Kew - it's definitely getting autumnal

Making the most of the last 2 Saturdays when i can get an 8am entry slot before that finishes for the year.  The sun was just rising as I left home for the station 

promises much for the day ahead though!

chances to snatch the sunrise from the train are few and bar between due to the built up area I live in but there are a few open spots

sitting on the platform at Clapham Junction where I change for the next train, doing what you shouldn't, and photograph into the sun!

it was already mild as I took my opening Kew shot - the beds now cleared of the 'green manure' planting so I guess they are preparing for the next bedding scheme

I do hope that with the threat of increased restrictions in the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 numbers (which are rising again)  I can get back to see it

for today though all is well

I headed past the Princess of Wales glasshouse towards my new favourite place to start,

but was side tracked by an acer glowing in the sun at the end of the Rock Garden

teasels in the Evolution Garden

a lot of the end bed has been cut back but these are still magnificent

I seem to have forgotten to get ultra close ups of the water drops on these

as I was distracted by the light shining through these petals

they are so long lasting though I adore them

they look like soldiers standing to attention

I know I get carried away by these, but I don't care!

they haven't started to skeletonise yet! 

 

beautiful hydrangea fading (the one above is on the same plant) 

I can't seem to remove the gap between photos.

gorgeous passionflower growing up the pergola

huge pumpkin in the vegetable beds,  love the shadows playing on it!

bearded clematis

harvest !  

vine growing along the fence of the student beds (you've not been able to walk round them this year)

but I liked this pop of orange being used as companion planting in one plot

alpine house with the POW behind 

label under this says it is Poinciana 

never heard of it, not seen it before (the lady I meet at the gate told me about it)

rusty fence round the Hive

more shadows playing on the uprights

I took these on the phone to save changing lens on the camera 

more shadows (me this time - legs in the glass, head on the path!)

then walked up the Broad Walk

the sun the other side of the Palm House

some of the roses have been pruned for the year, but others are flourishing still 

definite signs of autumn changes in the leaves

love the light playing on the trees (cypress pine I think) in the Meditteranean garden 

I kept my eyes open in the undergrowth for funghi

saw a couple only

as I walked past the Treetop Walkway I noticed the shadows of the trees on one of the fabulous rusty supports

there were lots of squirrels scampering about burying food for winter!

beautiful tree by the side of the crossing at the lake

different angle today, crouching down

but the view is always impressive on the lake

walked under a tree to get closer for the colours

and headed to the top of the lake

I sat outside the Temperate House waiting for the doors to open

probably should have stood up to get the shot straight!!

my eyes were drawn to the pattern on the rivets in the concrete

great ppattern!

walking through,  a different passion flower

growing up a beautiful structure in a pot

there were 4 of them in total

trumpet vine (can never get good photos of it sorry)

in the next section I found some tiny funghi

the one way system took us to the left side this week

more shadows and sunlight

and a cobweb on the banana at the far end

glistening in the sun

looking back through the TH 

the barrier stopping you go through the middle

outside, crossing the grass

the acers and maples are gorgeous

the huge tree outside the (still closed) gallery is turning too

bloody blogger is infuriating today won't put the pics where I want them without big gaps 

so let's stop for coffee and cake!

on the memorial bench that faces the palm house 

the statues have lost their masks!

into the Palm House, taken round to the left in here too 

I concentrated on looking up into the huge palms 

and other trees

then it was across the path into the waterlily house

Elizabeth is probably right, they'll empty it for the season soon I imagine

reflection of the roof in the water 

flowers round the outside of the pond 

it's loading them out of order again.  GRRRR 

then I walked across the end of the Broad Walk to the

Princess of Wales 

where there is a poster advertising a (delayed) exhibition in the gallery coming soon - it should have been from April to October! 

I couldn't see what this was, pretty, tiny little flowers though 

no sign of the water dragon this week either 

it was always going to feature! 

alpine house 

second flush of californian poppies outside in the rock garden

outside the other end of the Princess of Wales glasshouse (currently the exit) 

time to head home - so rejoined the end of the Broad Walk to the exit 

beautiful!!  

thanks for looking, sorry if new blogger had messed with the layout too much I can't delete the gaps