I’ve had a cold for a week so my energy is a bit depleted, but I couldn’t resist heading to Kew Gardens this morning for a walk with the sun shining brightly in the crisp wintery air. I was also running out of time to do the November post of my A Year in Kew project and having come this far with it, I didn’t want to be derailed as I neared the end by something as mundane as a cold.

The weather literally changed overnight here in London when the unusually warm temperatures we’ve been experiencing this November nosedived on Friday night to freezing temperatures and even a flurry of snow on Saturday morning. In Kew, winter was much in evidence. Despite arriving slightly later than usual, it was remarkably quiet with few other people taking advantage of the sunny morning. The autumnal colours of October were giving way to bare trees and branches, but still the odd leaf hung on determinedly.

But many had fallen.

Finding colour was a slight challenge but nevertheless to be found:

And in the distance across the pond near the Palm House:

While bright winter cyclamen stood in trays brightening up the shop:

One of my favourite places is the lake:

There are quite a few special events going on for Christmas at Kew. For more information visit their website: click here.