Kew - the last day of winter

 Hi,  I made it on time this week, no dramas with the trains. Today is the last day of meteorological winter.. roll on Spring (we did see some sunshine...)  

there'd been some drizzle whilst we waited to enter but it stopped 

heading to the queue for the orchid time slot

there are just this and next weekend left of the orchids so after missing my timeslot last week, I wasn't going to today

I kept the standard zoom on this time so no macro's

leaving the cactus section 

blogger isn't going to play with the right order today. I can't be faffed to change them 

in the pond by the dragon

the jade vine is flowering again too, looking good 

the 9 koi 

they gather the materials for as many of the animals and big parts of the display from around the gardens wherever possible

the planting up these steps looks fabulous, but the photos I've taken really don't do it justise; I wish they did

the pandas are my favourites from this year. 

zooming in on the arch 

they were misting the room with water, it's not my bad photography!

the arch the other side of this area

we were moving quite quickly through the display so ahead of lots of people

this was a really weird one! 

I did remember to photograph the board about the lady artist we often see in here 

I only took the tiger on my phone 

just me and Kim in here!

the pheonixes 

the final arch in the rainforest section 

the final arch for the year of the horse

coming out of the POW we went round by the Hive to make our way to the magnolia glade

this big magnolia near the Hive is opening - hard to see in the cloud though

blue sky - a little photoworthy! 

more magnolias 

lots of daffodils!  

the orangery in the distance 

approaching the magnolia glade we found that they were opening nicely - it was squishy underfoot but they've been forking the ground to help drainage so we didn't fall over (it's been worse in previous years)

lots of crocus on the slope too

the sky behind them was very grey, but it shows the pink up well

the sun did come out though for some lovely bright shots 

as you walk from the magnolias towards the azalea garden you pass through some cherry trees

they are flowering but dropping petals 

Kim took one of me photographing the petals but it looks as if I am peeing up against the tree... if you have a nervous disposition look away now. 

I promise I'm not!! 

as we approached the lake, several crows flew by (waiting for monkey nuts) 

this one hung onto a far too small branch and I just got a shot before he flew off

sitting on the bench,  this beautiful mallard caught my eye

just look at the colours on his head! 

there was a bit of a feeding frenzy going on 

there was a beautiful mandarin duck too 

I still had the long zoom on for the willow by the lake 

carrying on along the lakeside 

and up towards the Woodland walk 

the wind was cold when it caught you so hood up! 

where there were more drifts of daffodils 

and big puddles 

more blossom on the way to tea!  

well hot chocolate,  and brownie.

by the Temperate House

flowering agave 

walking through the Temperate house 

the tubs of tulips in the octagon are opening.

and some tubs of little narcissus (variety avalanche) 

cherry walk and the tulips are growing nicely - looking forward to the annual display in a few weeks.

the blue flowers in the border behind are pretty too

Mediterranean garden on the way out

near the palm house

the Yoshino cherry trees round the rose garden are budding nicely 

thanks for looking  again, and see you next week.