<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1054" alt="Kews-at-Kew(jul13)" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Kews-at-Kewjul13.jpg" width="200" height="150" />We went to <a title="Kew Gardens" href="http://www.kew.org/" target="_blank">Kew Gardens</a> with Dave &amp; Lucie. This was their first visit so it was really good for them. It was due to be another hot day so we set off early and arrived just as the gates were opening at 09:30 so it was pleasantly cool for the morning. It's strange that the gates were open but the cafes didn't start serving refreshments until 10am.

There were some new features since we last went and the tree top walk was very good to see right over the gardens and into the tree canopy even if the climb to the top in the midday sun was a bit of a stretch.

<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1055" alt="kewgardens1(jul13)" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/kewgardens1jul13.jpg" width="200" height="150" />We hadn't been in the <a title="Princess of Wales Conservatory Kew Gardens" href="http://www.kew.org/visit-kew-gardens/garden-attractions-A-Z/Princess-of-Wales-Conservatory.htm" target="_blank">Princess of Wales Conservatory</a> so because it was early and therefore quiet we went for a stroll through the various collections. we were impressed and the term conservatory doesn't really do it justice. There was as much to see as there was in some of the domes at the Eden Project.

The Temperate House is about to undergo some major refurbishment and they are removing all the plants which is a mammoth task in itself as some of them have grown into the roof area.