tea in a shiny pot so I took a reflection selfie

lovely that it is still nice enough to sit outside - not wet seats or biting cold this week

you get a good view of the Hive from the Orangery

and this magnificent tree - one of the "Old Lions" - the oldest trees in Kew

and the start of the Broad Walk 

refreshed, we took the path along the front of Kew Palace

pausing for trees lining the Broad Walk 

and then heading across to the lake 

were as soon as we'd sat down, the heron joined us!

moments before he'd been the other side of the lake, we both missed him landing on our side!

he can really twist his neck round !  

looking back from the other side of the crossing 

walking round the side of the lake 

top of the lake 

we headed alongside the woodland,

approaching where we often see Goldie from the opposite direction to normal...

as we approached the benches,

a mountjac deer disappeared off the path into the bushes -  shame!

there were quite a few tits around, but they fly in and off for food and don't like posing

there was a nuthatch too in the tree, but not close enough to catch. 

however, when we carried on round to Queen Charlotte's cottage, 

we found him(her) foraging in the wet leaves - 

trying not to disturb it,  managed to get several photos 

fabulous sight!

we finished with a walk through the Temperate house

you need to be a giant to see these properly, way above our heads

and these pale purple ones 

banana

before heading back to the Victoria Gate (and a quick pop through the shop for a Secret Santa gift I needed)

and home.

thanks so much for looking - thanks for the weather gods keeping the rain at bay - see you next week! (day after the office party, may be a bit jaded!)