Saturday, October 31, 2020

Kew - it got a bit wet

 Hi,  once again it was Kew - a 9am start for half term and storm Aiden was threatening to land over the UK during the day...in fact parts of it were already affected.

a few more of the beds in front of the Palm House  have been planted up


the shrubs round the pond were looking fabulous
and the fountain was on it's timer again


there were workmen in, getting the lights for Kew at Christmas installed (bit dubious as to how this is going to be possible in a Covid-friendly way but we'll see...)


the face sculpture from the back,  as I walked along the little woodland path behind it

I walked round the evolution garden,  




a lot of the colour has gone
and is just seed heads

I went to check out the physalis skeletons


which were most too far into the bed to capture well


I went through into the rock garden - the acer has lost most of it's leaves since last week,

but this beaded clematis on the wall was pretty



the doors to the alpine house were already open, so I walked through

the pink nerines were colourful,


the the scillia still fascinate me
outside the grass garden was blowing in the wind



I love the colours on these leaves




gorgeous
as I got to the Broad Walk,  the tree on the other side stopped me in my tracks




it is huge,  and beautiful 
there was just enough sun to shine through the leaves

the carpet of leaves on the grass was gorgeous too



ok,   time to tear myself away



crossing the grass between the Broad Walk and Kew Palace, but bearing left.


this is another huge beauty!






and nearby under another huge tree canopy,

a selection of tiny
different coloured funghi





the acers I found last week again



there were patches of blue in the sky this week not that you can tell from this photo... but just wait a bit

the wind blew just as I took this, walking under the branches - fab!




as I walked through the fallen leaves, 
I stopped for raindrops (obviously)

but had to go  up close to these beautiful maples




the sun was coming out as I mentioned.


just love them






there was a large crow on a tree


the sun shimmering through branches... 


and then look at the sky!  

I knew it wouldn't last though, so made the most of it






and indeed, less than 5 minutes later as i reached the lake, it was already changing

masses of leaves covering the surface of the water




there were lots of birds on the water, geese and gulls mainly
I walked up towards the pagoda (trying to shoot over the heads of the kids in the way   foreground
 

looking through the pine trees back in the direction of the lake

avoiding the path forming the half term holiday "gruffalo trail" (which was busy)  I found myself at the woodland area - I missed the bluebells this year obviously as Kew was closed..

but it is still peaceful and pretty, in it's autumn colours



I got to the Japanese Garden 

and tried to wait for this couple to move away.... they were in the moment...


eventually they moved off



it started raining at this point....hard!  

I put my hood up but had to resort to the umbrella too (my small workday one, not the huge Kew one)

to things now got cumbersome and tricky, photography-wise!








I decided to head for the Temperate house and shelter, quick!


but I got distracted first







you would not believe the trouble I had with these berries, they just would not focus

inside the Temperate House,  a beautiful pair of bird of paradise flowers



the passion flowers in the middle octagon

above my head, so tricky


peeking over a barrier 


we were directed to turn right this week round the main path

past the stairs - they've cut the climber back a bit at the foot of the steps but I couldn't be bothered to change lenses !! 


peeking through the tree ferns at the waterfall 

outside,again  I crossed the grass towards the gallery
the green netting is around machinery for the lights at Kew going up

now I did change lenses ready for my indoors pics


there was a delay getting in as there was apparently a few people ahead of me,  so I was asked to wait for a bit (expect they were getting out of the rain)

but then I could walk round the main exhibits
you can see my reflecting if you look closely and someone "inside" it too
I had a good look at the works on the walls round the edge of the room


they are really gorgeous even if they depict the destruction of our planet 
back outside it was still raining 
so I headed for the path to the main entrance, thinking Imight have a drink



more evidence of the light trail by the big trees
at the junction with the path by the entrance the huge smoke tree made me stop, had to juggle the umbrella

but it was worth getting wetter 



I went to the loo then headed round the pond, intending to go into the Princess of Wales glasshouse before home (abandoned the idea of a drink)

this is the other side of the tree from my first look at the pond earlier... it looks very different this side


very wet now,  I wasn't going to stop much longer 


and, indeed I nearly didn't go inside, there were quite  few people at the entrance, all wanting to get out of the rain

but they cleared soon and I was able to overtake them!

and I was so pleased I had come in


he was the other side of a barrier barring us from walking through part of the POW
so the bars were in the way
and we weren't socially distanced either, as we tried to get our pictures.
but I only stopped for a couple of minutes
and we were all masked


I stopped briefly for the gravillea too


before making a wet dash for the station - to find 2 trains cancelled and a half hour wait....

then missed my connection and had another half hour wait!!  

as I finish this, the prime minister is about to make a press announcement with a possibility of full lockdown, so may not be allowed back to Kew for a few weeks... we'll see! 

so tillnext time... thanks for looking!  









7 comments:

Celtic house said...

Oh bless dodging raindrops is never fun but your trip looks lovely xxxx

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Had I not enlarged your first photo, I would have thought the leaves that have fallen in the beds were actually flowers. DUH!

How surprising to see the face sculpture from the back. Seems plants and shrubs dying back pit a very different "face" on things.

You can feel the movement in the grass garden. You really captured it nicely. Lots of beautiful reds and yellows in the leaves, including the ones on the grass, too. Those fungi are amazing. You captured the leaves on the lake well, too.

I can't believe the couple in the Japanese Garden weren't wearing masks, but I guess they felt safe with each other.

There are times I simply CANNOT get something to focus, no matter how hard I try. I can empathize with yur red berries, which I thought turned out great anyway.

I think photo 118 of you and the person inside the circle may be my favorite photo today.

It was SO good to see the Chinese water dragon. Glad you and everyone taking the same photos were masked, too. It's some great photos showing at least one of the dragons is still around. Thanks for taking us on this really soggy trip to Kew in the rain, dear.

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Great pics Helen. Thanks for sharing, Angela xXx

Heather M said...

Great pics Helen. I always feel like I've just visited Kew myself when I look at your photos, Heather xx

Words and Pictures said...

I feel as though you can really feel the approach of November and winter in these photos - the grey, damp chill (despite that short break in the clouds with the blue sky beyond). It's still beautiful of course, but I did have a little shiver as I scrolled!
Alison x

pearshapedcrafting said...

A little bit of blue sky each day and I'm happy! Sorry you got so wet on some of your visits, although raindrops on plants always look good! So pleased you saw the water dragon. The colours have been amazing and the reflections are wonderful!
I'd like to think we could get to Kew before the exhibition finishes but I doubt it's going to be possible!
The Lily pond house was my favourite when we visited last year, how lovely to have it to yourself!
We are already well on our way to December and the way time is flying you will soon be able to visit again!
I have thoroughly enjoyed this look back at your visits.
Take care, Hugs, Chris

Sally H said...

Despite the rain you captured some absolutely stunning Autumn colours there! Gorgeous photos as always. I hope you are able to visit again soon x