Kew Gardens 26th Smile

My wonderful Kew is always worth a visit.

We spent time in the Waterlily House first

with its wonderful variety of Lilies and plants.

See the huge Mimosa plant in the back… wow

My favourite Lilies

We watched a dragonfly bathing in the sun.

Photograpy is so interesting

I tried some ICM – Intentional Camera Movement- Pictures of different motives.

The Hive

Designed by UK based artist Wolfgang Buttress, The Hive is a visual tribute to Britain’s honeybees. Originally created for the UK Pavilion at the 2015 Milan Expo, it now lives in our Gardens at Kew – surrounded by wildflowers to celebrate the environments that real bees need to thrive.

My ICM attempts

---

Trying out the camera with water drops

---

More Lilies in the outside water pond

---

Pumpkins in the kitchen garden

---

Nature does not hurry, 
yet everything is accomplished.
 Lao Tzu

---

We loved Kew so much; It was sunset when we left.

All pictures taken by me in Kew Gardens, except the focused Hive picture - from Google.

Kew Gardens 25th Smile

Kew this month was very colourful and buzzing.

This time we spent time in the Evolution Garden

Click on the link to read more.

This garden is 1.3 acres, filled with around 700 kinds of plants and brings over 350 million years of evolutionary history to life. 

Outstanding Poppy in a field of poppies

red poppy

Turkish Tulip (left)

roses

pink beauties

Sort of Magnoila

Iris right)

Dutch Rush and Iris

---

Trying out the camera with different focus points of the same plants

---

Bees and other Pollinators were busy pollinating.

---

In nature nothing is perfect

and everything is perfect.

---

Heaven is under our feet
 as well as over our heads

---

All pictures taken by me in Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens 24th Smile

Spring is here with more colours than ever.

Kew is just magical.

Tulips are still blooming

Tulips are still blooming

Then there is plenty of more pink and purple.

Fun Fact:

Fossils have revealed that magnolia plants existed at least 20 million years ago. Magnolia officinalis bark is used in traditional Chinese medicine remedies to improve lung health and treat anxiety.

---

Apple Blossom – so pure white

• 

Trees green, pink, red make a wonderful contrast.

---

We found plenty of Bluebells

---

Still in the woodlands we found Camassias- from the asparagus family.

Delicate flowers bending in the wind.

A real splash of vibrant colour gave this Rhododendron bush.

Nature is the best healer, relaxer and

the best happiness generator for me! ♥

---

“There are always flowers
for those who want to see them.” 

Henri Matisse

---

All pictures taken by me in Kew Gardens

Picture of the Week #12

Beautiful Rhododendron in Kew Gardens.

Food for thought

Do not pray for an easy life;
pray for the strength
to endure a difficult one.

Kew Gardens 23rd Smile – Spring in Kew

Now Spring shows its’ signs

Kew is nearly in full bloom.

There is a sea of yellow greeting you.

Fun Fact:

The word “narcissus” is derived from the Greek word narke, meaning numbness (also the root of the word narcotic); the flower may have been named thus because of the intoxicating fragrance of some species.

---

There are so many varieties of Daffodills and Narcissi varieties and scents.

We were transported to the fairy-tale setting of Kew’s Magnolias, they grow on bare stems.

• 

• 

• 

Trees full of Magnolias, different colours, sizes and varieties.

---

We found this little delicate beauty in the grass –  Snake’s head fritillaries

---

Then we followed on to the Cherry walk

Not all were open, yet I caught some perfect with the blue sky.

It felt wonderful to be under the Cherry blossom trees,

sun shining, blue sky.

Spring makes you feel alive.

---

Where flowers bloom
so does hope.

Lady Bird Johnson

---

All pictures taken by me in Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens 22nd Smile – Orchid Festival 2022

The Orchid Festival is on again at Kew Gardens.

This time the Orchids came from Costa Rica

There is an abundance of colours, varieties and scents.

It was amazing and wonderful to take it all in on my memory card in my head.

I captured some on my memory card on the camera too 🙂 

Orchids – every shape and colour

There were beautifully handcrafted animals - 
a Sloth, a Jaguar, Turtles and a Snake 
my favourite - the smiley Sloth  🙂

2 toed Sloth

Jaguar

Turtles

Snake

---

The displays were fantastic,

I concentrated on close ups with my DSLR Camera,

and made collages of the many different Orchids.

---

---

---

We had a fantastic day
admiring all displays,
enjoying Costa Rica's beautiful Orchids.

---

Kew Gardens 21st Smile – Winter 2022

Kew Gardens – in Winter –

you think there is not much to find for pictures.

Yet I found many models for my camera, all ready to be photographed.

The typical Winter flower – the Snowdrop

 

Last year’s dried flowers make a wonderful picture

between new blooms.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Dried flowers of last year’s hydrangea – still beautiful

please slide to see more detail.

All pictures taken by me at Kew Gardens.

Picture of the Week #4

Kew Garden Beauty between many others

Food for thought

Life is like a camera,
just focus on what's important
and capture the good times,
develop from the negatives
and if things don't work out,
just take another shot.

Kew Gardens 20th Smile – Lights by night

Christmas lights in Kew Gardens – a treat for the Pre-Christmas time.

We enjoyed a lovely evening in the big garden with the famous beautiful

Kew’s Christmas Lights!

 

New colours and shapes everywhere.

A small compilation

The Palmhouse changed colours and on the lake in front fountains and stars appeared.

Every display was accompagnied with amazing music,

some classical, choir and modern to make the whole light show a memorable experience.

We had a wonderful evening walking through a light wonderland.

Of course there was mulled wine and hot chocolate too!

Please click on the picture to enlarge them.

All pictures taken by me at Kew Gardens.

***************************************************************************************************************

Wishing all a wonderful and peaceful 3rd Advent !

***************************************************************************************************************

Kew Gardens 19th Smile – Shapes and Patterns

A cold day at Kew Gardens yet the beauty stays.

I observed so many different patterns and shapes this time.

The ‘Smilex’ with its heart shaped leaves and thorns.

Again I tried to take photos with a bokeh- effect as good as I can with my Phone Camera.

The Banana Tree had fruits.

Look at those amazing patterns of 2 very different plants.

It is wonderful to have been able to share this visit with a wonderful friend.

A sweet friendship
refreshes the soul.
Proverbs 27.9