Kew - sunshine and Water Dragons

After last week's soaking there was no need to take the umbrella today. 

 unlike last week, it wasn't only me waiting to go in at 8! 

 it was quite sunny early on, though the sky was a little overcast

 as usual I started down the Broad Walk

 as I was closing in on the scabious centre I saw this little beetle on the edge

 the bees were all over these, but moving fast!

 

love how the light was shining through these petals

 as usual I turned right at this point and went round to the Hive

 where the wildflower meadow is rather overgrown in parts

 and looking good!

 I walked past the outside of the Princess of Wales glasshouse which of course wasn't open yet

 and past the grass garden

 the alpine house was open, and the "sails" - sun blinds - were being remotely closed to shade the plants

 a new display this week - pots of semperviviums  (sempervivii?!!)

 I wandered through part of the rock garden

 into the veg garden.... a row of onions drying in the sun

 the veg garden is to the left of the path that separates the new evolution garden, so that was next... the light shining on/through these drew me first...

 they were glowing!

 so were the hollyhocks

 and the agapanthas, with or without raindrops are always a favourite

at this stage I saw and spoke to the lady I'd chatted to last week when we were both so wet.

 the Waterlily House on my way past

 Palm House with the round bed in front across the path

 down towards Summer Sun, blending nicely with the colours

 round into the rose garden

 back door of the palm house!

 I walked down the grass pathway past the Icicle tower

 to the lake.


the near end was largely clear this week, but I could see the other side of the bridge the surface was covered in duckweed/pollen

 the entire swan family was on the bank today

 as I crossed the bridge,I turned and saw a lady feeding them

 these ducks were having a right splash in the weedy water

 as i walked towards the Japanese garden a load of birds were flying around
From the numbers I knew they had to be green parakeets (there are loads around this area of London) - one helpfully landed in the tree,  just left of centre

the Nijima floats were sparkling

the gravel looked freshly raked - I spoke to the Kew person guarding/guiding  - she says she thinks it's done more or less weekly


we discussed last week's rain, and how I'd been o my own for quite a while first thing then

lots more people about early today

 I headed back towards the Temperate House although it wouldn't be open yet

approaching it from a slightly different route as a result.

 I crouched down and got the globe out - this is with the macro lens but just on close up programme 

swapped to the normal standard zoom lens to get both opal towers in

the lighting rigs are going in ready for Chihuly Nights, the illuminated event that starts in a couple of weeks to see them lit at night.

(yes, I will be going!)

 walked down the end of the Temperate House to these beauties...

 I then went round the corner (kind of) to the purple favourites

I debated going for coffee but decided as it was nearly 10 now to wait and do inside the Temperate House first.

 this shrub always amazes me at this time of year  it's at the top of the steps to the path down to the red cattails,  and is smothered in bees


can you see some? 

it absolutely hums!

I cant see the label, it's buried under all the leaves so no idea what it is

 walking back to the Temperate House

 fluffy clover-like flowers/seed heads

 and on the other corner, bright yellow flowers of some kind

 sat on the steps outside the Temperate House till opening...

 through the window

 the sun was really shimmering on the white glass

 the top looks like snakes today

 hanging over the edge for some overhead shots.
look very different up here

 winding up the stairs.

 I love how the plants are growing up round the Ikebana

not to mention up the pillars!

hard to think they've only been here about 16 months

 the centre section was roped off because the lighting was going up

 n my way back to the Victoria Gate (cafe) I had to go into the gallery

 back at the gate

 today's cake, lemon and raspberry "loaf"  (a loaf shaped sponge cake in case you're confused.)

radio on the table, today I was listening to the cricket.

a sunnier selfie this week

 can't resist stopping here again

 on my way to the Waterlily house

 where I got carried away again

 huge hibiscus just inside the outer door

 whipped the other lens back on..

 and headed to the Princess of Wales, dragon hunting!!

 I followed the man who feeds them back in...

 he kindly pointed this one out to me at the top of the pillar by the steps next to the mangroves.


have never noticed one up here!!

infuriatingly he moved and then shimmied down the pillar - the greenery was in the way so I couldn't focus as he did so

 down on the ground he moved to the edge of the pond.


I really wish I'd hung around a few minutes more....

 but headed under to see if there were any around on the tree like last week..

 which I noticed was flowering.

no water dragons thouigh

 the giant arum is flowering..

 or the flower spike has collapsed, think the pinky bits are the start of the bit that will open up and stink!

I walked back to the mangroves...where to my annoyance, the water dragon was now on the wall on the other side of the water.


how I wish I'd stopped to see if it swum, or jumped across the lily pads!

(swum, probably)

damn!!

 lotus flower in the pond


I walked down the back of the pond (there is an underground bit with fish tanks - never shown them as it's too tricky with the glass)


and came across

 sitting on a rock

you come out by the wall where the first one was sitting






he'd moved along a bit which was helpful for closeups!

 dragged myself away..

 and to the secret or duke's garden, not been here for a couple of weeks

 good view of the alpine house in the distance

 

a red hot poke flower (white one ha ha)  collapsed on the grass

 I love the beds in this area

 and these huge flowers always make me stop

 back through the grass garden

 there's a big bed full of echinacea at the side

arty time!

 I walked through the rock garden again

 but couldn't resist going inside the POW again on my way past..


still on the rock.
quite a crowd gathering , he didn't move

 and the one on the wall too

 time for a drink of water and a loo break, so headed out again

 Broad Walk

 I went and found a bench for a sit down for a while

still listening to the cricket.

 playing with a different programme on the camera

 to blur the background

 like this one

 then moved and sat here for a while...

 before the POW again to say goodbye to the dragons

noticed some cactus flowers I'd missed earlier

 yep, still there

 ditto

 this time though, I saw another one, one of the little ones

on the top by the water

 this time when I went through to the tree in the other room, there was a crowd looking under a big leaf...

 I stayed a few minutes watching










and then headed back to the "rock"

 where it was lunchtime!

 he hopped off towards me as I approached quietly

 the feeder left...

 but I followed... where the other dragon had come down from the wall

 how fabulous!


there was a large crowd by now

 went and said goodbye to the youngster.

 love him clinging to the little trunk

digesting his lunch! 




what a very special day. 

thanks for looking