Back to Kew

 so I had to miss Kew last week as I caught Covid - suppose it was inevitable . But, all clear and back to normal this week so off I went.

so good to be back!  

those middle beds are so gorgeous

it was time to catch up with my favourite views

and heading down the Broad Walk

the watering system was on, before it got too hot 

some things have suffered in the heat wave the previous week worse than others, 

and blogger too, still putting photos out of order (as I walked anyway

the agapanthus down the Broad Walk were good though

and it was good to capture some water drops

these normally last much better  but they still look good going to seed

as I walked round past the hive, a fox ran across the path in front of me 

I headed to the evolution garden next and as I came past the student vegetable beds, the gates were open 

I was drawn to these fabulous beautiful sunflowers

the sun through the petals, just fantastic

an even darker one

this one is out of order again,  the sunflowers along the new vegetable garden (as opposed to the student beds)

ok, back to student beds.

in the plot in the corner I saw that one of the students had managed to save some of the monkeys from the orchid display and put them on a frame

with some huge yellow sunflowers

I got them better on my phone 

walking through  the evolution garden 

the echinacea don't seem to have grown as tall this year, but they are still fabulous

most of the asters have survived ok

and the solidago

back at the Palm House

round past the roses

and through the rose garden - lots are setting hips already,   that's early, guess autumn will be early this year!

still some good roses though

I headed for the lake, past the Breach

the veg in the first half are growing well

and of course had to play

I managed to zoom on the phone to get some funky shapes in the mirrors 

moorhen in the little pond half way up the walk from the big lake to the Pagoda

as I headed further up the path from here, I was surprised to see a small deer running across in front of me, but it was too far ahead to get a photo

the hydrangeas are looking ok

walking back down past the Temperate House I had to catch up with the trolls Matt and Helen 

I missed my haircut whilst I was home isolating!  

I had arranged to meet Kim for coffee and cake at 10 at the Pavilion cafe and as it happened bumped into her at the trolls, so we headed there early for some shade under the vines

until the cafe opened

Lynda couldn't join us this week as she was heading home early

but Kim and I enjoyed a good natter and I had a lovely slice of blueberry sponge.

never too early for cake in my world!  

after we'd finished we both headed into the Temperate House

one of the big leaves had fallen from this plant

snapped from the stem,

I expect someone will have come to remove it before long

beautiful patterns in the coleus

there was a huge tub of these in one of the octagons, they are the ones that are in the long beds outside the Palm House, it's good to be able to see them up close

loved the curly tendrils on the bottom of the angels trumpet

we both loved the dark red underside to these leaves

I'd been blathering on about the silver daisy bush to Kim over the weeks,  

sadly it's past it's best now but I still love it

more coleus 

loed the pattern on this pitcher plant

when we go to the Waterlily house we went our separate ways

I walked the other way round the waterlily pond this week, this is at the far side in the border round the edge

then I went to the Princess of Wales conservatory 

this huge cactus had 3 massive flowers out and several others coming/going, not sure which!

I couldn't see in the sun on the screen of the camera if I'd got decent close ups 

so took one on the phone to make sure

there were some huge leaves growing on the new waterlily species in the pond

upper level,  I noticed glimpses of red under a plant

I'm not sure what it is,  and managed to focus on the surrounding plant not the red "flower" on this shot

another pelican flower in here,  at different stages to the ones in the waterlily house

passionflower

grevillea

quick walk through the alpine house,  not a huge amount that stopped me in my tracks apart from the eucomis in the doorway

just  outside is the waterlily pond that I rarely look at...

into the Duke's garden

some little fruits on something

drifts of achillea

most of the daylilies have finished and the golden ones have been dug out

after grabbing a drink of water before leaving I stopped at the end of the Broad Walk 

and then the round bed at the corner of the Broad Walk and the path to the exit

never noticed flowers on this silver leaved plant before.

Thanks for looking - I missed Kew last week and it was so good to be back!