A brilliantly sunny May Day at Kew

I managed to tack an extra day onto the Bank Holiday weekend, and went to Kew - the forecast was good, better than today, when it is grey and gloomy.... yesterday however was fabulous!!

Here are some sunny photos for you!  I shot two rolls of film, and had to get them developed somewhere different to normal as the machine there was broken - I couldn't bear to wait till Wednesday to get these back...  however, it may have been quicker, I had to save each picture individually from the CD to the computer, as I couldn't find a bulk transfer option... it took a while, and they aren't in order of my walk round the gardens!!

 I did go a bit mad with the magnolias.

cherry blossom (I think)

I just love getting the buildings in the background, this is the Palm House behind.

The Temperate House - you will not believe how slowly people walk down the path even though you are stood there with your camera pointing... get out of the WAY!!!

the bluebells are just emerging in the Woodland Garden - love the dappled shade through these trees

 Queen Charlotte's Cottage - her hideaway in the grounds

They have built a Badger's Sett in the woodland garden for the children to explore, this carved gentleman guards the entrance to the area. I've never noticed him before!!

 the Palm House looking glorious - this is the "back" by the Rose Garden.

 the spring bedding in front of the Palm House - beautiful tulips here at the moment, some lovely colours

 More blossom, with the Princess of Wales Concervatory in the background

 Lots of fallen blossom

 Pretty flower bed displays

I loved the pattern the branches were throwing on the ground, in the sunshine

 I was laying full stretch on the slope to get these.. This is the hill that later in the year is covered in wild poppies... hope to do the same for them, at that time.   I only do this lying on the grass thing when it's totally dry!!

back to magnolias - beautiful colours

and the sky looks so blue behind them!

Up on the Treetop Walkway - wonderful views yesterday, clear skies and fabulous blossom in the foreground

 Liked the pattern the sun was making , this is the walkway itself, looking down to the undergrowth beneath.

Mr Peacock was sunning himself too!

Snake's Head Fritillary - so elegant. I was down low for this one too!

They've recently done some restorative work on these ornate gates at the Main Entrance.

Hope you enjoyed my day as much as I did!!

Kew - the 2013 Orchid Festival

At long last the weather and my other commitments allowed me to get to Kew on Saturday - well, I wasn't going to miss the first day of their annual Orchid Festival!!  Can't believe though that it is October that I last went!!

Anyhow, it was pretty cold on Saturday morning, and the skies were grey and dull - lucky then, that the orchids are on display in the tropical warmth of the Princess of Wales Glasshouse!

 The main display in the waterlily pond

Loved this orchid living wall, mixed with airplants!!

 Regular misting keeps the orchids in good condition, and adds atmosphere to the pictures!!

 Huge pillars of blossoms, magnificent!

This wasn't on Saturday, but in October when I was there last time, never seen so many toadstools together in the grass!

Glorious Autumn Colours Kew 20.1012

Hello again!  Despite a miserably cloudy overcast day, yesterday at Kew was worth the trip and the photos have come out better than I feared - the trees have changed so much since my last trip the week before last (see previous post)  Here are some of my favourites from yesterday.

 the latest David Nash sculpture to be unveiled in the appropriately but unconnected named Nash Conservatory.  This is made from cork looks incredible close up - there is a timelapse film on the Kew website, of it being installed.

strong colours in the grass garden - I'm not a huge fan of ornamental grasses, but they've come into their own at this time of year.

love this plant with the waterfall backdrop.

such rich colours!

this does look better with a strong blue sky behind it, I need Photoshop!!

 I think this sugar maple is my favourite tree at this time of year - and I can't believe how a) the colour has changed so much in 2 weeks and b) how many leaves it's lost.  Check back to the previous post to see it on 6th October!

I love how you can just see glimpses of the buildings through the tree (in this case, the Temperate House)

 Think this looks even more like a giraffe's legs now, peering through to the Palm House in the distance.

Not sure when I'll get to go back again, or maybe I'll try somewhere different!!!