Kew- a Sunday visit

 Not Sunday by choice, the weather yesterday meant Kew was forced to stay closed (strong winds)  although it wasn't announced until I had made the journey... So I went today instead.

it was still breezy, but at least the wind wasn't going to be gusting at 40 mph today

for the first time in ages the fountain was on 

then back to the bed at the top of the Broad Walk 

base bedding under the yellow flowers 

then down the Broad Walk 

oh good, blogger is reversing the photos.

love the blue of agapanthas

there were loads of bees 

and some signs of damage from the winds yesterday -  we didn't see huge damage, but there were quite a lot of small branches and twigs and lots of leaves

towards the far end of the Broad Walk in the new  beds they've created to extend the Broad Walk, the plants are developing.

these pretty white agapanthas have delicate pinky mauve tips to the petals 

the white raised area Kim has just stood up from is a timeline showing dates from Kew's history.  

in the area opposite the Orangery is a huge tree covered in flowers.

we went to investigate.

it was covered in bees 

from the phone 

Alpine house from the end of the grass garden

lotus flower in a pot alongside the outdoor waterlily pond

grasses at the end of the science block blowing in the wind

the gates to the student plots were open so we went in

beautiful calendula

and sunflowers 

still some cornflowers in here 

this was such a pretty sunflower

lovely colour combination

looking across the beds from the corner

the bees were loving the borage too

in the evolution garden, another look at the "splattered" flowers 

the wind was catching the petals as I took this

Kim was taking pics of me too...

blogger is doing my head in...

I took one on the phone and turned it into a black and white. 

back to these... 

most of the roses are finished along the pergola

the large patch of agapanthas in the evolution garden are gorgeous

clematis in the rock garden 

doors to the alpine house were open 

rock garden from the top path 

we headed back to the pond and the cafe

I've missed the fountain! 

doughnut today!  nice healthy breakfast!

then back past the Palm House beds towards the lake

the family of swans was on the other side of the lake

young coot bobbing in the water for something, love the water drops on his back

the swans headed towards the lake crossing so we could get a closer look... they are really growing, and starting to lose their soft fluffy down

the lift at the treetop walkway was  blocked off, I guess they didn't want anyone using it in the windy conditions although we could have gone up the stairs.

we gave it a miss

temperate house annex

main temperate house

the flower is overhanging the path now so it is roped off, theymust think it is close to collapsing totally

this is where it will break from, we reckon 

some more from Kim

we headed back outside and back towards the other glasshouses

didn't go in the palm house

but into the waterlily house which was very busy

fountain still on!

bank outside the POW

we'll miss these opening by next week 

through glass so not the best 

still love the shapes and patterns of the lily pads

filling the space

in the doorway

and then it was back up the Broad Walk to the exit and home in time for the Wimbledon final (which I am watching as I do this!)

thanks for looking,

see you next week.