Orchid Festival 2019

A few weeks ago, Mom and Dad came to stay for a long weekend. (It's taken a while to get through the photos and updating the blog.) 

On the Friday we went to the Orchid Festival at Kew Gardens. (I think this was the main reason Mom wanted to come visit. It had little to do with me!) We missed it last year thanks to the snow and colds everywhere.  And going on a Friday was much better and a lot less crowded.

Panther.

Mom really enjoyed, which was expected. The greenhouse was very impressive.

Happy mom.

This year they partnered the orchids with bromeliads (Mom told me about them - my gardening skills are minimal). I loved these little flowers. They are so weird and different.

Purple bromeliad.

and a red one.

At the main display, we found some really weird plants. We have no idea if they are flowers, or leaves. But I want one.

Green ... flower?

They usually focus on a few areas and do up a big display. I loved this years sloth.

So cute.

Orchid birds.

Atzec gold

Funky little flower.

Origami butterflies.

The squirting dolphin gave a few people a scare and amuse quite a few kids (including myself).

Squirting dolphin.

After throughly exploring the orchid greenhouse, we had a wonder around the garden. There wasn't much to see as spring is still on its way but it was a nice walk. The Palm house was open though I was really disappointed to see they have closed the aquarium in the basement. I really liked that place.

Green man.

Around the top of the Palm house.

I was also really excited to see the tropical house is now open (it's been shut for refurbishment for the past 3 years at least). It will take some time for it to become really established but it was worth the walk.

The new Tropical house.

We had a really chilled out night and the next day, just going for lunch in Kingston and walk along the river.