Kew on a Bank Holiday Saturday

 The seasons, as they do, are steadily turning and it was distinctly chilly at the gate waiting for opening today, despite the sun doing it's best to break through the cloud.  Time to look out a jacket soon!  

as you can see, the sun failed !  

I headed past the Moorlands Plantscapes at the side of the pond 

they're only here for another 3 weeks 

then round to the Evolution Garden

I just love these drifts - I may have mentioned!  

sedums..  must be nearly autumn then 

still loving the dahlia - can't see the name of the variety so will keep calling it raspberry ripple, lol.  

the little tagetes companion planting by the tomatoes that are no more (see last week)

were glinting in a rare moment of sun

the pumpkins and squashes in the veg beds are growing well

in the Dukes garden 

achillea 

couldn't see the label on the tree, but it's always pretty 

took some pics on the phone up through the viewing holes in the Plantscapes (Meadows and Marshes )  by the Princess of Wales conservatory

then went up to the Hive

The Broad Walk from the path at the top of the Hive  

back down on the ground level, corner of the Broad Walk

lots of the agapanthas have collapsed and were lying on the path

walking back up towards the Palm House end of the Broad Walk 

Plantscapes Woodlands  behind the Rose Garden

standing under a viewing hole 

then across the grass towards the lake..

yep, definitely autumnal!

the bridge from the bottom of the lake

the green parakeets were flying all over the place, obviously just waking from their sleep in the trees....

I wanted to get some photos, but they move very fast!

as I got to the bridge, there were several sat on a shrub 

but I got too close and they all flew off, too fast for me to capture then

so I settled on some tree reflections as I walked round the rest of the lake!

one of the giant redwoods by the side of the lake

moorhen

walking back towards the Temperate House

holly berries

one of the cherry trees by the Temperate house still has a patch of poppies

the big patch of mushrooms from last week under the big tree near here had completely gone.

I went to sit on the "please be seated" for ten minutes or so till the Temperate House doors opened

I went in a side door next to the "front" door  

ginger

and wandered round paths and corners

these are the stems of ferns

through one of the portholes of the supports

the sun shone briefly!

perlagonium leaves 

I went back to the ferns where new fronds are unfurling 

(someone came and got in the way before!)

then headed off back towards the Palm House for some cake!

hot chocolate as despite a bit of sun, it wasn't exactly warm, and hummingbird cake.

huge hibiscus outside the end doors to the Palm House

had the age old misting problem this week as the contrast in outdoor and indoor temperatures was too high

giant bamboo

a leaf peeling off curls interestingly!

phone gets it better!  

outside the waterlily house a big leaf was on the path - not sure if it's the same one as last week, or if it  would be a different one

one of the orange passionflowers in the corner of the waterlily house,  by the hanging basket of cactus 

back out by the pond 

red maple outside the Princess of Wales 

on my way through the first section,

some flowers on the large cactus by the window

I leant in closer with the camera to get the sun shining through the petals 

hanging over the pond,  this reminds me of  the pelican flower in the water lily house but I think it's just the patterning  

enjoyed the reflections of the yellow flowers in the water 

walking up the steps by the side of the pond

they leave the arches in place all year, in February they are covered in orchids for the festival

at present they are covered in what I think are small passionflowers. mostly leaves though, couldn't see many blooms only these

it's amazing how many people brush past them without seeing

it was a lot busier in there today (bank holiday weekend bringing out the crowds)  so I had to keep getting in people's way to take pictures

the tree that the Chinese Water Dragon sometime sits on the the branches of,  is flowering

still no sign of the water dragons, or staff to ask about them!

they must have watered earlier today (or maybe I was later getting to these) as there are fewer water drips on the orchids today

stag's head fern 

in the alpine house

then I walked through the rock garden and came across this, part of this shrub covered is some kind of webby stuff

I didn't look too closely for what may have made it!

as I went past the red maple again I got a close up of the pattern on the leaves

back on the Broad Walk 

the little alliums - didn't notice the onion fragrance this week 

as I headed for the exit the sun started to come out

I love the umbel family - so pretty

I closed in on the inset I spotted...

but didn't realise I had caught it with wings up till I downloaded the photo

the bed at the exit  

as I sat waiting for my train at the station it started spitting and spotting with rain,  not much and had stopped by the time I got home 

thanks for looking