Kew - the last early of the season and goodbye to Marc Quinn

 The last 8am early member entry is always a sad day... but at least the sun shone!  It started cold, but did improve.

I did cheat today, this was my real opening shot, from outside the gates looking at the colours inside...

I was determined to catch the sculptures one last time (although we did miss the red one in the Japanese garden)

I had brought my ultra-wide angle lens today as the forecast was sunny, and I hoped I would get results like this.....

LOVE this view 

knowing it was the last time we'd see them, and the sky and the sun... I got a bit carried away.

and with the wide angle too

there was no sneaking round the back of this one today

it was so bright  I was having trouble seeing what I was taking... 

light through trees always thrills me

down the Broad Walk

across the grass under the trees to the Princess of Wales.. there was a touch of grass frost first thing

the shadows were gorgeous all morning

just a few of these left now at the end of the first part of the Broad Walk

we headed round toward the Hive

more light through trees!

I was chopping and changing lenses madly!  

the sky wasn't grey, it's the angle of the sun over-exposing things

salvias outside this end of the POW

grass garden illuminated in the sun

outside the alpine house

they've been harvesting in the veg garden!

they'll use these in their restaurants and usually sell some to the public

yes, light through leaves again 

evolution garden

these tumble over the path 

more asters

giant kardoons

walking back up the other side of the evolution garden we noticed these plants covered in.....???

and a robin sitting in the palm

the end of salvia border 

we noticed the alpine house doors were open...

you may remember that lovely velvety soft plant I showed some weeks ago embedded in a rock.

well now it's flowering!

we took the top path along the top of the rock garden 

loving the shadows of shrubs on the grass opposite

this is the top of one of the waterfalls - never seen this from the highest level before.  

we headed back towards the Victoria gate

pausing for Kim to throw some food to the birds...and fish!

the sky reflecting in the pond, wide angle time again. 

I got carried away again! 

as she threw some more food in, a couple more geese flew in!!

splash landing!

we finally dragged ourselves to the cafe

they had carrot cake back today, a favourite and it was delicious!

another last - last free cup of tea for members in early... always tastes nicer when it's free!

then it was time to head round the Palm House to

the rose garden sculpture.

I got carried away again here....

the ground was too muddy to do what I'd have liked and laid down...

I'll really miss playing with the reflections in these sculptures

this has been one of my favourite views in this sculpture, of the wobbly grass 

Kim took some of me too..

we headed through the rest of the rose garden towards the sculpture at the main entrance (wibbly wobbly legs time)

Kim and i had to play silly bu**ers for one last time..

Kim's version of some of them... 

a final look back..  as we headed off on our way

along camellia walk 

to the winter garden 

outside the gallery,  gorgeous colour of the leaves.

 the sculpture outside the gallery,  seems to disappear into the scenery

this is one of Kim's

you can hardly see it in the sunshine,  gorgeous

Kim managed to catch me regularly!

then across to the ones outside the Temperate House

another of my favourites. 

love the shadows..

and of course the reflections 

more of Kim's

the sun glinting off the previously shown one, through the gap in this one.

the final sculpture at the Temperate House (thank goodness you say) 

whilst we were this side of the Temperate House we nipped to the vines outside the pavilion cafe to check out the porcelain berries

I am having trouble with blogger positioning photos...

  

then we went into the temperate house

I remember these from last year, they are high up and hard to photograph....

one of the bronze sculptures 

this branch curving across the path made us laugh

reflections in the pool 

from the doorway

then of course we had to check the strawflowers 

next it was past the treetop walkway to the lake

where it was reflection-city again!

and some different angles

and the wide angle lens again

Kim feeding the birds over the crossing

looking along the crossing, at ultra wide angle setting

we headed towards the woodland walk 

we had thought it odd that the lake was largely empty of wildfowl today

then as we walked up the side of the lake we found the family of swans on the grass

Kim threw them some food  and we were immediately surrounded by pigeons

we walked through the children's log trail as we thought there might be funghi there after all the rain this week...

there wasn't as much as we thought

we stopped by the birdfeeders for a bit, but no sign of Goldie, and the great tits were moving too fast to photograph well

we headed back towards the lake passing the little pond

the trees around are starting to turn gorgeous shades, so we'll keep an eye on them

as we got to the  top of the lake, the swans had crossed the water and were now on this side!

we carried along the side of the lake

and came across a patch of autumn crocus 

waterlily house - it will be closing for the winter soon

there were a couple of huge lily pads outside 

inside

it was steamy hot so didn't stop long

before heading past the palm house

to the princess of wales 

some big lily pads here too

and some waterlilies

bottle brush

we were both pretty knackered now 

so headed down salvia border

mushrooms on our way to the exit

the fountain was on but I didn't even have the energy to pause for more photos - plus I didn't have the zoom lens that I really need for it!

so, summer is over, early openings finished till next May and next week we will be entering at 10 with the crowds.

Thanks as always for looking, hope you made it to the end...