Kew - farewell to Zadock Ben-David

 This weekend sees the end of the Zadock Ben-David exhibition after an extended run so I was determined not to miss a final viewing

It was cold and dull to start with but did unexpectedly improve..

and there were glimpses of blue already as I got inside

the tulips are looking good

in the circular beds

I decided to go to the Waterlily house first, 

ducking under the blossom laden branches

the gorgeous tulips outside the waterlily house are starting to fade in colour, truly blushing now

there was nobody else in there - it was only just after 10 -  took a picture from the doorway, bit high up with the lens, all you can see is the pipework that heats the house!  

even though it's only been re-opened 2 or 3 weeks the flowers are out already

and the leaves in the middle are growing well

another look at the pale tulips outside

more tulips in the bed at the end of the Broad Walk, just beautiful

a little bit of sun on the fountain spray

into the Princess of Wales conservatory -  past the cacti

a lot of the flowers on the Jade Vine have fallen, but some remain 

up to the upper level  

the lower pond is now empty for maintenance it looks totally different!

I seem to have forgotten to photograph the titan itself,  but it is at the leaf stage on the display board!

so it could be a while before we see the flower! 

I found this really interesting 

in the orchid room there was a girl with a big hosepipe dousing everything so I had to be careful!

on my way out I paused at the grevillia

and remembered to go visit the pasque flowers along the top path of the rock garden

just as well, 

they are largely gone to seed (I do love this stage too)

that's a low railing not a pipe by the way

some still flowering 

then I doubled back to the alpine house

the alliums are looking good although the shading on the alpine house was down so my camera got confused with it's settings

and the scillia are gorgeous

I couldn't see a name on these, but they're obviously some kind of succulent

they look like cabbages though!

these were really pretty, but I forgot to photograph the label

they're building the veg beds, rather than just digging them they're making wooden borders 

walking through the evolution garden

the canassia were looking great

and I found some more pasque flowers 

blogger has reversed this next batch   

the statue is still holding his plants

peonies are flowering 

several varieties of euphorbia,  loved this one 

a bright pink peony

rhododendron

next it was to the gallery

I timed it quote well because although there were quite a few people in, by the time I came out they were holding them back waiting to enter to avoid crowding

I decided to leave the wider angle on mostly for the scale of the flowers

from the side as you walk past from the black side to the painted side

the second perspex display case 

couple of close ups

the "tree" outside

bluebells

then I went over to Cherry Walk to see the tulips

it was dry enough to get low down on the grass 

it had gone a bit dull (but don't despair!)

eventually I went inside the Temperate House

the silver daisy bush is past it's best 

but will still delight me for a while

I took a pic of the ferns on my phone 

as I came to the far side of the upper walkway I noticed some flowers at the top of this shrub

the bird of paradise flowers grabbed me again 

I was interested to see the part of the purple flower that looked like lettering last week  was bursting open

then it was round the Treetop Walkway towards the lake

lots of bluebells and wildflowers 

then round to rhododendron dell 

the wind kept blowing

smaller low growing varieties

then along the path at the far side of the gardens, the naturalised camassia

they look fabulous with the white that I always want to call cow parsley but I don't know if it is 

that white bush from last week

I rummaged to see if I culd fina label, but nothing

then it was along to the bluebells in the woodland walk 

walking through it from the direction I favour - much prefer it from this direction!

there was even some sun to brighten things up

blogger has reversed this next batch too

the prunus at the Japanese Garden finally in flower

on the way there I stopped at a massive tree 

stunning!

it really spreads!

ok, as we were at the Japanese garden

fatsia

more blossom

stripy tulips

ceanothus (also known as american lilac although totally unlike our lilac)

one of my favourite blue flowers

walking past the gallery again 

and across the grass past the Temperate House

it was warmer know and I had shed my coat and the sun was out, so I headed back to the tulips 

where I photographed them from the other end of the walk (halfway at this point)

where once again I laid down on the grass 

I could have stayed there for hours

love this one!  

back at the pond before I left, as the sun was out now.....

the final tulip circular bed 

at the top of the path towards the exit at the Elizabeth gate

but I knew there were some more ceanothus the other side of the path towards the exit

could only see one flowering so far, the others must be slightly later

thanks for looking!  

next week is the last of the 10am starts as after that I'll be getting up before dawn to get in for 8.... can't wait  - but a lie in next week!