Frosty Kew

 A cold start to Kew, very frosty but beautifully sunny... 

a treat in store today, Kim and I had been invited to the Botanical restaurant (that overlooks the pond towards the Palm House) for breakfast - 

so staying around the pond till we met up

the sun was brilliant, despite it being cold

the huge trees at the edge of the pond had stunning colour still

whilst a lot of the frost would melt during breakfast I did get some frosty leaves as we waiting for our friends Patrick and Joyce. 

not sure if you will be able to read the menu.  and I forgot to take a picture of the outside -

full English (hold the egg please - I am not a big egg fan)

delicious.

so breakfast shot this week, really IS breakfast - no cake today! 

I've never seen inside before, it is very smart and full of old photos of Kew


what a treat!   Thanks to Patrick and Joyce.

we sat and chatted over our meal for quite a while, looking out over the pond 

it wasn't a day for sitting outside though!  

We've been meaning to have this breakfast since the summer but we delayed it during the heatwave, and when I was out of knife and fork action with my broken wrist!!

after breakfast Kim and I headed out towards the lake 

the sun had burnt off a lot of the frost but where trees still sheltered the grass it was still in evidence 

our other friend Gladys was also there today, she travels up from Portsmouth every now and then - we've not seen her for a while - we had chatted at the gate before entering and caught up with her again at the lake 

sitting on the bench at the far end of the lake

heading for the woodland 

sun and shadows everywhere 

it wasn't even especially cold any more (perhaps the food had warmed us up!)

no sign of Goldie, but a few tits and several parakeets

as we headed round by Queen Charlotte's cottage a small Mountjac deer hopped in front of us,  was hard to catch in amongst the trees and twigs

I managed to put a different lens on to get a bit closer shots, without frightening him away

not very keen to pose though

Queen Charlotte's cottage, 

all locked up for winter

sun shining on the leaves 

the crows were following for monkey nuts 

a tunnel of coloured glass lights

we had to walk a long way round to the Winter Garden as lots of the grassy areas are roped off to keep Christmas Lights visitors from straying off route 

but at least the winter garden was available (last time Kim tried it was closed off)

gorgeous stems of this tree but it was too far away to see what it is

and then we made our way along Camellia Walk back to the Victoria gate

different displays for the trail this year

overhead

just a few leaves left on the Chittamwood tree

at the end (I think) a gateway of large parcels frames the path.

had the wrong lens on to see more than the top one though

spent some time in the shop doing some shopping (members double discount this week which ends tomorrow) few bits crossed of the Christmas list....

before using the phone to take the bauble tree that is on the way in!

thanks for looking, see you next week.