Kew - bank holiday Saturday

 Today is a Bank Holiday in the UK so I have an extra day on my weekend. but my timeslot was Saturday at 8 as usual.  

the beds have been planted - a fairly old fashioned look in my eyes, but I guess that's the pandemic for you.  At least it's planted this year

the lake was reflecting nicely in the early light

in the centre of the round bed at the top of the Broad Walk

the pretty pink and white tulips are fading, but I love how the petals are drooping

there are lots of irises around 

looking gorgeous

I did get very carried away with the alliums again today though... stand by for overload!

there were loads of bees enjoying them too but they wouldn't sit still

I took this one on the diagonal for effect but of course blogger won't let me add it like that

I love the slightly deeper purple of this variety

took the path half way down the Broad Walk towards the Hive

the wildflowers at the foot of the Hive are gorgeous

and walking up the winding path round it they are too

irises outside the Princess of Wales glasshouse

a quick walk round the Duke's garden

love the colour of this iris

back out into the grass garden which had it's spring haircut some time ago 

the Princess of Wales glasshouse

top of the Rock Garden on ny way to

the Evolution Garden

the bees were busy here too

aquilegia  

the pasqueflowers are just fluffy loveliness now

didn't see the bee till I uploaded the photo

couldn't see a label on this - but it is beautiful!

scilla (cuban lily)

developing nicely

at the far end of the Evolution Garden is a large clump of peonies

more aquilegia

walking past the Palm House beds,  a closer look at the new planting

round the back of the Palm House

past the Medittteranean garden where the cistus (rock roses) are magnificent

the pollen sacs on this bee are huge, he flew off shortly after this!

little pink flowers in the edge of the long grass in front of the Temperate House - the tulips are long gone now

the cistus in the bed in the middle of "please be seated" are flowering now

I sat and looked at the Temperate House for a few minutes before heading on my way

off towards the lake, 

holly flowering 

the wild flowers with the Treetop Walkway blurring behind

the other side of the lake 2 ducks were sitting on the top of a bench

they allowed me to get quite close

the mandarin duck fluffed up his feathers

walking round the lake

the yellow irises at the water's edge reflecting in the water

I veered off towards the woodland walk but went through the children's log walk

love how this looks like the hide of a dinosaur or something

in the crook of one log was this funghi

you come back out at the top of the woodland walk 

the bluebells have just about all gone,

but there is lots of this...

and these... not sure if they are forget-me-not, or not   but they are very pretty

and buttercups

and dandelions.  

it had ticked past 10 so the glasshouses were now open.

I was closes to the Temperate House

this looks like the shape of a bird of paradise, but isn't, it's in the stem of a big palm-type thing and I am not sure I believe the photograph I took of the label nearby, so will check again next time

it's fascinating though

this IS a bird of paradise though!

they've brought out the big pots of passionflower

strangely coloured iris 

I love the tree ferns as I said last week

you have to peek over barriers to see things you can't get close to....

walking through the final section of the Temperate House

then, off to the gallery for the Naturally Brilliant Colour exhibition

but I only took one photograph this week 

of some cyanotype prints

the bed of tulips nearest the Victoria gate are still in full flower, they have more shade here so presumably last longer

it was time for coffee and cake, outside, in the warm,  for the first time in ages

it was meant to be apple crumble muffin, but was a gluten free one and didn't really taste of much.  the coffee was ok though and it was lovely ti sit and enjoy the view of the Palm House

I had been carrying my jacket for some time - summer's here!  

then it was into the Waterlily House (I skipped the Palm House as there was a long queue)

these are inside the main door in the inbetween bit

there were several large flowers in waterlily pond

and these around the edge

pitcher plant in a hanging basket at the side of the lily pond

on my way across the grass to the Princess of Wales glasshouse I noticed this clump of funghi in the grass at the foot of a tree

gorgeous californian poppies outside the POW

no sign of the water dragons (the greenery has been pruned so it could be they are hiding )

I like the water crashing off these rocks though

and past these ferny things 

then through the two orchid rooms we can visit

these were above my head, I nearly missed them 

geum

I can't fight blogger any more,  this is meant to be before the geums

tiny aquilegia in the alpine house

back on the Broad walk., picking up where I left off before

white alliums

bee action

formal box bedding out side Kew Palace

finally I remembered to check the laburnum arch-  have missed the very best of it

but parts of it were still dripping in flowers

there was a gorgeous double peony

and some more of the tulips in the middle of low hedging

I also remembered to go and see the ceanothus

I absolutely adore this, if I had a garden with a big wall I could cover I'd love one

then time to cut back through on my way home

iris outside the side of the Orangery 

and this beautiful deep purple/black one

past the Hive 

and a huge gingko (maidenhair )

I had a 2 minute rest on my way back up the Broad Walk 

such pretty tulips

looking cross at the euphorbia/alliums across the Walk

and some final bee action

thanks for looking! 

let's do it again next week