A trip to Kew Gardens

We squeezed in a visit to Kew before heading back home from London on Sunday.  It is years since I've been there in person, but really enjoyed watching  'A Year in Kew' - the TV series the BBC ran a couple of years ago.

I love the Victorian splendour of the Palm House

  

with its ornate ironwork providing the perfect backdrop to those huge fronds.

 

Leave via the west door and you step from tropical rainforest to the lavender fields of Provence.

 

The amazing Treetop Walkway (designed by Marks Barfield Architects, the architects of the London Eye) opened just over a year ago.  It is 59ft high! 

 

You can see how it was built and even take a virtual tour. 

You get a great view of the Glasshouses from up here too

 

and the entrance to the Rhizotron down below.

 

The tree you can see above is a bronze sculpture, but one little bird thought it was the real thing....

 

After discovering a fabulous photography exhibition (which deserves its own post) we went to see the Waterlily House

 

- a lovely little glasshouse with a special atmosphere all of its own.

 

I like the way the patterns of the roof metalwork are reflected in the water.

  

A truly inspiring place.

Kew Gardens is situated on the banks of the river Thames in south-west London, near Richmond.  Find Kew visitor information here.  Kew Gardens, Kew, Surrey TW9 3AB

Kew is open 363 days a year.