Kew - Orchids week 2

 A sunny day - all cheer.  We didn't even notice the cold 

look at the blue sky!  the daffodils in the beds are coming out, too.

from here I headed to the POW for the orchids - members only have access to the earliest time slot at 10.15.  Kim was already making her way round the other side of the pond and got there before me. 

whilst we'd been waiting outside (in our customary first spot of course!)  Kim noticed that the tree inside the entrance had hanging mossy pots with snowdrops emerging from the top.  you may have to enlarge it to see them !

ok, back on track, pond in the sun on my speed walk to the orchids 

at the entrance waiting for the time slot..

inside the first door are a series of Chinese inspired hanging lanterns (I assume) 

at the start of the walk through the cacti section 

as promised last week I was going to concentrate on close ups more today so it was lens change time

into the rainforest section now 

they looked so much better today in the bright sun shining through the windows 

orchids round the dragon 

part of the dragon's tail

end of his tail 

part of one of the pillars 

his head 

orchids under the dragon 

at the bottom of the steps

these are next to the koi carp and are such beautiful colours 

over the koi and hanging through them are some orchids tied to air plants 

this is the display filling the steps at the further end of the rainforest section.

I thought I had taken a photo of the sign telling you about the meaning behind it, but seems not.

It's called a Moongate 

and this is therefore presumably the moon! 

into the fern corridor 

the trouble with using the macro is that you don't get a lot of the image in

still love the pandas though

it was much harder today to get shots without people in them as it was crowded today

these were under some ferns

the second panda 

close ups from the arch 

there is a bamboo hanging structure 

on the phone you can see  most of it 

another arch

into the cool orchid room 

 

the tiger is quite cool   I didn't look closely at him last week 

I must take a photo of this on the other lens  next week it goes from one side of the path to the other high up 

more pillars 

this week, we could go up to the upper level to look at some of the orchids from higher up

this arch is always there but has been strung with airplants 

the dragon from above

the planting in the pond under the dragon from the upper level

nice light through the orchids 

the top of the dragon 

on the phone, the dragon from the upper level 

the koi from above

back on the lower level now picking up where we left off

the light outside made it easier to take photos of the phoenixes this week without getting silhouettes

this is the one above your head that you can see properly this time

looking through the final arch 

through into the arid final part now.

love the light on these 

can't read it .... there was a sign that translated it (I think)  

the horse arch with bells 

that concludes the orchid tour week 2 (but have a timeslot for next week too!)

out through the fire exit and round the side of the POW

the Hive looking good today

changed lens to enjoy the blue sky behind all the trees

ducking under branches 

the mushroom in the carbon garden always looks good with blue sky

close up of tree rings at the entrance to the carbon garden

now for some beautiful cloud shots...

alpine house

big trees, rock garden 

we cut through the woodland path that comes out by the Orchids queue (now quite long) 

and round the back of the pond 

as Kim and I always think the Palm House looks as if it isn't level... had a bit of fun

see, on the wonk!  

great reflections

we headed to the Victoria cafe for a cup of tea

it was definitely a sit outside day.  no snacks, poor selection of cake today 

more low hanging branches on our way to the lake next 

huge drifts of crocus on another path near the lake

nice shadows.  the Lockerbie bench round the tree in the distance

the heron was by the side of the lake near the bench we sit on (but it was occupied)

willow blossom 

gull sitting on the life jacket post making his tummy red! 

backlit silhouetted trees

more willow by the lake crossing

dogwood onthe island in the lake

walking along the lake

blossom 

Bowie 

then he took off across the lake

more reflections

there was a bit more cloud now and a little less sun

but some amazing shadows as we headed towards the woodland 

we did see Peter and also Goldie the pheasant but he was further along the path and didn't come our way

as we headed back we saw one of the foxes

Temperate House

I didn't bother getting the macro lens out again (and blogger is messing with me so if the spacing is out of kilter, sorry

great shadows from Kim 

I should have got the macro out.. 

I think this is where I left, Kim stayed a bit longer but it was gone 1pm and I was hungry..

I headed up the gardens back to the exit 

I then got stuck in traffic going back to Richmond for the train (roadworks)  and it took me 30 minutes instead of 10.. 

anyhow,  a beautiful morning in the sun and blue sky... thanks for looking, come back again next week, when guess what, it's supposed to be wet!