Kew

 Back to Saturday visits after the excitement of the Coronation last weekend.  The day started well, if cold (forecast was wrong)

the Palm House beds are still in the process of being replanted...you can see what a dull day it was from the colour of the sky!  

some of the beds have lavenders  planted in them

on to the round bed at the top of the Broad Walk,  the alliums are opening out nicely.  

then it was down the Broad Walk... 

and big swathes of alliums,  

wild flowers round the hill that the Hive is built on..

the big wisteria -  it doesn't seem very full of flower this year (same as last year, although it's second flush was better)

normally if you sit inside it, you can barely see out for the mass of flowers

but what there was, smelt delicious

there were lots of dandelions on the little hill next to the Princess of Wales conservatory.   and yes, I did give it a nudge to disperse the seeds....

in the little outdoor waterlily pond,  I've forgotten what this is called, common cotton something or other!  

it does look like cotton wool

in the bonsai house was a bonsai hawthorn in fading flower -  the sign said this tree is 45 years old and this is the first time it has flowered!

the gates to the student beds were locked but I peeked over... things are growing well

and my favourite wildflower bed that runs alongside the edge of the student beds are going to be fabulous before long...

camassia

flowers on a fern of some kind in the evolution garden

wisteria along the wall that borders the rock garden/evolution garden

iris

meconopsis -  a pretty yellow one

we were looking for poppies are there are some coming into flower near my home, but not here so far 

spent peony - even after the petals they look good

gorgeous colours

huge peony as we went round the corner to the border along the rock garden - just love the deep pink middle

viburnum on the wall

the flowers were huge and covered the wall.  

Kim sent me a photo via twitter  - more of that later -  the hood of my hoodie is up because it was still so cold!

as we got to the end of the rock garden we saw the alpine house doors were open (they'd been shut when we passed from the other end earlier and someone was inside watering.

love the yellow stamen on the flowers 

acquilegia 

had to go and check the seedheads of the pasqueflowers on the upper path of the rock garden - they did not disappoint

looking across the rock garden

bit blurry, but lots of bugs on the peony!

at the pond, the fountain settings were higher today

gunnera, growing daily

at this point we went to the loo.   This turned out to be a disaster... my phone was in my back pocket.  Never ever do I do that... I forgot...  and yes, it fell into the loo.... promptly stopped working (and now I am home is hopefully drying out in a bag of rice...new phone time me-thinks!)  Hence Kim having to send me photos by twitter!

phone wrapped in tissue to protect it for the rest of the day,  we headed to the lake and the mirrors...

Kim's hood was up too (but mainly because she was trying to hide from me..)

she was trying to dodge my camera...

you can just see her at the edge of one of the mirrors in the middle

she got me again !

still cold, still no sun, but some reflections

walking round the lake towards the far end

the laburnum on the lake edge

we decided to take a last look at the bluebells down the woodland walk as they are fading now.

first, wildflowers - I always want to call this cow parsley, I don't know if that's what it is...

it was deserted (still before 10 so only members in)

wild garlic still going strong

shame there was no sun on the bluebells, they look so much better

hints of pink in the middle of the white

as we got to the end of the woodland walk, and were heading back towards the cafe we saw this over to the left ...

it was a huge white rhodendron 

and behind it out of sight from the path, a pink one.  

we walked a bit further up the grass past the small pond - can you see the coot nesting in the middle?

bullrushes - I should have put the long zoom on but couldn't be bothered (I was still so cross with myself about the phone it had quite spoilt my day!) 

heading back round the other side of the lake back to the cafe 

obviously no phone, so no refreshments photo!  FYI hot chocolate and a blueberry muffin - inside, to stay warm!)  

then through the Palm House.. serious fogging issues...

pretty flowers 

curly tendrils 

at least it was warm in the Palm House

then we crossed the path to the waterlily house

this flower was huge and the pads are growing well too

couldn't fit the whole pad in the photo!

and this was such a pretty peachy pink

such gorgeous patterns and colours on the leaves 

outside, we crossed the grass to go to the Princess of Wales conservatory

couldn't resist the alliums again as we cut through the Broad Walk

entering from the arid end... still love this spike of colour

there are lots of red buds on this cactus

into the rainforest section

upper level, I loved this orange - towering above me, but the camera was throwing a wobbly and wouldn't take decent photos... hope it is still there next week 

damn,  blogger is just reversing the next lot...

back on the ground level, heading out again 

this is on the upper level after the bright green fern photo...

and this is the final one today, angel's trumpet  just inside the door 

thanks for looking and wish my phone luck,  although I think it will be a case of a new one!  Shame about all the photos on it, although I could probably download them back again from my google photos.... 

Sunday edit... new phone up and running,  getting use to it!