Kew

 It was a gorgeous day today and soon warmed up... Kew was resplendent. 

I even abandoned my jeans for lighter trousers!

I should have shaded the lens from the sun, 

the alliums down the Broad Walk were fabulous

ferns in the sunshine

a last few tulips

the early light was wonderful 

and sunshine always helps

the Hive

euphorbia glowing

the wildflower meadow at the foot of the Hive

on the extended terrace outside the Orangery restaurant

stunning irises 

monkey puzzle

white wisteria

more alliums,  in the Duke's Garden

and more irises 

alpine house, shadows from the massive tree beside it

new ferns in the evolution garden, love the patterns

love love the yellow poppies

white poppy,  

further on through the evolution garden

then the peony garden....

loved the shadows cast on the petal

walking back up the other side of the evolution garden 

this patch of peonies was absolutely humming with bees, dozens of them,  but I couldn't get very close as they're at the back of a bed

huge clematis flowers at the base of part of the rose pergola

through into the rock garden, the daisies are just emerging

smaller waterfalls in the rock garden

another peony

heading back past the palm house pond for our free tea,  we saw this webbing on a plant

we've seen it before, it doesn't seem to harm the plant. not sure what's inside!  

Kim's got a closer shot that  we think  looks like eggs.   

found a semi shady table for breakfast (carrot cake this time for me)

I think this must slot in here.... I look deep in thought....

round the lake 

baby Canada geese

woodland walk - managed to avoid people!  

light and shadows

the robin was about the only bird that came to feed, no sign of blue tits or Goldie

he turned at the wrong moment!

lots of wild garlic still 

it was shady and warm 

in the clearing in the Redwood grove,  the bench was free today... 

so we lolled about for a bit! 

heading through the trees - it's quite a well hidden bench

emerging from the trees, I decided to walk through not round this large patch of cow parsley

it was very high!

but I am there!

in the Temperate House

fuschia leaf - the red from behind was beautiful

some kind of passion flower 

we went back to the lake 

where we met the 8 Egyptian goslings - growing fast 

eating in a line! 

they are developing their adult feathers already

from the lake crossing 

we sat and watched the "Of the Oak" installation for a while,

there was a little lad and his dad having a great time making the blue dots move in line with their movements.

tulip tree - we had great trouble photographing this as the wind was gusting

it's a massive tree and is covered in flowers

holding them still helped

the white wisteria outside the waterlily house

and then inside the waterlily house

we didn't stop ages, it was very hot!

the giant lily pads are growing

some of the planting round the edge 

behind the waterlily house - towering into the sky

outside the Princess of Wales 

inside 

along from the pond they're growing passionflowers over the path

As you know from my WOYWW post on Wednesday over on the craft blog,  I didn't go to Kew on Bank Holiday Monday so I missed this - Kim didn't, she saw it fully open...

this is what it looked like today

ah well, maybe the next one.....

more light through leaves....

heading back to the exit 

thanks for looking, hope you enjoyed the early start!

See you next week for another one.