A little Kew Miscellany – everything else from a chill Tuesday in January (or Heraldic Beasts and where to find them)

Fragrant Chimonanthus

Chimonanthus praecox Grandiflorum

Viburnum x bodnantense

The Grass Borders, not yet cut back

The Salvia Border in January, rather desultory but you can at least see the plant labels now

Temple of Aeolus

At the base of the Temple Mount … down the little path on the right

… up to the side of this door …

The Chilean Lapageria rosea in flower

Sarcococca confusa – such a heady scent

I’ve walked past this water fountain countless times …

…. but never paid any attention to the ceramic frieze around the top

Bird Watching

Chimonanthus

Bird Watching II

The Princess of Wales Conservatory from across the Grass Borders

The Board Walk

Just mopping up with the remainder of the photographs taken last week when I headed off to Kew Gardens, warmed up in the Princess of Wales Conservatory and then joined the ‘Meet the Experts’ tour talking all things Snowdrop. A random selection though I wish you could take in the delicious fragrance from the Chimonanthus and the two Sarcococcas – a heady rich, spicy mix.

Finally, a closer look at the Heraldic Beast that line the parterre by the Palm House (as I was there and have never taken them in like this, one by one, with their descriptions. Quite remarkable beasts, these and in the perfect setting. The Greyhound of Richmond does, however, have a look of Scoobie-Do, maybe? I’ll let you decide.

Happily it is Dry January for me, so not tempted by the brilliant packaging of their Kew Organic Gins … another month, then –