Kew

 It was a bit warmer today than last week, luckily

and the sky was partly blue...

the goose creche was out!  

as we approached the youngsters all stood up

and headed off down the path

there were a couple of much smaller ones at the back

the new palm house bedding is filling out

round bed at the top of the Broad Walk

it's going to be one of those blogger days with photos out of order... 

however, along the Broad Walk 

the lilies in amongst the euphorbia are nearly out

allium seedheads in the sun

little groups of poppies

and big daisies

the alliums towards the end of the Broad Walk starting to go over now

we headed past the monkey puzzle tree

round by the outdoor waterlily pond is a huge gum tree, love the bark

and the way it peels

corner pond by the waterlily pond

climber on one of the buildings

wildflowers  - the cornflowers are starting to come through,

but lots of red and white !

the roses on the pergola through the evolution garden

into the evolution garden  - poppy time!

these deep red ones were HUGE

there were lots of bees but they kept flying out of the poppies as I tried to catch them in shot

intersection on the pergola, full of roses

hydrangea

one of my favourite summer flowers, the eryngium - sea holly - is flowering

sedums growing - no flowers yet, but glowing in the sun

then through into the rock garden for the daisies Kim and I both love

Kim got me in action again

then heading under the little tunnel (between levels of the rockgarden)

this bee was asleep

into the alpine house which had been opened early after someone watered the plants

sempervivium flowering

there was a big pot with lillies in

looking through the door to the rock garden

outside the alpine house

we walked back through the rock garden on a different path

tub behind a hedge that runs round the Palm House

the Marc Quinn sculpture in the rose garden

as you see it was going a bit cloudy

crossing the lake  - as we'd walked round the right hand side we could see the swans on the other bank so 

went round to check the cygnets -  5 of them (I thought there were meant to be 6, but definitely only 5)

mum

they came to see us

Dad was having a rest

and a preen

Mum stood up

had a stretch

I was too close to get her all in with this lens!

we had a few minutes before the cafe would open so we went to the Japanese garden to see the sculpture again

the red azaleas in the gravel garden have finished now so it nestles in green 

pagoda

we waited at the cafe for them to open 

tea and croissant - dead on 10,  for breakfast

sporting a re-done red this week!

this one Kim took through her sunglasses to deepen the colour!

we headed to the Temperate House and I took a few photos of the sculptures from a distance.

great reflections

then into the temperate house.... out of order!!

this is by the main door

round the back of one of the beds

the bird of paradise are still going strong

I was trying to lean through a plant in front of the bird of paradise above, and noticed this web

in one o the octagons where the bronze Marc Quinn sculptures are, I saw this big bowl of bonsai, I couldn't get it all in 

the sign said it was about 25 years old

one of the other sculptures in the main TH space

we headed out and over to the Mediterranean garden

echium 

rose outside the waterlily house

some more lotus flowers in the waterlily house

waterlily

this is such a pretty colour

great reflections

on our way across the grass to the POW the sun was shining on the fountain which was now on

cactus in the POW

this one was through glass as it's in a special case with some others

into the rainforest section

the jade vine is flowering again 

we went down the side of the pond 

to go through to see "stinky" the titan arum

we knew from Facebook that we'd missed the one that was opening last week 

but they have another on the way -  I bet we miss this one too

this is what's left of the previous one

typical!

a couple of orchids

then out to the exit,

passionflower

outside again,   the giant kardoon are growing in the end of the rock garden

on the wall at the end of the salvia border 

heading back to the exit now

of course the sun had gone now I was close 

thanks for looking - the rain held off although as we left there were some ominous clouds and I was listening to the radio on the train home and it did rain at nearby Twickenham so Kew may also have got some

See you next week!