Kew - the end of summer

 Meteorological autumn starts Monday.. today was meant to be wet... but not so far - Kew was stunning.  There are lots of photos!! 

for a little while it was a bit fresh feeling but the sun soon warmed up

Kim was too busy nattering to catch me taking my opening shot this week. Good to see Glad again 

I'd brought the ultra wide angle lens as well today, I keep forgetting how much I love the pond on sunny days at wide wide angle!

you do have to try and keep the sun out of shot though

everything looks a long way away...

big shadows today 

down low to keep the sun out

rose in the round bed at top of Broad Walk 

dahlia in the same bed

I might have to try and grow some next year! 

as we started to head down the Broad Walk 

the joy of the wide angle is being able to fit whole beds in shot

macro time for close ups down the Broad Walk 

low growing alliums 

they came out better on the phone 

the light playing across them was stunning 

Japanese anemone bright in the sun

sedum

helenium 

asters.

there had been rain overnight 

far end of the Broad Walk, from the grass side,  in the sun 

I love to fill the lens with one kind of flower.

the rudbeckia are beautiful still 

damn, out of order ...  top of the monkey puzzle 

fir cones

Orangery 

bloody blogger...  

bullrush in the side pond by the waterlily pond 

eucalyptus tree 

by the entrance to the Dukes Garden 

photographing the bullrush

across the veg garden.. no idea why blogger is being such a pain today

strawflowers hanging to dry, and blowing in the breeze

in the veg garden 

still a few roses along the side of the veg garden 

through the Evolution garden

down at my favourite beds... 

the physalis seem to be prolific this year 

spiral aloe in the rock garden 

back the the wide angle.  

view over the rock garden 

alpine house 

this was up a slope so couldn't get to see what the flowers on the hedge are

alpine house 

we've been waiting for the pine cones to start dripping like candles!!  

planting at the Carbon Garden.   it's established really quickly

the red hot pokers are gorgeous

it was time for wide angle again....

in case you can't guess where I was when I was taking these few, 

let Kim help!

then I had to try and get up again! 

the Carbon Garden is fast becoming one of my favourite parts of Kew 

still on wide angle,  

looking toward the Hive 

love the flat cloud

behind me

the Pagoda tree by the Hive 

one of the oldest trees at Kew.  the bricks under the branch in the bottom of the frame are supporting it and encouraging it to root in new compost to help it survive 

we walked back up the Broad Walk to get breakfast 

still on my wide angle kick! 

the bed at the top of the Broad Walk with the Palm House in background 

walked round the back of the pond to the cafe

we sat with Patrick and Joyce and I nearly forgot to record today's treat! (carrot cake, not much choice today)

but the tea is still free so win-win

we headed for the lake after 

where we bumped into Glad again,  who'd been enjoying the wildlife 

we were sitting on the bench when we realised that the heron had crept up behind us...

blogger choosing the order again.

Egyptian geese  - these are the 6 youngsters from this season, doing really well 

the single swan - that we think may be one of last season's young - is still on the lake 

 

Glad said it had been out of the lake by the bench earlier, so is obviously getting used to being round people 

I managed to tiptoe closer to the heron to get some better shots

it kept tipping it's head keeping an eye on things 

and was having a good preen 

crossing the lake - back to wide angle for some fabulous sky/reflections 

trying to be arty!

other side of the lake, heading up towards the woodland 

with the wide angle on you can see the redwood better. 

 alongside the lake 

further along,   looking back to the crossing 

had to change lens for this shot 

we both thought the branches of this tree had had the pine cones stuck on the branch with glue... not noticed them growing out of branches like that before .  it wasn't just one branch, it was all of them on this tree. 

we came to the little pond from the other side to usual 

still with the wide angle 

the "roaring bear" tree 

from my normal position!  

at the Temperate house -  the sky suddenly looking a bit ominous (rain forecast from 1, but it wasn't noon yet)

it didn't rain though 

looking up at the roof 

by the down stairs from the viewing platform 

Kim had to tell 2 kids who were chasing around they couldn't go up this one (one way system as the spiral stairs are too narrow for passing, although you do sometimes find people ignoring that)  

there are still some lotus flowers in the other octagon, 

decaying banana leaf by the exit 

bed in the Mediterranean garden 

on our way back towards the rose garden we sat on a bench and threw monkey nuts to a crow

lots of leaves falling, more due to heat/drought stress than early autumn we think 

but this acer is definitely turning autumnal 

waterlily house 

yes, I know it's a passionflower not a waterlily

then it was back outside to 

go over to the Princess of Wales 

these are growing on

this 

I didn't make a note of the name - I know I have before but can't recall what it is

not noticed it with fruit on before though

decaying waterlily pad 

alpine house 

nerine

this part of it seemed more mauve-y than pink

cyclamen... autumn is definitely coming!

back near the pond,  along the woodland path 

colchicum  yes, autumn on the way

spray time! 

I shall really miss the fountain when it is moved and sent to Windsor...

Thanks for looking, see you next week.

forecast next week IS currently wet, but we'll see, given that today was too ... 

and the week after that I have off, so bonus trips planned!