Kew - a gorgeous winter's day

 I know a lot of you are probably very wet today, but here at Kew it was gloriously sunny... and not too cold.   I was flying solo today as Kim was dog-sitting for her brother & sister in law.   Enjoy.  

look at the blue sky!

the pair of swans were on the Palm House pond this morning (presumably the same ones from the lake last time)

the dogwood was bright in the sun

I decided to go round past the Princess of Wales conservatory first even though it's closed for the Orchids installation 

I did sneak a look though a window inside but couldn't see much, they have put in place the main structure in the pond.

so I headed along the path at the top of the Rock Garden towards the Alpine House

and the grass garden 

the paperwhite narcissus were transparent with the sun shining through them

then I went back past the back of the POW towards the Carbon Garden

pausing for some lichen on a branch

the mushroom was looking good in the sun 

the hive 

I put the short zoom on to show the blue sky and the whole structure

I took one on the phone too. 

I headed round the back of the grass garden again

alpine house in the sun

I couldn't see the label on this but it smelled divine

the sun was right behind the top of the tree 

grasses.   it was one of those mornings when you couldn't see what you were taking pictures of....

from the far side of the rock garden, the huge tree on the other side 

through into the evolution garden 

the magnolia buds are fattening up well 

things are a mixture of coming back to life...

and remaining seed heads.

this hydrangea has been left ; it's beautiful.

at the far end of the evolution garden,

the giant cardoon

they look soft, but they're not

daffodils open in the beds outside the closed Waterlily house - that won't be opening this year as it is being refurbished as part of the joint Palm House/Waterlily House regeneration.   it is completely empty apart from the main concrete  structure of the waterlily  pond

walking round the far side of the rose garden toward the lake

the yoshino cherry trees along the rose garden are in small bud now

underfoot the grass (mud) was quite squishy but not didn't cake on my books as much as last week 

as I approached the lake I could see Peter on the bench and a great crowd of pigeons flew up from in front of him and cross the lake (left of picture)

I wasn't quite quick enough with the next shot..

I could see the heron was there 

I sat and chatted to Peter for a while.

he said there'd been a second heron (the smaller younger one we sometimes see) earlier but this one had chased him off

getting your ducks (geese) in a row....

I didn't stop long as it started to cloud over a bit so I headed off to make the most of the sun 

I took the path to the Treetop Walkway rather than up to the woodland 

I took the lift up - 

the views were the best I've seen for ages, the sky was clear and you could see across London in each direction 

and down to the Temperate House

palm house

temperate house

pagoda

I was going to go down the steps, honest... 

but the lift brought another visitor up so....

I continued towards the Temperate House

I should have put the macro on 

into the Temperate House

the tiny shoots in the tubs in front are tulips.

up to the viewing platform 

admring the patterns

before going down I went to investigate the gorgeous flowers on this again 

there were only a few flowers left 

then back to the way down and this beauty 

back on the ground I went left towards the exit nearest the Pavilian cafe

the candelabra aloe had smaller what looks new growth at the bottom (I am sure it's been there for ages)

the African hemp has more flowers this week 

light through leaves 

then outside 

huge swathe of crocus in the grass outside the Pavilion restaurant

I did intend to stop for a drink but there were a few people queuing so I didn't both stopping 

instead heading back along the path to the gallery

although I carried on to the Winter garden

there were loads of snowdrops here - the ones in the rock garden seem to have finished already but they were very early

I tried to get down low for the hellebores 

walking up the path through the winter garden 

the euphorbia are flowering.  must check the Broad Walk soon which has been a bit bare for winter

more snowdrops under silver birch trees

the witch hazel at the top of the winter garden path

and more hellebores on the way back down the other path

along camellia walk towards the exit

I decided against a drink at the Victoria cafe too and came home instead!

what a glorious morning;  thanks for looking 

see you next week.