Orchids at Kew – just a little repeat….

So good, he posted it twice... a re-run of some of the photographs I took at the Orchid exhibition at Kew just after it opened last week. Such a sumptuous display - for all of the senses - if you can make plans to visit, don't miss out. Closes 9th March 2014

Golden Snowdrops – Galanthus nivalis ‘Sandersii’

Four tough little things, these golden-yellow snowdrops - Galanthus nivalis 'Sandersii' I confess at first I thought these were just a little anaemic but closer inspection proved their yellow markings were just as they should be. Plenty of snowdrop varieties have come through in the Rock Garden at Kew and many deserve a closer look.…

Crocus at Kew

Low winter sunshine, strafing across the grass borders at Kew - incidentally these were being cut back to tufts of stubble by the gardeners and so I make note to do the same in my gardens soonish too - and illuminating this circle of crocus. I walked all the way around, watching the light highlight,…

Escape winter….. Orchids at Kew 2014

Did you know that 8% of all flowering plants are orchids? Well there are quite a lot of them here in the Princess of Wales Conservatory for the Orchid Festival at Kew Gardens... Warm, humid spaces, with a tropical soundtrack too, filled with all manner of floral delights, thousands of orchids and other exotica. The…

Winter Cherry – Prunus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’

A favourite tree, in bloom intermittently throughout the winter months whenever a mild spell allows - the blossom and the mild weather are both always welcome. These pictures were taken last week, in the Japanese Landscape by the Chockushi-Mon. Bright blue sky and dazzling low winter sunshine adding to the delight of the pretty blossom.…

John Pawson’s serpentine Sackler Crossing (and ducks)

Sackler Crossing Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London 2004 – 2006 The Sackler Crossing is part of a new route through the 120 hectares of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Set low to the surface of the lake, its serpentine form seems to float across the water, allowing people to experience the surrounding landscape from new…

Snowdrops, hellebores, crocus, winter aconites …

New growth is pushing up through the dark earth, fresh flowers taking advantage of the leafless tree canopy overhead and searching for sunlight. Snowdrops, yellow winter aconites, the earliest oriental hellebores and the first few crocus of the season. All here at Kew - and there is more to come - carpets of crocus (they…

Kew Palace and the Queen’s Garden

Kew Palace Historically significant for its association with the Royal family, Kew Palace (formerly known as the Dutch House) is the earliest surviving building in the Gardens. It was built around 1631 by Samuel Fortrey, a merchant of Dutch origin, and is noted for its distinctive decorative carved brickwork and rounded gables. It was used…

Flower!

Further findings from my most recent walk through Kew Gardens (we've seen Bark!) and I hadn't expected to see much by way of trees in flower, this early in the season. Three specimens caught my eye. The Cornelian Cherry, Cornus mas, was putting on a delicate show, by the lake. bright but widely spaced clusters…