The last day of August and the mornings are already darker and it was certainly fresh first thing as I headed for the bus (train strike meant bus going for the timings but train home)
and the sun hadn't fully risen
but after a wait outside I was in...
as i walked past Summer Sun, glinting in the sun, I noticed webs on some of the fronds.
it was truly beautiful first thing
so was the sky above the Palm House
the Broad Walk was still in shade as I walked down
I went round to the Hive.
The Hive itself was looking gorgoeus
this one from my phone is the best!
taken just as you go through the entrance on the upper level (at the top of the meadow)
they've cut back most of the wildflower meadow now, just leaving a narrow strip at the edge of the paths
then I walked round past the POW and the alpine house
I walked round to the student veg plots but the gate wasn't open, the vines were luminous with the sun behind.
I went back later, to see if Kyla's tag (abandoned art) was still there, but it had gone this week.
walking through the Evolution Garden I found a bed of poppies - late in the season but they were in a part of the garden that was last to be planted.
the yellow ones were looking beautiful
but you can't beat a big, blowsy Opium Poppy!
buds just emerging..
the remnants of little yellow daisy types that I saw last week
rudbeckia, starting to go over just slowly
as you all liked the pink and white sedum I took some more
views across the garden
walked round the other side of the Palm House pond
Sapphire Star looking stunning
early morning shadows
more favourites!
(Neodymium Reeds and Turquoise Marlins - although there's none of the latter in this shot!)
loved the sparkle of sun on dew drops on this spike!
the grass in the beds that don't have the Cattails and Copper Birch Reeds in (also stunning this morning) has been cut back, but they've left it long here
you can see the Opal and Amber Towers outside the front of the Temperate House..
but I was heading the other way, to the Treetop Walkway
popped up again!
the lake, still partly scummy/weedy
after crossing the bridge I went up the other side of the path to the end of the lake
where the Nijima Floats were sparkling - it was getting warmer now
as I crossed the grass I came across a large branch that had fallen from a pine tree - it looks quite recently fallen, so presumably in the strong wind of a couple of weeks ago -
love the patterns though.
they leave most fallen trees to create wildlife habitats.
on the way back to the Temperate House
huge bunches of berries on one of the Rowans
more clouds!
as it wasn't open yet I went on.... cutting across near Lime Crystal Tower
oh -oh... the leaves on the acers are starting to change colour... You know that means autumn is on the way...
looking gorgeous though!
this is the huge tree in front of the gallery
only a few of it's leaves are changing, but there were lots that have already fallen
down the path back towards the entrance
there was a large crowd waiting to come in, it was almost 10
that two hours flew by!
time for coffee and cake!
(chocolate ombre cake today, my favourite)
outside in the full sunshine today
after a short stop for refuelling I went past the Palm House again.
someone needs to polish off the raindrops from the Aeonium!
there was no-one in my way to inspect the bronze in the holly hedge
still lots of roses in the beds in front of the waterlily house
grasses in the triangular bed in front of the Red Reeds, looking better today
the Ethereal White Persian Pond has to be my favourite though...
gourds hanging round the edge
I get so carried away in here!
the phone pic I shared on FB at the time.
stunning..
time to hunt for dragons,
walking through the desert section, the centre of this agave was full of fallen flowers
from this, above it
two huge flowers on a cactus under a window, had to stretch to reach
it's going to be a dragon day!
I know my cousin will appreciate these
first time round, I couldn't find any other water dragons
but this one had moved slightly!
however, as there were no more evident I
left, and walked through the alpine house
pretty little (tiny little!) scillia
and not so tiny - they're not crocus but can't remember what they are !
still like these little red flowers tumbling down the rocks
passing the Palm House with the morning glory - yes, Elizabeth it has filled out!!
now we're in the Temperate House
the bee kept flying in and out of this flower.
got it!
the satsuma's are ripening
the hibiscus are still giant-sized
close up of Temperate House Persians
Hebron Vessels from the walk round the top
Beluga Boat
ok so this comes a close second (joint top really) with the white persians in the waterlily house!
Opal and Gold Chandalier
outside, more evidence of trees starting to turn
towards the gallery (I did go in, but no pics today)
sat in the rose garden for a few minutes
before walking through the Palm House
bananas!
interesting leaves in the sun
I decided to head back to the Princess of Wales conservatory again
past Paintbrushes... against the sun!
walked along the now fully sunny Broad Walk
noticed some different cacti flowering (the yellow is from something different it's not a two-flower type cactus!)
he was still there!
went through to the area by the orchid room
one little one sunning on a rock
from different angles
a little boy looking at him, said there's another one
it was just behind the other one, lying flat out on the soil (I hope it wasn't dead! I couldn't see any breathing but they do lie very still for ages, so fingers crossed)
there was also another one, an adult, on the other side of the path,
with his back to us, and very well hidden.
all the greenery was very confusing for the focus on my camera so I couldn't get many decent close ups
so i took a few more of the little one and left
walking back down the rest of the Broad Walk
before going to get a drink of water and heading home
thanks for looking !
