Artful Autumn - more from Kew

It felt so odd leaving for Kew after the time I've been used to already being there - enjoyed the extra time in bed though!
As it's back to the normal 10 am opening,it's back to the other entrance (nearer the station I use) so a different starting photo today.

 heading up the Broad Walk first,

 past some old friends..

 so many leaves have fallen off the tree behind this, it looks quite bare in places

 but still a good screen for the Palm House!

the Red Scarf standing out against an equally grey sky!

 no sun shining on the water today!

yes, Elizabeth,the pots are still empty.  I suspect they will be till they change the bedding in front of the Palm House

 I think the Crane is one of my favourites... even against the dull sky

 not at all sure about the swans though...

 colour developing nicely,

camelias (?)  providing some bright colour

the sugar maple, (acer) one of my favourite autumn trees, has lost so much of its leaf, it's a shame, but it was great fun scuffling through them (and I wasn't the only adult doing so!!)

 so we saw this willow last week, with ropes round it, this is part of Artful Autumn, and is one of a series around the garden by Julia Clarke.

 couple of different angles...

 lots of berries on trees and shrubs..

 once I got to Cedar Vista I found the series of carved seats that are set along the walk, they are all by Nigel Ross

 this was my favourite, it was smooth, and comfortable

 took this of the side, whilst sitting on it...

 I just love the shapes these seats have been carved/twisted into! 

 there are also a series of silk hangings, by Claudia Wagner, Funghi Fascinations..

this was my favourite,

 suspended between two cedars

 a gust of wind caught it, billowing like a sail on a ship!

 Cedar Vista... at the end, under wraps being refurbished is the Pagoda

 stretching the other way to the lake

 nearly missed this one hiding behind some trees


looks like a snake from this angle...

 and a handlebar moustache from this!

 haven't found myself here for ages, loving the colours of the trees

 more willow

 cough candy anyone?!

my favourite willows though, were the Treelings...

I took loads! (there were quite a lot of treelings)


here are a few

they were fabulous



whilst I was walking up the Vista, I could see some fabulous tree colour up by the lake

 various activities going on, yoga, face painting, you could have a go at willow weaving,

 but I was drawn by the colours at the lake...

 so I decided to walk round the lake from the top end, this is normally where I finish...

 shame there was no sun to improve the reflections

but there were some!

 gaping hole in a tree trunk..

 one of the giant Redwoods... certainly deserves it's name

 leant over the bridge to see what someone else was staring at.... a huge carp

 from the lake it is but a hop skip and a jump to the Treetop Walkway...

 autumn crocus peeking through leaf litter...

 up the top of the Walkway, trees framing the colour in the distance...

 great views of the surroundings

 back down on the floor, the geese were sleeping in the leaves..

 masses of berries

the Pavilion restaurant, still gorgeous colour but again, lots of leaves fallen since last week...

 there was a glimpse of light shining through these leaves, but the camera didn't really capture it...

 I stopped for tea and cake (well, coffee actually)
the cake was gorgeous - apple and blackcurrant, with a (very sweet) buttercream filling.... delicious.

as you see, I sat outside.. it was drizzling a little, not much

great view though

 walking past the Temperate House, (re-opens next spring, can't wait - they've started moving the plants back inside ready now)

 past here again...

 quite a drizzle now,

 so went inside the Palm House,

 went up the stairway

 and walked round the top (very hot and humid up there!)
there was as much condensation on inside as rain on the outside of the windows

love the roof

 the the slightly rusting spiral staircase

 outside now, love how the marble heads appear to be biting the hedge (if I bend down!)

 still lots of colour in the Parterre

 and from this angle the scarf seems to be moving

love these leaves

 walked up to the Hive, still spitting with rain, not really umbrella worthy though

 loving the colours behind the structure of the Hive

 quite a crowd in there looking around, and the floor was very slippery from the rain

 the dancing stones (think that was what they were called)

 wanted to go back and see these again still love them

 they still look like powetex to me.

 Inside the Princess of Wales the pond was full of teeny tiny (and some huge!) fish - you may need to click on the picture to see them. 

 tried really hard to get a good shot of this orchid, but the camera kept focusing on the slats of the blind behind it

 back outside, the dancing stones are still dancing

 crackle glaze?!!

 monkey puzzle

 these are just beautiful

I think last time we saw them the sky was bluer, but loving the purple glass against the grey sky!

 at the end of the Broad Walk are the two horse heads, not sure if I included the "blurb" last time...

 I nipped into the pop up shop and even though I still can't afford any of them, but I'd have loved these!










I saw that I had missed a couple of sculptures that I had meant to go back and see, so it was back out to find them (I had been about to go home)

 love these dramatic clouds!

 this was just outside the shop

 eventually I tracked it down...
I saw this at Hampton Court in the summer

 and this one too

 I love this one

 just love his eyes

 in the distance behind the greyhound, the marble heads, in front of the back of the Palm House

 more autumn crocus

crouching down, taking pics "blind" at grass level (took several to get any good ones)

 love the shape of this tree, it's really been bent by leaning into the prevailing wind

 this one was really hard to photograph!

 but I know I did it before (allium)

 grass was covered in pretty leaves

 a quick look at the porcelain magnolia...

 and this is the huge magnolia by the entrance/exit   no idea if they always look like this at this time of year!

there were the more normal fluffy buds, too!



wow, that was a mega visit (over 4 hours, over 400 photos and another 10k (15,000 + steps) walked... hope you're still with me

The sculptures end next week, and I am not sure if I will make it there next Saturday so made the most of it today!