Network Rail in their kindness. are working on the rail track at Sutton so there are no trains at all in either direction (they wrote to us residents as we back onto the railway, and they're working overnight tonight and tomorrow so we could have noise disturbance all night) so I had already looked into the possibility of going by bus -two, actually. It meant an even earlier start from home as the bus to Kingston is half hourly and the one that would get me there for the 8am early opening, goes at just after 6.30 .. so that was a 6.15 departure... It was an easy journey though, as the second bus to Kew itself went from the same stop I got off at. In the end I got there with 20 minutes or so to loiter waiting for 8 o'clock.
It was drizzing as I went in, but after the intense heat of earlier this week it was LOVELY and COOL.. (did warm up later)
So, onto the photos then.... not as many as normal, for reason I will explain in a while...
so we start, as usual at the corner of the Palm House Parterre.
must try and find out what all these wildflowers are!
thanks BJ and Lesley
I was heading for breakfast about now I think.
When I am at Kew, I always listen to a little pocket radio, the Danny Baker show on BBC 5Live. Today, he was talking about always wanting a greenhouse...
I tweeted the show a photo of the Palm House, saying, did that count as a greenhouse... just a throwaway comment... I got a reply, saying they'd love to get me on the show, could I DM them my number.... so I did....
a little bit later they rang and asked if I'd come on the radio.. so I said yes...
quick look at the work on the Temperate House...
This is the photo I took whilst on hold to go live on the radio....
and this is the podcast of the programmer
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08v667q#play Not sure if this will work.. (you may have to copy it into a browser) . I also don't think it will work unless you're in the UK. My moment of fame is at a bout 1 hour 45 ish... It lasted a couple of minutes in total.....
never been very fond of these (my ex husband liked them, maybe that's why!) but love the bright yellow-green of this one.
maybe the trip next time will be more ordinary!! (and t didn't rain on me, no idea if it did at Kew!)
16 comments:
You should have brought one of those pots home to Powertex!!!
Wow on the radio, will go try and listen in a mo. I'm thinking what you've said is a foxglove isn't a foxglove but can't remember what it is right now. It'll come to me I'm sure. Super photos Helen. BJ
Fab post as always Helen and I will try that link again after tea.
I'm not too keen on those pitcher plants either but I do love the patterns of the red veins against the bright green. I think my favourite today are those stunning white roses....absolute perfection! The beautiful pink poppies come a very close second though and I think the statue in the grass garden is my favourite of the ones you've shown too....perhaps because he's quite a hunk, lol! He reminds me a little of Burt Lancaster (showing my age here) in his heyday, lol! My final pick of the pics today is the one of those lovely fluffy seedheads alongside the little blue bells. Do you know what they are?
Thanks for sharing your birthday trip which turned out to be a bit different.
Hugs
Lesley Xx
Me again! I thought the same as BJ about the 'foxglove'. Is it a hollyhock by any chance?
Hugs
Lesley Xx
Ah Hollyhock the word on the tip of my tongue, although I had been googling and only came up with Verbascum Temptress White, it could be either as they are quite similar.
Listened to the recording whilst I was googling (signed in this time and wondering if I will have to do that on all devices???) anyway, yes it IS your garden and great that you got on the radio too
What a great birthday treat and didn't get rained on either, hope the trip back was OK and the trains will be sorted soon.
BJ
Still me the other flower on the tip of my tongue was Delphinium???? BJ
oh yes of course, I knew it wasn't a foxglove... brain not working - will change it.
Lovely photos and added excitement. Brilliant!
Wonderful photos again Helen. You never disappoint. Only just been able to sit down and enjoy looking through them all. So relaxing and uplifting. Do you ever do any sketching while you're there? Tried listening to the podcast but don't think I can listen to Danny Baker for very long trying to find your slot. Will try again tomorrow. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful array of colour.
Happy birthday on Monday. Even the trains not running couldn't keep you away from Kew.
Those cone shaped "topiaries" on the Broad Walk are much, much larger and taller than I envisioned before. Seeing people near them put their size in perspective.
The flowers outside the Palm House are really beautiful. I see a few purple ones, too.
I swear those may be tall sunflowers, but they don't look like any they grow here in Kansas, the Sunflower state!
OhWOW. I haven't seen bottle brush since I was in California several years ago. It wouldn't survive our winters. What a rare treat.
I suspect the peacock was putting on a show for his female friends.
Yes, both those statues are new to me.
The wrapping on the restoration of the Temperate House was looking in need of restoration, itself!
I LOVED the last photo. It was different from ones I've seen in the past.
Congrats on your 15 minutes of fame that only lasted 2 minutes. I'm sure it was fun and rather exciting, though. A pre-birthday gift, if you ask me!
Great photos Helen and listened to you on the radio and you sounded great. What a great experience. Happy Birthday for tomorrow! Xx
I'm loving these posts. Am so not a natural gardener so whenever you name an interesting plant I google it and add it to the list. I'm trying to start a little potted rockery in our tiny yard in memory of Mum. Criteria - they have to be perennial (because I'm lazy) and take care of themselves (because I forget!) So am loving alpines at the moment. Today I've added eryngium to the list because your photo is gorgeous - looks hardy enough to take care of itself and I just googled - it's perennial! Whoop!
Loved your interview, did make me smile! What a random thing to happen - a Saturday walk to remember!
Over to Helen, the BBC's Kew correspendent!!! That was great and another fab post too, full of gorgeous photos.
Happy birthday Helen💐🌸🌹🌻 beautiful photos!
As ever I loved seeing Kew! It was great to hear your voice too! Fame at last!! Hugs, Chrisx
Oh Helen - your photos never disappoint. What a fabulous way to spend your birthday weekend. I wanted to jump into the photos to smell the roses and lilies! lol!
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