Today is the day I (and everyone involved at Kew Gardens, no doubt) has been eagerly awaiting... the official re-opening of the restored Temperate House. The largest surviving Victorian glasshouse in the world. Also, May sees the start of Kew's early opening (8am) for members, so it was an early start for me!
This is going to be a very photo heavy post (I took more than ever before on a single visit) so sit back and enjoy!
I saw this amazing cloud shape from the train and was glad when I got off and walked across Kew Bridge to be able to capture it. It looks like a huge bird flying across the sky.
8am (and yes, I was first through the gate as they opened) and my traditional starting photo for you - the early spring bedding has gone over, no doubt they will soon be clearing this for the summer planting..
but the tubs of tulips on the edge of the pond were looking glorious, especially with the blue sky reflecting in the water behind them
as you know I love the light for photographing Kew at 8 in the morning... I started by walking all round the pond. the glorious weather helps, obviously!
barely a cloud in the sky
the giant gunnera are growing rapidly and were glistening in the sun
just love the reflections in this one
crouching down to look at the ferns
masses of white frothy flowers
Princess of Wales glasshouse, I love the shapes of it
tiny little blue flowers amongst the white masses
I was delighted to see the peonies flowering - I love them, and apparently so does Meghan Markle, as she is having them in her bouquet when she marries Prince Harry in 2 weeks
a little dew still on this one
up in the sky...
Love Lies Bleeding..
as I walked through the Rock Garden a lady I'd spoken to at the gate mentioned the wisteria was beautiful - so I headed over,
via the Duke's Garden and some stunning red tulips, looking so velvety.
and some more Love Lies Bleeding
before crossing back across the grass pas the alpine house
and some pinky bluebells
she wasn't wrong though, it was stunning!
you'll probably remember this from previous years, it is huge...
there is a seat inside
looking out at the POW in the distance
next door, the wildflower meadow around the Hive is starting to flower nicely
back down along the Broad Walk, love these tulips..
and the alliums are starting to come out too...
walking back past the Palm House some little goslings in the sun
another quick look at the pink tulips
quick pitstop for a coffee; before deciding to head for the Temperate House to see how the tulips were faring in Cherry Walk leading up to the TH....
well, they were still looking fab (the cherry blossom had finished though, so I am glad I saw it when I did)
to my surprise, I saw that the doors to the Temperate House were already open - I had imagined it not to be opening till 10
if you're in the UK you may well have seen some news reports of it over the last few days, it was on Breakfast News on Wednesday and apparently the BBC were there today for the official opening, but I missed them
anyhow let's see what it looks like!
quick look behind me at the tulips..
and in we go.
as you know if you read my blog, the restoration has taken 5 years..
and every one of the 15000 panes of glass has been replaced.
400 staff and contractors have worked on it, and a staggering 5,280 litres of paint used...
as it's name implies, the Temperate House features plants from temperate climates all round the world, divided into sections
It will be fascinating to visit over the months and years ahead as the now-small plants (well some of them are!) grow and obscure the incredible structure, but for now, it is amazingly open and looks HUGE - so much bigger than before; although of course the size of it is the same as before.
everything is clean and new and exciting
lots of information about some of the 1500 plant species re-planted in the glasshouse
down one of the side pathways...
just love the architecture
and seeing through to neighbouring sections - all inter-connected as it is a continuous glasshouse (hence being the largest in the world)
waterfalls - you can hear the water all over, I expect as the plants grow, this will soften the sound, but for now it was wonderful
restored spiral staircases at either end of the main central section up to a (narrow) pathway where you can walk round..
quick change of lens to get it all in
lets head up the stairs now...
you can see how it's laid out; it is very open
each square features a different region
love the structure
and you get an idea of the size
Strelitzia - bird of paradise plant...
beautiful
huge tubs of daisy like flowers
one of the first photos I ever took that really got me hooked on photography, was in my parents garden lying on the grass looking up into a clump of similar flowers...
outside and another look at the tulips again,
can't resist a load more photos of them!
before walking round the outside to the "front door" of the TH... where I saw the BBC cameraman (I think) leaving.. my friend Lesley messaged that she'd seen it on the news and was looking for me - if only I'd been a few minutes earlier!
loved the pattern of the water - the grass has been relaid outside after all the machinery had been camped on this area for 4 years, so no wonder it needs watering!
I've always loved the stonework on the top of the glasshouse, and they look fabulous now
10 o'clock now - yes, all these and still only 10 - so the gardens are now open to the public and they were streaming to the Temperate House...
I headed away..
acer
headed across the grass to the Palm House...
here I am, laden down with lenses!
inside the Princess of Wales house,
reflections of palms in the pond
the jade vine is still going
I spied a web...
and amazing shapes
and fabulous colours
and unfurling fern fronds..
water features..
that wisteria again, told you it was huge
lilac,
I remembered I should go and check the bluebells again, so headed back through the gardens,
past loads of wildflowers
and a lot of new acers
sun shining through leaves..
dandelion in the grass. was so tempted to blow it to the wind...
lichen on a bench
beautiful mallard preening himself
no words needed
wasn't sure if this was sap dripping, or they'd used some kind of glue over a cut off branch, high up a tree
there was a branch lower down that had been cut, that was sticky to the touch, but didn't have this dripping going on...
I saw movement out of the corner of my eye, and as I turned round this fox ran out of the shrubbery across the grass
finally made it back to the wild bluebells in the woodland area
wild garlic (I think)
another dandelion
leaving the woodland area, you walk back past....
the temperate house... couldn't resist another look
they haven't quite finished the landscaping round the back, as you see!
lots of people up on the walkway
even the grills round the planted areas looks good
and some final blossom outside, on my way out and home to rest (although its taken me an hour and a half to upload these photos!)
well done for staying this far,
I can't believe I've pruned over 440 photos into just these "few"
