the 2015 Kew Orchid Display

Each year, Kew puts on a fabulous Orchid Display, in the Princess of Wales Glasshouse.  Every year, I go and amazed...Today was the first day of the 2015 Display, and I couldn't wait - despite a grey, chilly day.  I'd been having a bit of a twitter chat with Elisa  who was the designer, but sadly I couldn't find her today to say how wonderful it looks.  Hopefully she'll see these and know just how much I loved it.

 just inside the door (forgive this picture,I had the camera on the wrong setting and forgot to take another one on my way out)

 A feast of colour greets you. Orchids and a fair few Bromeliads too.

Great balls of fire, as Jerry Lee Lewis might have said.

 and I adored the bees!! there were several of these, twisting gently to look as if they were moving. so clever.

 view from above, on one of the higher sections... on my way to one of my favourite areas always...

 the archways, looking so gorgeous - beautiful colour schemes this year., oranges and yellows..

 pinks and reds and purples

 it was starting to get full of people, so waited a while to get some shots without anyone in the way.

 back down to the main area in the pond

just look at that pink!  

 wonderful contrast of the orange against the dark green leaves... Well done, Elisa it was beautiful - I will be back again!

 outside, after the bright stunning colours, it was a total contrast to see the grey skies and plain trees  but none the less still beautiful

 and there are signs of life, too - this witch hazel is looking gorgeous!

 No sun, but lots of reflections still..

 one of the stone sculptures outside the Palm House

 and "my" fountain was on again today.

and clumps of snowdrops showing that surely, Spring is on the way!

I wasn't there as long as I often am, but had a fabulous time, hope you've enjoyed seeing these too!

A Crisp Morning at Kew

Hopefully you're not bored with the Kew photos...there is something new to see every time... This morning was gloriously sunny and despite being cold it wasn't anywhere nearly as cold as it's been in recent days - temperatures with above zero!!

 From the station you walk across Kew Bridge towards the Gardens, and I don't usually have the camera out of the bag, but it was looking gorgeous today, though I don't envy the rowers out in such chilly weather on the river!

 Inside the Gardens. Sun shining brightly, making lovely long shadows across grass and the sky was blue.. a really lovely January day.

 Sadly, the water was turned off at "my" fountain and the water was no longer frozen, but this is still my favourite part of the Gardens.

 look at the sky, and the reflections!! January, for goodness sake!! Lovely.

 Just lovely!

 the Spring bedding outside the Palm House has been planted, and will be gorgeous.

 Inside the Palm House my lens was misting up in the steamy heat, but it was looking green and lush.

 For a change, I took a walk up the staircase to get a rooftop view round the Palm House.

 where you get a much better idea of the size of the palms and ferns!

 I love the wrought iron staircases too.

 Though lots of the trees are yet to burst into new leaf, they make fabulous shapes against the sky.

 and more shadows

 close up of a tree trunk

 and the Henry Moore sculpture again,

wet with dew drops from the melting frost

 the lake by the Sackler Crossing was partly frozen, and I love the leaves frozen into the ice!

 sun shining through the reeds

 the sun is low at this time of year, but love the almost silhouetted reflections






Lots of ducks and geese and a couple of swans on the lake

this is the Sackler Crossing itself, love it's curved S shape across the lake.

the Rooftop Walkway, one of the newest features of the gardens, though it's been here a few years now.

 Love how they created the rusted trunks of the structure to blend into the  surrounding trees

 walking back from the Treetop Walkway, I put the long lens on and got some more shots of the Henry Moore through the trees.

Wonderful colour and pattern in this huge tree trunk

 back past the Palm House Lake, on my way to my final stop of the morning....

 the Princess of Wales Glasshouse,

Where they are preparing for their annual Orchid display... it looks as if it will be more spectacular than ever this year! It was nice to be here with the work in progress, never managed that before,

beautiful Bromeliad on show.

The Orchid display opens on 7th February, in just a couple of weeks, so come back then and I'll take you along with me!