Kew (on Saturday!)

 It was back to normal Saturday visit today to round off my week's holiday.

lovely blue sky, if a bit chilly 

heading to the lake first, 

was looking a bit grey over that way 

goose clearing a trail in the water... less weed than on Thursday 

it did start to rain whilst we sat at the lake but not hard

the heron had been sitting on a branch on a tree on the island but didn't come down to say hello

we headed up to the top to the lake

by which time the rain had stopped

smoke bush

holes in a tree trunk on the way back to the lake crossing

the sun was back out now

the rain had made puddles  on the crossing and there were some great reflections, luckily no people in the way!  

the heron flew in front of us and disappeared 

too slow with the camera!  

but as we got back to the bench by the lake, he came round behind us

there were more ducks today than anything else 

he seemed a bit restless and headed away from the lake 

and we did too, for breakfast

we managed to wipe the chairs enough to sit outside 

plates seemed in short supply today, although Kim had found one for hr pecan pastry!

we headed round the palm house pond towards the evolution garden - gorgeous blue sky and amazing reflections

one of the lions at the pond 

I was trying to get the gunnera without it being too silhouetted!  

golden rain tree 

near the start of the evolution garden, from the Palm House end 

we noticed a patch of colchicum - as we bent down we saw 2 had slugs sleeping in them (out of focus sadly)  but this one had a little snail in 

most of the echinacea in the evoluiton garden have been cut back but a few remain

back of a Japanese anemone sunlight 

blogger reversing the order again. 

in the veg garden 

they have some success in their mushroom bed!

display of produce

marigolds, companion planting 

seed heads in the sun.  the seeds looked like leopard spots 

salvia in the salvia border in the rock garden 










I tried to get these on Thursday but blurred them. slightly more successful today

in the Princess of Wales conservatory 

this was behind glass so not very clear,  cute little flowers in a succulent of some kind

in the tropical area 

passionflower in the new area at the far end 

echinacea at the carbon garden are still good, as they were planted later 

nice pattern on the structure - I think it's reflection of leaves from a tree 

I thought I had brought the globe lens again, but had taken it out of the bag 

to my fellow crafters - this would make a great stencil! 

this was at the edge of the carbon garden - as we were looking at the tree, we saw one of the resident foxes, but sadly I snatched at the photo and blurred him.  

we walked round the corner past the monkey puzzle tree which was shining in the sun

and crossed the grass under some trees to the beds by the Elizabeth gate entrance

where there were lots of the dark dahlias 

loved the colouring on these leaves 

bedding at the junction of the path from the Elizabeth gate and the start of the Broad Walk

there used to be a big sculpture in the middle, but it (like the fountain in the Palm House pond will ) has been relocated to Windsor 

Before we left Kim wanted to check the porcelain berries at the Pavilion cafe 

so we headed back that way  - passing the lake again where the heron had returned and was by the bench that is still underwater 

several different colours on this tree! 

and we passed this one too that matched my hair!

the berries were indeed looking good 

and some grapes ripening in the sun too 

we then headed past another huge golden rain tree 

and back to the exit 

I've been ruthless with the photos today - didn't take as many, but also have deleted lots as my PC is running out of storage!

thanks for looking, see you next Saturday. have a good week.