Kew - another bonus visit

 I decided to chance the weather and headed back to Kew again - for early opening of course.

I decided to go a different way this time, and went round behind the Palm House first

I'd go back here later 

I was heading towards the far edge of Kew by the river

lots of bright greens in the sunshine 

the acers were still quite green and not showing much autumn colour yet

up by the river towards the Woodland Walk

the grass was damp with dew (and probably overnight rain too) and deep shadows 

I walked through the woodland were Goldie is found but there was no sign today, it was still early 

pile of logs under some trees, dappled light 

Queen Charlotte's cottage 

in the Redwood glade, the gorgeous new(ish) bench - it was damp so decided not to sit and rest..

Japanese garden - thought there might be more colour already but still green 

there were loads of clusters of these on a tree 

Paulownia Tomentosa

it goes a gorgeous colour later in autumn 

there were loads of the green parakeets in the tree next to the building but they didn't show up against the green of the tree!

Japanese anemone 

I walked back toward the Temperate House through wet grass, 

one of the trees had shed loads of it's berries 

red ones

orange ones

pink ones

apples

walked past the Temperate House as it was too early to go inside

there was a sign on the steps to say the central section would be closed today -  they are installing the new autumn feature Material World at prresent

I took a chance and sat outside for breakfast - something different today, they don't often have these , shortbready sandwich type thing which I have forgotten what the label called them. 

there was a big cloud overhead but luckily I didn't have to dash inside - still had no rain 

I didn't linger too long though and then headed back along the Palm House in what is my normal first stop

there was someone deadheading the flowers in the bed at the top of the Broad Walk and I stopped to say how much I had loved this bed and especially the dark red dahlias - she said I was the second person who had stopped to say that

heading down the Broad Walk, blogger has swapped order again, I can't be faffed to correct them! 

this delphinium is actually in the bed at the top of the Broad Walk !

at the far end of the Broad Walk, round the back of the bed

and the top of the monkey puzzle 

whilst it was still quiet (it was just before 10 am now)  I hot-footed it to the Carbon Garden to do what I couldn't on Monday when it was roped off.

and had a play with the globe lens 

I did sit on the floor, of course! 

hadn't brought the wide angle today 

outside the POW 

it had reached 10 whilst I was at the Carbon Garden so the POW had been unlocked.

the new planting still in progress 

orchid room - not many in flower at present 

put the macro on 

the lens was misting up but I did managed to get this snail on a leaf in the next area

waterlily 

the lens was misting again even though I had wiped it 

having trouble with blogger and spacing... 

 

alpine house 

top path of the rock garden

from the alpine house I went through to the evolution garden - still some roses on the pergolas 

along the edge of the veg garden 

love the light through the petals!

strawflowers in the veg garden

along the edge of the veg garden - from the other side of the path

hydrangea in the light, in the evolution garden 

physalis 

they are starting to remove some of the planting in my favourite beds in the evolution garden, lots of the helenium have been cut back

still some echinacea left , and asters 

round outside the POW 

callicarpa 

then back across to the Broad Walk 

as I came past the pond I noticed that the fountain appeared to be spraying out of the urn..

I sat on a bench in front of the Palm House and enjoyed the planting 

roses outside the waterlily house

wet petals on the soil

one of the outer doors had been propped open 

there were people working in the pond clearing out dead leaves and things 

passionflowers hanging from the inner doorway

outside on the grass was a waterlily pad

close up

I went back round past the Palm House 

fountain through a gap in the beds 

I love these leaves, they look (and are) so soft 

at the edge of the pond 

I was about to head home, till I realised I hadn't been to the lake - it was still relatively early so I headed off 

the swan was in the middle of the lake 

there had been lots of rain, there is a bench on some concrete near "Peter's" bench here  that had it's feet in water.   

it had gone quite cloudy some time ago (but still  no rain)  so not much in the way of reflections 

I headed over the crossing and round to where the swan was now by the side of the lake 

raindrops

the swan however headed back out into the middle! 

no sign of the heron today, although I didn't go up to the far end to see if it was there 

I stayed on the side of the lake I was on and headed back 

through the Mediterranean  garden  (olive trees)

and in to the Temperate House to see what was going on 

as I said earlier, most of it was closed off for workmen to install Material World 

but you could see through the doorway into the Weston Octagon (you can see the tubs of lotus flowers)

where a cherry picker was being used to install part of the exhibition  -  it opens on the 20th so they have just over a week to get it done 

I went out and round to the far end to get back to see from the other side what was happening there 

lots of plants in the other Octagon waiting 

and then out one of the side doors

still loving the verbena against the dark blue fencing 

and then it was off home

thanks for looking (again!)  - there is  always something different to see.

Last trip out will be Saturday - not intending to go out tomorrow, will have a chill day (after some shopping)  

I couldn't resist a final shot (with the phone ) of the coleus in the tubs at the entrance

such a gorgeous colour.