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.

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.