Kew - Orchid Festival 2026 - China

 Welcome to another wet (initially) trip to Kew and the opening day of the annual Orchid Festival, featuring China.  

I did of course start here, in the drizzle before a speed walk to the Princess of Wales glasshouse for the 10.15 member time slot.  

just inside there were a group of physallis 

we had the place to ourselves for a few minutes despite there being a long queue for the time slot,  for some reason no-one else seemed to follow us straight in.. it was very pleasant

I started on the short zoom to get a feel of the overall effect..  close ups will come later 

the entrance and start of the route takes you through the arid/cactus section 

the first arch

featuring a snake 

winding through. Love the physallis at the end of his tail.  

I will take close up next week 

in the rainforest section now 

this year's centrepiece in the pond features a dragon. 

as always they have filled the pond with displays of orchids 

the pillars are wrapped with orchids too

he's a very fine dragon.  

they do the creatures very well  

the other side of the steps (blocked off)  there was a basket of beautiful red and yellow orchids

and 9 hanging koi carp over the other pond

the other side of the path to the carp are some monkeys

we think he looks like he's wearing sunglasses... 

then we came to the next steps that lead to the upper level (normally)  covered in planting - looking fabulous.

 will try and get better pics for next week 

there was another arch at the top of the steps and a large hanging basked (white orchids) further behind that.  shame you can't get closer to them

this is the arch, squeezing to see through the fronds

by the door, another basket of orchids 

then you go through the door into the ferny corridor

I'd seen a sneak peak of the panda on Kew's social media posts. 

he was very cute 

there was a second one by the further door.

they reminded me of the toy panda I had as a 2 year old.... 

so when I got home I took him out of the drawer under my bed where he lives.... he's nearly 65 now.  doing very well for a panda!!  

then the newly replanted area at the other exit.

still on our own unbelievably although there were people coming through now 

it was amazing to see it empty of people - quite a privilege 

the next animal was fantastic 

behind me, people coming through now.  

there were lots of Chinese inspired pots used in the planting (normally they use the big Kew terracotta ones)  They looked great. 

ass you can see I was rucksack-less today, it's so bulky and gets in the way when the POW is crowded with visitors.... and awkward to change lenses in here.

so I used a normal bag and travelled light.   

swapped to the macro for some close ups

these were a lovely colour

n the cool orchid room now 

the 2 display cabinets that are usually reserved for Kew's rarer orchids, now have displays of native Chinese orchids.  through the window so not easy to capture. 

more tubs/baskets 

another beauty

needed the other lens on to see the whole animal  

I did get one on the phone though

back into the other side of the rainforest section 

more Chinese lanterns

in the little pond in this bit,  2 pheonixes. but the existing planting prevented good views

and one the other side of the path above our heads

the final big arch 

then back through into the final stretch, the arid section again.

hanging artwork 

since the POW has been closed for the installation of the orchids, the aloes have really burst into full flower

there was a final arch to enjoy 

strung with bells 
which all sounded different 

as in previous years you now exit the POW through a fire exit at the same end you go in.  

it was drizzling lightly as we left 

and headed round to the other end of the POW again 

view across to the hive 

and the carbon garden 

loads of crocus under trees at the back of the POW

and a quick walk through the alpine house 

pots of snowdrops

and paperwhite narcissus still going strong

at the far end of the evolution garden (raining again now )

the slope is turning yellow from early daffodils and snowdrops at the base

lots of very wet crocus as we headed back to the cafe 

it wasn't a day for sitting outside... 

we'd seen some friends we see at the gate who said they'd left a paper by the table in the corner... 

but as we finished and carried on our walk the sun (shhh) had almost come out

at the lake a couple of Egyptian geese came to see us... I really hope it isn't the same pair as last week as they had no chicks with them.    if it is the same pair, that means they've lost all of them in a week...  

the crows wait for Kim's monkey nuts.. 

we carried on our way again, another pair of Egyptian geese came for a walk with us. 

headed past the treetop walkway

into the Davies exploration house 

then into the Temperate House 

a couple of bird of paradise were flowering 

we headed for the winter garden for some more colour 

the grass in front of the winter garden is full of crocus.  very wet crocus 

salix fluffy blossom 

heading through the winter garden 

euphorbia

witch hazel at the top of the bend

and iris now in a bit of sun

lots of camellias out along camellia walk as we headed to the exit.

thanks for looking - glad we didn't get as wet as it was looking to start with.

See you next week, for more of the orchids.