Kew in another heatwave

 Another heatwave, another shortish trip to Kew. 

the sun was blazing but there was a sporadic welcome breeze

and some long shadows! 

we headed to the lake for some shade first. 

the ducklings are growing 

the lake is still green - this is the clear bit in the middle

here come the geese!

Mumma mallard watching her babies

I left Kim sheltering in the shade and went for a wander.  

some nice shadows at this Henry

I needed the lens hood really but it was a home, so sun getting inthe way

trying to get me and the hole in was tricky!  

looking to Palm House it looked as if the door was open, so I headed that way

walking through the rose garden

as I approached the palm house I could see I'd not be able to enter, and  a couple walked towards me and I said , oh it looked as if they were letting us in early, the lady said no, there's a barrier in the way

I was able to take a couple of photos over the top of the barrier though

it really is very empty now ahead of the restoration next year

I walked round the outside pausing at some agapanthas that are planted around the outside 

at the far end nearest the waterlily house it was very empty indeed - the last time I was here there were still big pots this end 

reflections through the doorway

the white tentlike thing is the covering to the waterlily house undergoing it's restoration 

at the front of the Palm House I took a photo of one of the statues

and from the front

several geese on the grass in the semi cool 

another through the hole effort, worked better than last week's

those gorgeous dahlias again; can't resist them

followed round the bed 

then headed down the Broad Walk 

blogger is messing with the spacing, it's too hot to fight it....

if there are gaps, sorry!

I turned off halfway down the Broad Walk by the Hive were I bumped into our friends Patrick and Joyce who were heading slowing for the cafe - I said I'd join them soon

echinops at the carbon garden

I love the drifts of colour, it reminds me of the colour wheel we use in our crafting!  

a dried grass/seedhead sculpture.  not noticed this in the bed before but it has probably been there!

the sunflower from last week I posed under has collapsed under it's own weight, this is the second one of the 2 that were on the stalk 

as I walked through the rose pergola through the evolution garden I got a message from Kim who'd found a seat at the cafe in the shade, so I made my way to meet her - and Patrick and Joyce. 

they had new pastries to try - I had a berry pastry, P&J went for apple.

delicious.  obviously not cheap, but delicious and yes,  I will probably have it again!  

we sat and enjoyed a chat and the breeze for a while 

then we walked round the pond 

the geese were in the water now

outside the Princess of Wales conservatory. 

a brief excursion inside to the cactus area only to see if there were any flowering cactus left - no

took this and then back out again

last year this was growing the other side of the gap between glass and beam... this year it's crammed against the glass

hydrangea

took the grass path along the far left hand edge through the evolution garden 

there was a small pretty blue butterfly flitting about but it wouldn't settle to photograph

the agapanthas at the far end - bigger drift here than on the Broad Walk   -  in the sun 

most of the roses on the main pergola are over, but the side path still has some

the collapsed sunflower,  something has been picking at the seeds 

strawflowers looking good 

the little insect flew into shot as I hit the shutter 

walking through the evolution garden 

another hydrangea

there were so many bees on this!  

more echinops

we sat on a bench in front of the echinops, in the shade whilst deciding where was coolest to venture next...

photographs without moving from the bench!

towering yellow flowers at the end of the bed

we headed back 

past Leaf Sprite

and crossed the broad walk again 

before heading through trees back to the lake 

it was so much more pleasant under trees out of the sun 

ducking round branches 

and back to the shade by the lake

bliss!  and a lovely breeze 

the geese swimming too and fro though the green weed covering the pond make nice channels 

caught unawares!

a bit further along, 2 Egyptian geese "chilling" (not) in the sun

we walked round the rest of the lake 

to the far end keeping to the shade as much as possible, 

before heading back towards the exit, slowly.

one of the other Henrys I'd touched, that I thought would be hot, wasn't.

this one however, HAD heated up in the sun and was boiling 

and then, it was time to go home and try and cool down.  (lasted till 11.30 this week!) 

So it is 

Wimbledon finals weekend, and more football, so a sporty rest of the weekend. 

Thanks for looking.  See you next time.