Cold trip to Kew

Down south today it's cold... the wind is blowing from the north east and it's dull too.. but the orchids are only at Kew for another week after today so I wanted another look..
I know you've seen them before but I tried to get different angles and closer where possible..

 I still love the fluffy tops of the display.. such gorgeous colours

 close up of the air plants from a different part of the display

 I was lucky enough to be one of the first in the glass house so the pathways were deserted still
and they'd just finished watering the orchids which is why the paths are wet

 One day I will treat myself to a proper macro lens, for now this is as close as I can get.

 back round to the main display in the pond, before braving the cold outside again...

 spring is coming, but it doesn't feel very springlike today!

and "my" fountain was back on again, just  a shame the sun wasn't out to bounce off the water droplets.

 amazing tree trunk shapes..

hellebores in full flower , shame they hide their faces downwards so you have to pick them up to see them (probably not supposed to do this!)

 carpets of crocus

 peaking through the Henry Moore statue to the grasses at the end of the lake

catkins

 more tree trunks

 magnolias forcing their way open..

 and carpets of daffodils...

amazing how bending down completely changes the perspective...

so that was Kew today, hope you enjoyed it again!  I hope it's warmer next time I go!!

Anyone see Shaun? (or, Kew at Easter)

Kew always lay on special events at Easter and Christmas.  This year Shaun the Sheep was going, with some of his chums... It was cold there today, really cold and I think Shaun was in hiding...

 although it may just that I was there as soon as they opened as usual.
did find a wooden one!

raindrops on tulip leaves

 when I went to Coombe Woods yesterday, I was amazed that the magnolias there are so far behind Kew - it's not that far away in terms of miles,  here at Kew lots of them are nearly over

 as you can see by the pink carpet under the trees!

overlapping branches from two trees, like raspberry ripple!!

 did see a little bit of sun for a few minutes!

 Forsythia everywhere, beautiful yellow (I was holding this up to photograph as it hangs down and I wasn't going to get onto the wet muddy ground!)

 beautiful Snakes Head Fritillery.

 catkins

pretty stripey tree trunks.

 ribes, flowering currant

 Flowering Cherry, with the Palm House in the background

 I love this view at this time of year - but it's very short-lived

 such pretty flowers

 and the mossy branches, too.

 the spring bedding in front of the Palm House - tulips starting to bloom

still plenty of hellebores about

 more blown magnolias!

 and a gorgeous peacock strutting through the beds

 bronze scarecrow guarding the vegetable beds from the "Kew on a Plate" tv series. not sure if they're filming another series, or just keeping the veg going.

 and a rather large artichoke

and tulips, there were none of these in bloom at Coombe Woods yesterday.

and a final magnolia

with it's mossy branches

By this time (about 2 hours) I was so cold I had to head for home... Shaun is there till next weekend but I'll be at Ally Pally so unable to go back then.