Kew - the almost birthday edition

 After a night of little sleep (no idea why) I headed off for Kew as usual

after last week the first beds have now been planted and things are growing fast

I headed round by the fountain first as the sun was out

I tried to get the spray in the sphere but it's too small to really see (I couldn't use the zoom lens, it won't focus that closely)

there was one that would have been really good if the camera would have taken the photo! 

I promptly forgot to use the sphere for the rest of the visit

then I went partway along the Broadwalk

where I found some raindrops on the lilies

it was sunnier than the forecast had suggested but luckily not hot

the light on the fading euphorbia was gorgeous

and the verbascum

there were loads of bees and hoverflies on these, this one flew into shot as I clicked the shutter!

when I went round to the wildflower bed, I was sad to see a lot of the poppies are now fading but the yellow daisylike flowers at the end of the bed were lovely

plenty of borage too

in the next section of the evolution garden 

the beds in the veg garden - I didn't enter although the gate wasn't locked

none of the pinky purple poppies left here now, 

and only the pinky delphiniums left, the blue ones seem to have mostly finished and knocked semi-flat 

back to check the eryngiums 

managed to get the bee before it flew away

further along the path,  

having said last week these last ages, they don't look like they will this year!

but I love the low shot angle I got here

these roses on the top of the pergola looked amazing against the blue sky

towards the end of the EG near the (now finished) peonies

these verbascum were covered in bees

walking along the top path of the rock garden

day lilies in the Duke's Garden

only one red one out, but loads in but

crossing the Broad Walk again,  stopped for the alliums

I headed to the lake

I then headed down a different path to normal alongside the lake 

through this huge weeping beech (there's another one round near the Princess of Wales glasshouse)

this one gets more sun

I couldn't get it all in the photo!

I went to have a play with the mirrors again at the Breach installation

I know we're meant to be thinking about food and food sustainability, but they are such fun!!

I then walked through the Mediterranean garden

both pink and white cistus were in flower

before getting back to the Palm House

and a closer look at the new planting in these beds

before walking up towards the Pavilion cafe where I was meeting Kim and Lynda for my pre-birthday cake and coffee

took some shots of Matt and Helen with the standard zoom today rather than close ups and from the other side for a change

the cafe is just further along from the Temperate House

we met at 10 as they opened and took our food outside 

(Lynda, left, Kim right)

I'd hoped they would have a large cake to  have slices of, but apparently they don't serve them now till 3pm

they did give me a candle though !

Kim took some of me taking pictures of the cakes  

this is a really bad one of me but what the heck! 

oops, mid- mouthful

we did light the candle but it blew out before I could blow it out!

sadly I had to destroy the pattern to stir in my sugar!

whilst we sat chatting it rained, very briefly!

there were lots of jackdaws about

once we'd finished and went our own ways, 

I headed for the Temperate House first as it was closest

there will be lots of passionflowers out soon

the big tubs of ox-eye daisies have been dead-headed and revuenated

of course blogger has now reversed some photos

halfway up the stairs

silver daisy bush

from the ground

from the walkway

back on the ground,   can't remember what these ones are (not the yellow ones in the photo above though)

I forget from one year to the next what this is

trumpet vine

I love the shapes of the stems of the  ferns

golden lotus banana

as I walked back up towards the rose garden I saw this tree covered in hips/berries.

couldn't get near the trunk to find a label

lots of roses of course although loads with leaves shed

outside the waterlily house on the window ledge, they've cut a flower in half 

amazing to see all the layers

a I entered a couple asked me to take their photo - was I any good at pushing buttons!!  

walking round the pond

then it was over to the Princess of Wales conservatory

where the edges of the waterlilies are red (different varieties)

on the upper level 

then down to see the titan arum

it had flowered in the week, earlier than they expected - it was the smallest one ever to flower apparently

they always seem to cut the base after flowering so you can see inside

the growth chart still there to see 

I'd seen on FB that it had flowered already

then through the orchid rooms

as I made my way out, I passed a tub with a passionflower about to burst into bloom - one out so far 

then outside to check the alpine house

these have flowered again, whatever they are!

waked through the rock garden on my way out

round the back of the pond

there is lots of yellow everywhere today

the gunnera is way over head height

that's it for today,

thanks for looking

I had a bit of a nightmare journey home - buses due to the train strike, not normally too much of a problem, and I managed to get across the road to catch a bus before it pulled off....

no sooner had  I got on (standing room only as usual at lunchtime)  the driver announced the bus was terminating at Richmond (halfway back to where I need to change bus) - not a problem, more than one bus goes toKingston from there.... sadly the one I got that came straight away, took a very circuitous route back to Kingston.   I found myself coming into Kingston from the direction I'd normally approach it in the morning... but saw I was on the route of the 2nd bus I needed to get home, so leapt off

the bus came quickly but when we got 1/2 way back to Sutton the driver announced he was having to detour due to a bad accident.... anyhow eventually got home and have finally finished writing this post!!

It's time for dinner now (early, as I am hungry, not eaten since that small cake at 10 am!! )

Hopefully next week won't be quite so eventful - and at least it was on the way home!