Kew Gardens

This weekend I spent working. :( But I did get to do the Pitch Up at work on Saturday where people bring their ideas to try to become partners. Lots of fun seeing all the new ideas, but a very long weekend.

But last weekend I managed to get out and go to Kew Gardens. The weather was hit and miss but Kew is huge and very pretty. It used to be the country home of King Charles, so posh too.

The greenhouse.

Lake

I got there as it opened and went to the Palm House as it is right by the entrance. It was so hot inside I had to wait for my camera and glasses to de-steam. 

Palm house.

And I got onto the balcony around the centre before anyone else, so it was just me.

Balcony

There is also an aquarium underneath.

Shrimp

Demo seeing his reflection

I also found the lily pond greenhouse. It was even hotter inside. My camera lens took about 10 mins to acclimatise so I baked. It was worth it but afterwards I had to lay on the grass for 10 mins to cool off.

Lilly pond greenhouse.

New favourite flower photo

After cooling off, I found some kitchen gardens and a hidden path and garden. All to myself!

Bee!

There is a rock garden and waterfall.

Cacti

I also found some pretty colourful cacti and played with some photos. Mainly because this area was quiet and air conditioned. And they had some lotus flowers. (I only knew what they were because I bumped into 2 guys I saw in the lily pond greenhouse and they seemed to know every flower.)

Lotus.

200yr + old Japanese tree

There is an installation on at the moment called the Hive, designed to bring the message of bee conservation to the gardens. It's weird but fun to look around. I think it is supposed to be the same structure as a hive.

The Hive

Inside the Hive

They also had some towers where apparently you held a wooden stick in your teeth and put the other end in the tower. It then vibrated to represent a bee signal. I didn't get to try as there were queues I couldn't be bothered to stand in. But people made for some interesting photos doing so.

Baby duck

There's more.

There is a house, the summer home of King Charles (not sure which one) and Queen Charlotte. It is free to get in so I wondered through. It's ok but not very informative.

Fountain

The house.

Drawing room

Bridge over the lake

They also have a Henry Moore sculpture. I remember studying his sculptures in high school so it was interesting to see one. I think I drew this one at some point.

Henry Moore sculpture.

I really wanted to climb ups the tree top path. A lot os stairs. The path goes literally around the tree tops. Of course I choose a windy day. A very windy day. And yes, it sways. A lot. I was quite happy to be back down afterwards.

Going up.

Tree top path

The other side.

Everyone else ran away.

The Japanese garden was small but the doors impressive. They don't do anywhere but do look good.

Japanese doors

Unfortunately the pagoda (which I can see from my office) is closed for refurbishment. Though my legs appreciated it as climbing the 10 stories of stairs may have been a bit much at this point.

After this point, I was exhausted and got the train back around to the other side and the exit and sat down for a bit. But I am now a member of the gardens so can go back and see the rest.