Kew - hot again

There are only a couple of 8am member openings left

it was beautiful first thing - as I came through Richmond on the bus it was quite misty by the river

so we headed round by the rose garden towards the lake first

it wasn't misty though

but all 4 cygnets were on the side of the lake with one of the adults (out of shot) -the other was in the water

they've been creating a new path along the lake and since I was last here it's been finished

it was very peaceful 

the cygnets are losing their grey juvenile feathers and testing out their wing power

they look so soft... but no touching!

mum (or dad)  

then they decided to go for a swim

we went across the lake,  great reflections

a lady said she'd been watching cormorants on the trees on the island by the crossing but we couldn't see them

we went round the side of the lake and along the path

we headed towards the small pond halfway along Cedar Vista

passing long shadows 

the light through the trees was really lovely 

we headed towards the Redwood glade 

someone had laid out some cones on a tree stump

sun on the redwood trunk

as we had hoped, there were shafts of sunlight streaming through the gaps in the trees

 

then we went to the Japanese garden

Kim playing the shadow game

Pagoda

beyond the Pagoda towards the further edge of Kew is a Chinese garden, mainly named for explorers who brought plants back from China rather than a Chinese landscape

this is the hip of a Moyes Rose) (we've made a mental note to come and find the flowers next year... like we'll remember!!) 

the seeds were collected in Tibet

heading back through the arboretum by the Pavilion cafe (way too early to be open)

another view of the pagoda

we walked round the side of the Pavilion cafe

these white flowers are a  lot less prominent than on Monday!

and these fluffy pink flowers on the tree nearby also.

amazing how fast things change

autumn is coming to these trees!  

walking past the Temperate House as it wasn't open yet

redbud maple

beautiful sky acting as a backdrop

back towards the palm house, there are second flushes on lots of the roses in the rose garden

we bumped into a neighbour of Kim's , who works at Kew and she said that they will be started to empty these beds next week or so to get ready for the spring planting.... sad, when there is so much beauty left in them, but has to be done

then we went down the Broad Walk

they've mowed the wildflower meadow round the Hive, I noticed

the asters along the Broad Walk damp from the sprinklers that must have been on earlier

most of the helenium along the broad walk are going over but still some left round the back

and swathes of rudbeckia

gaura, in the sunshine 

the monkey puzzle was covered in spider webs but despite the sunshine it was hard to get them to show up.  you can just catch this one I think

this was higher up, shows easier

round towards the grass garden 

this patch of grass on the corner always looks great but doesn't always photograph well

when we got to the student beds, we saw that the majority of the beds have been stripped out, apart from the sunflowers at the back

gates were locked though

so this is the border along the edge of the vegetable garden

where they've harvested the pumpkins!

artichokes

the sunflowers in the sunshine

bee incoming! 

loving the sun through the petals

I was having trouble focusing the bees today

through the evolution garden

my autumn favourite

damn, blogger is reversing order 

back to the right order hopefully next 

ok,  love the light through the petals

they are so tall

crossed tothe other side of the evolution garden

sedum

into the alpine house,  sempervivium

nerine 

Princess of Wales conservatory 

we didn't spend long in here, it was too hot

close up of orchid

orchid flowers - don't think these were there earlier this week

adding this to show the main plant - it's hanging in a basket in the cool orchid room.  long spikes of flowers 

we headed through the arid section

this cactus with long dangling limbs (no idea what they are called) had one flower at the foot... hopefully it will still be there next week to get a better shot

the acer in front of the POW is definitely turning 

back to the palm house again to pause for a drink

water and coffee,  my own snacks,  was way too hot to eat cooked food and didn't fancy cake! 

after refreshing ourselves we headed back towards the Temperate House as we won't be able to get in for the next 2 weeks whilst they get the new event ready

great shadows on this palm frond on the way

in the Temperate House,

reflections through leaves

this intrigued me as bits of it looked blue and bits green

reflections in the water 

light and shade

I thought this looked like an insect on the other side (it was a flower) 

the tempranillo tree tomatoes are slowing ripening

into the davies exploration house

bottle brush

still loving the strawflowers

then we went out and along holly walk where there were drifts of colchicums in the beds

this bee was hiding from me

holly berries,  

and from there it was to the exit and home.  

thanks for looking - lots and lots today, sorry (not sorry)  

see you next week.  forecast is rain so may not be as many!