Kew's Tropical Extravangaza - Feb 18th 2012

Early February each year for a month, Kew puts on a TropicalExtravangaza display - orchids and bromelliads and other lush plants - in the Prince of Wales glasshouse, and I was determined to get along again this time.  It's the first visit I've managed to Kew this year, what with one thing and another.  Yesterday was ok weather-wise (till I got home!) - we even saw some sunshine...

This is the first hanging display as you walk in 

round to the waterlily pond - love how they make them look as if they are floating on the water.

they'd just been watering them!!

There were also some commission sculptures of various tropical funghi - these are funghi, though they look a bit suggestive....!

 And these are demonstrating how the seeds float through the air for pollination.  These were gorgeous!

And they'd died some of the orchids blue!  There were warnings about careful watering, in the gift shop (and that when they re-flower they will only be white!)

After I'd feasted my eyes on these beauties for a while, it was outside (crikey, what a shock the difference in temperature was... it was soooo windy yesterday and cold - whilst inside it was of course steamy hot and misty)

 Anyhow, there were signs of spring - snowdrops on the hill

 I love how the bare tree branches frame my photos and the trees are so architectural at this time of year.

 See, I told you the sun came out!

Crocus and others (couldn't get close enough to read all the names)

I love to get down low - I was tempted to lie on the path but it wasn't completely dry so I just knelt and crouched as low as I could get.

The crocus carpet is looking fabulous already.

And some more of the structural trees taken into the sun hiding behind a cloud - time to go home before the rain! (I made it!)
You can see the orchids till the 4th March!

Kew - two trips one post!

Hi, hope you are well.
I had one last Christmas present to buy and yesterday took myself off to Kew to do so - with my camera, naturally!

I realised also that I haven't shared the pictures of the last time I went in the middle of November - so there are some from that time, too - the last of the autumn colour. Yesterday was pretty cold and frosty and the sky which started out blue - turned to rain.... so there aren't many from yesterday (I was just keen to finish the film..)

The treetop walkway is rusting beautifully and I love the shapes.

view from the top. It was sunny in November!

Back on the ground - looking up into the trees.

Yesterday - the frost was still on the ground (and it was slippy walking!) Love these dogwoods.

View across the lake in front of the Palm House - "my" fountain..  it even  looks cold!

This was a similar view a month ago, with the lovely rusty reds and browns.



Not sure when I'll get back to Kew - obviously not before Christmas - possibly the 31st if the weather and the trains allow!

Happy Christmas!

Another Crisp sunny day at Kew!

Yesterday morning, after my brother, sister-in-law and I had organised the flowers for Mum's funeral on Friday I took myself off to Kew Gardens again. 

The day was sunny but crisp - in fact a perfect October Autumn day.  I arrived at the sort of time I normally leave - 11am - but because of that, though it was busier with people, it was more beautiful - especially yesterday - the sun was higher in the sky (blue sky!) and it was GLORIOUS.  I went through 2 and a half rolls of 36 exposure films (I may go digital some time, honest!) 

The trees are turning gorgeous colours, but with the sun shining bright through the leaves, they looked fabulous - the greens really zinged!!   Here are some of my favourites.

this is one of my absolute favourites for months - the sun was right overhead the end of the Palm House entrance and I love the way it is shining through, throwing the building almost into silhouette.

Hope I get to go again soon to get the colous at their peak, but we'll see!

1st Oct - HOT HOT HOT at Kew

Wow, yesterday continued HOT and very un-October like! I decided to take a couple of hours at Kew before visiting Mum in the hospital again. 

Turns out the trains were only on half the normal service (engineering works!) but still.... glorious - TOO hot for me in fact, I don't like it!!  But I wanted to see the start of the autumn colour as Kew have been tweeting about the changing colours, so off I went.

 Love the light at this time of year - these were all taken between 9.30 and 11 in the morning when I left. Dappled sunlight, dew on the grass, and then bright bright sunshine!

The trees are only just turning, but some of them were beautiful.

Looking lush inside the Palm House, too!

What a blue sky!

Missed the best of Kew's sunflowes - must ask my neighbour if I can photograph his - there are some stunners downstairs!

And it was bright enough to take these from outside the Princess of Wales glasshouse.

Hope to get back again soon, when the leaves will probably be better!