Kew - Expressions in Blue

 It was another 9am member early opening for Half Term today and luckily the rain was holding off.

It was a dull day, but not cold. 

we came by again later on and the sky was a bit brighter - will include it in the right space time-wise! 

we took a different route today rather than down the Broad Walk,

we headed past the side of the pond and round to the Evolution Garden the direct way!

pausing alongside the pond for the dogwoods which are turning a gorgeous colour

it was nice to see some colour 

the big tree at the end of the Broad Walk (the urn is in the round bed at the top of the BW

we entered the Evolution Garden from opposite end to normal.

my favourite beds of rudbeckia and helenium have been cut back for over wintering.

lots of teasels though

blogger is skipping to the alpine house first....

love the pattern on the leaves

vine on the fence of the veg garden

the porcelain berries in the evolution garden

the bed with the dahlias was still colouful. 

we headed towards the Elizabeth Gate to pick up the start of the Halloween trail (although it doesn't start very close to it 

this is the big Maidenhair Fern (gingko) by the wisteria 

we popped into the Children's playground as we past on our way to the trail 

but there wasn't a lot of interest on such a dull day

so we took the bit of the trail we didn't bother with last week

the trail takes you through lots of gorgeous trees

if you don't like spiders you may want to fast forward

there is a big arch (web) straddling along the path and over the path which I thought I had photographed...

luckily, Kim did!

at the end of the trail you walk up the path alongside the river (Thames) towards the woodlnd walk - the lake is to your left here.

we headed through the woodland walk 

and even though Kim hadn't brought any food for the birds we headed to the bird feeder area

and were rewarded by Goldie. 

he was very skittish today and dashing about from one side of the path to the other, being chased by the rats.

leaving the bird feeders we headed back towards the waterlily pond (half way along the walk to the lake)

I spotted these to our right

there were a lot brighter orangey colour than they look 

at a crossroads we came to this stunner

it was an amazing colour

at the side of the waterlily pond, I had thought this tree would be in much more autumn colour....so I got wet feet for nothing walking through the grass!

so we headed back towards the pavilion cafe for a drink

and to check the berries

they seem to be mostly pale blue this year 

it was nice enough to sit outside

the pain au raisin was a bit stodgy today though so I didn't enjoy (or finish) it

Kim had been admiring this shrub from our table.

love the raindrops on the fluffy branches

we walked through the Temperate House (using the main steps in the middle to avoid trip hazards but I didn't take any pictures inside

although Kim did 

we wanted to go into the gallery to see the opening day of the new exhibition, Expressions in Blue

by ceramic artiist Felicity Aylieff 

took a couple of close ups of the two outside that you've seen before 

as I forgot to download them last week

before going inside

they are billed as monumental.... they are!

 

the first corridor you go through has several smaller vases  

and a cabinet of some of the materials used 

they weren't all blue though

and a wall of photos of the vases being made

a volunteer that often works in the gallery - although not seen her for ages - stopped to talk to me.

and then, the main gallery room....

WOW!!  

along one wall is a table of smaller ones. 

I've added a link to the Kew webpage about Felicity and the exhibition - it is on until March if you're visiting

you can walk right round them, (they did ask me to carry rather than wear my bulky rucksack!)

they were incredible and I am sure we'll be visiting several times again 

popping out from behind one!  

 outside I took one of the 2 outside ones.

we headed back along Camellia walk - where there are camellias flowering

the gorgeous trees near the Victoria gate had to be captured again

although I stayed off the grass 

so no close ups

looking behind as we walked on 

the "stuff" behind the barriers is prep for the Christmas lights 

and as promised, finally, is the later version of the view of the reflections in the pond with a bit of blue sky

we had a quick walk through the Princess of Wales 

outside the POW 

and then it was time to go home.

Thanks for looking, let's do it again next week.

one more 9am opening before it's back to 10 until May (boo, hiss)   

hope to see you then.