Kew

 I can't think of a witty title this week!  It was dull and cool after a week with a few days really hot and some heavy rain....

No rain was forecast today but there were spits in the air as we entered at 8

(it didn't come to much) 

I took a quick walk down the Broad Walk

raindrops on alliums 

but decided to head to the Evolution Garden

passing the weeping beech

I'd been talking tomy friend at the gate, we knew that the rain of the last couple of days would have done for the peonies and the poppies

we were right!

but there was plenty of colour

love these daisy-like flowers 

more evidence of rain damage!

poor delphiniums!

and to the roses along the pergola too

love this mauvey rose, I didn't notice it last week

the wild bed I loved last week was still looking good, 

and this week there were cornflowers too,  I love the bright blue

the alpine house behind the wall to the rock garden, 

got a close up on the phone 

the waterfall in the rock garden

the doors to the alpine house were open and there was a Kew man there, so I asked him what had been happening last week - he said it was being used for filming ; but I don't know what!  

there were some bees that seemed to be stuck on these purple flowers,  I think it was too cold for them to move!

waking through the Duke's garden

pleased to see the eryingium out  (sea holly)

and some on the Broad Walk too as I headed back that way

went round the back of the pond 

there was enough brightness to shine through the gunnera leaves,

which are now head height

I headed along the path towards the Temperate House,

past the Sand dunes Plantscape

the Please Be Seated was still too wet to sit on today...

so I headed straight  round the outside of the Temperate House (not open yet)  where some poppies were growing in the grass at the top of the slope,  with the TH making a nice backdrop

at the lake I swapped to the wider angle lens for some reflections

I do like the swirly shape of the crossing

there really was a gaggle of geese at the lake side today, I know Elizabeth thinks it funny I photograph them so often 

more ox eye daisies further along the lake

as I neared the top of the lake I could see the heron on it's regular spot,

round the bend there was a break in the greenery which allowed me to get a closer shot

smoke bush

back along the path, into the Temperate House

just inside the door stopped to look at the agapanthas

I really liked the colours and shapes on part of the Bird of Paradise 

in the next smaller part of the TH now, I got obsessed by the passionflowers

and spent ages crouching and sitting and trying to get close ups 

which blogger has decided to add out of order and I can't be bothered to move them all!

some of them were facing up and some down (hence the sitting on the floor)  

I really hope when the once again delayed relaxing of Covid restrictions happen, we can have free reign in the glasshouses and walk the paths we want to!

till then, it's peering over barriers!

large ferns unfurling 

smaller ferns overhanging the path

I couldn't read the boards behind the corn to see exactly why it's growing in the Temperate House that amused Elizabeth last time,  but it is something to do with alternative fuel sources I think

there were even more poppies in the long (but largely rain flattened) grass in the path the other side of the Temperate House as I came out

I headed back towards the cafe

I spent a while trying to catch the raindrops on the cistus

spiky thistle

headed across the grass at the end of the Palm House to get refreshments

which I ate on the curvy WWI memorial bench overlooking the pond

another cookie this week, but hot chocolate today!  anyone would think it was winter! 

then it was into the waterlily house

this huge lotus flower inside the front door caught my eye 

it was cooler outside today so had the misting problem with the lens, and even the cloth didn't help much

waterlily emerging from the pond

my Mum always had these as houseplants but they didn't have such warm/humid environments to live in.   Not sure what the Latin name is,the common name is shrimp plant

I love them, soft and fluffy!

into the Princess of Wales now

ferns unfurling here too

my fave!

outside in the Marshes and Meadows plantscape,

I crawled under to poke my heasd through one of the viewing holes - couldn't get a good pic as the flowers were too close to me really

great fun though

beautiful pink rose

I've lost track of where I am now!  

back on the Broad Walk

the alliums at the end nearest the pond are gone over, 

but the other end there are some giant stuneners

and blogger has added them in reverse order

again!!

I took lots, I can't resist 

they are so beautiful though

it was nearly time to head for my train (yes, train) home,  so I went to the loo and on the way back to the exit  is a huge peony shrub,  totally flattened from the rain,  I lifted up this huge flower from the path - what a beauty!!  

and some more giant alliums

lovely bright foxglove

because I was going out of the other gate, I went past the Indian Horse Chestnuts,  they are absolutely huge and covered in flowers

I am hoping next week will be warm and sunny  (it's not forecast to be)  and that there will be good cake selection as it's my birthday and I want a treat, lol!!  

Till then, thanks for looking!