Kew, the final 9am opening

 Members have been able to get in at 9 on October weekends, next week is back to the 10 o'clock for all...

Luckily today it was dry waiting. 

even a little blue sky! 

great reflections, too 

winter bedding is, bedding in! 

heading down the Broad Walk,  some of the shrubs have been cleared for the end of the summer,

lots of overnight rain,  so plenty of raindrops

I headed round by the hive rather than going to the end of the Broad Walk today

I went to have  a look at the water feature hidden in the secluded garden 

the water was turned off,

but the leaves made a great backdrop

outside the princess of wales conservatory

looking down the rock garden

the alpine house was open,

I saw these a couple of weeks ago,

but this time there was a sign up about them

really odd!

flower on a house leek

outside, in the rock garden

the acer at the entrance to the evolution garden

stunning colours!

on the right hand side as you go through to the EG   a large drift of nerines

pumpkins on display in the veg garden

the mushroom bed has been replenished, hopefully they'll keep the badgers out this time

these are shittake 

I couldn't see any others on the other stumps that have been laid out, I'll keep an eye on them

vines along the border of the veg garden ( under the sunflowers, which are finished now)

the side path through to the rock garden and the acer from earlier

then off to the physalis patch

the leaves are looking a bit bedraggled from all the rain, 

but there were plenty of fruits/flowers left 

not much left in my favourite beds, 

but some interesting seed heads

beautiful leaves everywhere

berberis

headed round past the entrance again and towards the tree colour....

I'd taken this on the phone standing waiting to get in,  through the gates... ever keen to get in

view from the entrance gate (inside)

the beautiful colours  - stronger than last week 

blogger has swapped order, but perhaps it doesn't matter this time, as it gives you a view of the big tree at the end of the path

back to the tree by the temple

I'd used the bench in front of the temple to put my bag on to change lenses

before heading off along the path

and again, it's reversing the order...

no scuffling today, the leaves were too wet under the trees

I went into the Temperate House

it's the last weekend of the Queer Nature event

had the wider zoom lens on for some overall angles

lots of messages have been pinned all round the lower level 

from the doorway back into the octogon

the platform was available today, (it's been closed for maintenance)

I knew the hanging in the centre would be amazing from up high

I walked all the way round taking lots of pictures to get all the sides

it was nice and bright too from outside

mostly I kept the zoom on 

although I did pause and swap at one stage  

from the platform and closer up the colours are so vibrant

going down the stairs again

and a last look from the ground level 

the next octogon

colour outside! 

back to the door from cherry walk

I turned along the path to the Pavilion restaurant

sun was lovely and bright and making the leaves glow

trees to the left 

vines

I walked round the outside first checking the berries out

before ordering a hot chocolate

which I sat outside in the sun and enjoyed

(had to take my coat off!)

no cake today, you notice!

the headed toward the Japanese garden,

as there are lots of beautiful trees on the way

fatsia japonica in the sun

liquidamber tree turning red

it was so bright I wished I'd brought my sunglasses

Japanese garden

I decided to head for the lake, rather than back towards the gallery (which I didn't get back to in the end)

the Pagoda through trees

rowan berries

down cedar vista towards the lake

bit muddy underfoot

what the heck! bit late in the year for rhododendrons

round the side of the little pond halfway to the lake 

this is always a cracker, just starting to turn colour

maidenhair tree in the sun

the pond

at the far end of the lake

towards the crossing.

large groups of young people taking part in the half term "we're going on a bear hunt"   not put off by heavy rain this week

I didn't check what they were doing

lots of gulls on the lake - someone was feeding them!

tried to get them in mid flight but it's a bit over exposed 

cut across towards the Palm House, 

pausing for these beauties

oh-oh clouds...

lots of wet leaves underfoot

walking round the rose garden,

these are the Yoshino cherry trees that look so spectacular in spring 

the top of this holly bush - it's really tall - was covered in berries.

some of them have hardly any.

at this point, it suddenly started to pour with rain...

I made a dash for the waterlily house (about 20 metres away)

lots of others had had the same idea..

the waterlily house will be closing for winter in a week,

they've already emptied the flower beds outside since last week

misting up problem!

back outside past the beauty on the corner of the Broad Walk again

then round to the Princess of Wales glasshouse

just one little cactus flower trying!

pink bananas (out of order, can't be bothered to fix it)

upper level,  was pleased to see this flowering again

there were a few orchids in the cool orchid room, and the artist was back painting in front of the display cabinet again

in the doorway exit

outside  again, alpine house now surrounded by grey sky

heading round past the monkey puzzle tree on my way to the loo and then home 

for once, the journey home  was quick, trains on time so I caught the connection and including the walk to the station from Kew, it took an hour and ten minutes (often takes twice that)

Thanks for looking, see you again next Saturday - we all get a lie in, can't get in till 10 and I can't guarantee I'll be first in line!!