Kew - September

 Only a few more weeks of early openings, sadly.  

added to that, next week is a late start due to the half marathon run through the gardens.

no sun first thing but good reflections 

the yellow flowers  in this round bed at the end of the broad walk are fading now but the middle is still fine!

they're still pretty though

the down the Broad Walk

lots of bees

there was overnight rain and at home it had rained until 5 minutes before I had to leave for my bus.

the alchemilla mollis likes it

kardoon going to seed

Kim got up on a bench for a closer look

I stepped back for a better look

caught in action

no sign of the snail or spider on the echinacea in the back of the border today

top of the monkey puzzle tree - shame about the grey sky

now it's me caught in action

we headed round behind the grass garden

to the waterlily pond - bulrushes

the student plots were shut today

so it was sunflowers along the border of the vegetable garden

curly tendrils

I was trying to get the bee as well as the side-on version of the dark sunflower

not sure what this is on this leaf but I bet it's not doing much good... nice pattern though! 

then through the evolution garden...

would be so much better with blue sky backdrop!

blogger reversing the order I walked round lol.  asters looking stunning today

helenium, also stunning 

the tall flowers at the left edge of the evolution garden

fly

lots of bees

loving the black eyed susan

back to the asters.   

trying to get closer to the bee

I'd forgotten there was one of these in the evolution garden, am used to seeing inside the Temperate House

there were loads of bees on the sedum

the sun was trying to come out

winged spindle tree

we walked along the salvia border up the rock garden 

loads of huge bees on the salvia

the alpine house was already open to view

looking quite autumnal inside! 

then along the top path along the rock garden

view from the top path down into the lower bit of the rock garden

walking along to the palm house pond heading for breakfast (early stop today)

Kim said the sausage roll looked bigger this week....

giant hibiscus outside the Palm House as we headed off 

we walked across the grass towards the lake (eventually)

we had a quick walk round the Winter Garden -  as you'd expect not masses yet of huge interest, but it's growing nicely

the Temperate house doors were already open, a few minutes early  so we headed in before going to the lake rather than after

pretty passionflower

coleus - beautiful colours

this caught out eye - against the light from this side

not sure the walk would grace a catwalk..

looking through the door at the end

we headed out towards the Japanese garden

where trees are definitely on the turn

pretty specked flower in the japanese garden

hydrangeas

spider incoming...

finally at the lake

waterlily house

across the grass and the Broad Walk to the POW

where blogger is reversing the order again...

upper level...

lily pads from the steps up to the upper level

tiny passionflowers in the tropical section

cacti section 

orchid room.

the lady who was there painting a couple of weeks ago, was there again today

pine cone outside the POW  

we walked round to the student plots before we left but they were still locked, so no more sunflowers!

thanks for looking .

not sure about next week, hate the 11 am entry after the fun run, it makes it so late to start a visit and makes the journey home even worse ....but probably see you next week!