Kew - the last early visit

 Wasn't going to miss the last early entry at Kew - it finishes at the end of September

It was a blue skied crisp autumn morning - perfect!

the beds have started to be cleared in front of the Palm House

once more Kim and I headed the same way - we've got into a habit of doing this before having coffee (and often cake)

we started along the Broad Walk

at the end of the Broad Walk, the last of the echinacea are still pretty

but plenty are turning to seed

the alpine house in the early light

there was a great shadow of the big (cypress?) tree on the glass

pattern on the trunk of the eucalyptus tree by the waterlily pond

bullrushes round the side of the waterlily pond 

looking across the grass garden

alpine house and Princess of Wales  

the sunflowers along the border of th vegetable garden are still fabulous, although starting to droop a little

still addicted to them!

and to the hanging garden gourds!!

at the end of the veg garden were some dahlias

we made our way out of the veg garden and into the Evolution Garden and the physalis -  gorgeous skeleton!

one starting..

one nearly ready to drop it's seed

the fennel in the sun was gorgeous

Kim was photographing the echinops again 

someone has placed a loose seedhead on the label  obviously it's not an osteospermum!

they were looking great against the sky

these yew berries looked like plastic

walking through the rock garden

there are definite signs of autumn approaching fast with trees turning colour

going to really miss the early morning light after today...

the red maple, acer rubrum is really turning red now

heading back past the pond

the bed under this urn is being cleared, bet by the time I go back the urns will be empty too

have really enjoyed the parterre beds this year 

sun through the Palm House

pine cones

sap dripping from them

we could see across the grass that the mirrors installation was still there 

heading across damp grass we found mushrooms

and patches of this I've seen before and can't remember what causes it

something's been eating them!

the mirrors were covered in condensation from the cold from overnight,  it was too early for them to have been squeegeed!  

but I played anyway as they'll be removed soon

couldn't resist!

Kim got some of me

trying to do silly jumps

I made her do the same

as we walked round the side of the lake we saw two baby moorhens

mum was feeding them

they kept turning their heads as I tried to catch them

when we got to the bench where the geese get fed, the man we often see doing the same, was there,  we had a long chat with him 

and as we did the robin came and sat on the tree

gorgeous reflections on the lake

we walked a little way further round the lake and I noticed this massive spread of mushrooms behind the stems towards the lake edge

I ducked through the stems and trampled some ivy.... it's tough, it will be ok!

there were some huge ones

then we headed back to the path

via the side of the Treetop Walkway

gorgeous light still,  it was nearly 10 now

a large patch of colchicums in the sun...

the path was dry, so it was time for lying down

they were gorgeous

the Temperate House is closed whilst they install the Mexico exhibit for 1 October - we peaked through the door

shame I'll miss the first week but will be there as soon as I can!

vines by the Pavilion restaurant

had to see the beautiful berries again

as we walked back towards the cafe we saw that the railings were round Matt and Helen, ready for their onward journey... bye bye,  will miss you

yes, autumn is on the way

we sat in the sun whilst we could

double delight,  cheese and mushroom croissant, hot,  and gooey sweet delicious millionaire's shortbread

and hot chocolate. 

I had hoped that after 10 they would have increased the height of the jets on the fountain,  sadly not today

in the Princess of Wales conservatory

of course, was looking for the chinese water dragons, but perhaps like the peacocks, they are not being replaced as they die...or have been moved on after Covid - such a shame if so.   no-one to ask at the weekend

one of the flowers had been cut in half and placed on a new leaf pad  

walked through the carnivorous display

back by the pond in the POW  

Kim thought this looked like sweetcorn

it's near the jade vine but not sure it is part of it

pretty orchid as we went up the stairs tothe upper level

blogger was doing so well with the order of the photos until now...

slightly better results with these  today

loved the sun through the canna leaves outside

and a shadow of a flower on this one

the sap on the cones of this tree had dried, it looked like candlewax!

never noticed this effect before  

finished with a walk through the alpine house

this was outside by the clump of bullrushes 

as we headed back through the rock garden towards the exit I noticed this euphorbia flowering

and as we passed the red maple again at the POW  the sun was shining through the leaves

thanks so much for looking, I won't be at Kew next Saturday as I am going away with the WOYWW blog group for the crop  (see craft blog for details)   so it'll be 2 weeks before I can take you to Kew again.

plus it will be an 11am start as the postponed Kew half marathon takes place.