Kew - what a difference a week makes!

So today it was wet... very wet....  funnily enough, it was just me and Kim waiting for 8am opening.... just no commitment, some regulars!! 

you can't see from this but it was raining

I should have taken the big Kew umbrella, but hey ho...

I tried to find somewhere relatively dry (no chance) to change lens,  and then was able to start on raindrops...

the camera close up function insisted on flash for the dahlia, 

switched mode but lots of wet!  

down the Broad Walk, trying to juggle camera and umbrella 

I carry a clear sandwich bag which I rip open at the bottom to fit over the macro lens, which is large, as I like to try and keep it dry.  I should carry elastic bands to hold it in place really so I have to hold that in place too!  

blogger is deciding on picture order, but I'm not re-doing them...

everything was dripping

back on track

end of the Broad Walk 

outside the Orangery restaurant

monkey puzzle

yep, dripping! 

....

along the path outside the Dukes Garden

rain bouncing on the waterlily pond

sunflowers along the outer bed of the veg garden 

evolution garden - just a few soggy poppies left 

we weren't hanging about this morning! 

didn't see a single bee this morning which was hardly surprising 

marching on through the rock garden! 

even though it was still before 9, we decided to get out of the rain for a bit and headed back to the cafe for breakfast...can't call it elevenses at 9!  

no chance of sitting outside today.  

we took our time for a change, before heading back outside - there was hardly anyone around, can't understand why!

these salvias are just outside the further end of the POW (the tropical end) 

great raindrops!!  

As we were pausing outside the POW someone came and unlocked a bit early so people could get out of the rain. 

the rain was lashing down the windows - loved the pattern it made,  am surprised that it came out as well, these things don't normally!  

the camera was having a bit of trouble focusing,  

I deleted the photo I was taking here, when I got home it was blurred....

bananas 

bloody blogger... 

carnivorous room  

gorgeous small passionflowers 

in the arid section 

tropics.... 

out of order again 

arid section...! 

outside 

we sploshed through (where necessary) and round (where possible) puddles to the waterlily house

more small passionflowers growing overhead 

had trouble focusing again, it was a bit steamy again

outside the Palm House 

fruits on a palm inside the palm house 

at the far end of the Palm House is what is reportedly the oldest pot plant in the world - it's over 250 years old.

they are getting ready to have to move it (along with everything else in the palm house) for the renovation that is due to start in 2027

so the plants that are normally round this have been moved, so you can see it much better 

then back outside again, can't get the spacing right... through the meditteranean garden

we took a brisk walk to the Temperate House, arriving just as the heavens opened again 

lotus flowers again 

there are some large pots of passionflowers in this bit too

they look as good as they finish as when they first open

rippled with pink

another passionflower

I noticed these leaves that had been cleared away and wrapped in newspapers on a window sill in the central "room"

big palm leaf losing colour

tempranillo tree tomato, long way to being ripe yet 

further octogan

geraniums around the ledges 

fallen flowers on the path

it was still absolutely throwing down, so we sat on the bench outside the far end of the TH and packed away our cameras waiting for a break in the rain...

before giving up and heading back through and to the exit!

we were both a tad (!) soggy so it was time to head for an early exit.

Thanks for looking - lets see what next week brings!