Kew at the start of autumn

 We're down to the last few early entries for Kew sadly, good job I have next week off so will be able to get an extra visit or two in... 

not such blue sky as last weekend, but not properly autumnal chill yet. 

I didn't have the wide angle lens with me today 

the dahlias in front of the Palm House are still good - all the beds are 

from the top of the steps down to the water level.   we'd been watching the carp near the steps.

in the urns along the pond 

these dark red dahlias in the bed at the end of the Broad Walk seem to go on forever

I might have to try and grow some next year 

lots of orange ones in this bed too

and still some roses 

next, down the Broad Walk 

the little alliums didn't look quite as good without the sun this week 

but this seedhead did

Carbon garden 

bedding along the edge of the carbon garden

from the side 

grasses and hedging in front of the POW 

the student plots were open this week, for the first time in ages 

lots of cosmos

vegetable garden 

evolution garden 

sedums in the other side of the evolution garden, liking the colour stripes 

salvias along the rock garden wall

this bee was so big it pulled the salvia down 

back at the far end of the EG, on our way for breakfast.

trying to get the Palm House straight....

Kim's was...

they had the Paris-Brest again today, but it was over baked and not as lovely as last time!  

but the tea is still free - presumably till the end of the earlies - was originally advertised as being for May!  

then we headed to the lake where we found the heron on the side of the lake, and Peter 

stand by for lots of heron pics... I will wheedle them down!  (I took 74 at the lake....) 

He was looking good today

it was quite mobile today, drinking and looking around and moving along the edge of the lake 

I kept moving around to try and get the background to behave 

he flew off (we all missed him do that) but a few minutes later 

he was back behind us

before coming back to the lake edge 

and having a good preen

eventually we tore ourselves away and across the lake crossing 

the lake is clearing a little, (in fact it cleared a fair bit whilst we were watching the heron) 

nice patterns ! 

this side is still quite green! 

strawflowers in the Davies Exploration house 

and my old favourites 

then over the road (as it were) to the Temperate House

the lotus flowers are the only things left in the further octagon and most of them are finished - this was was falling !

they are busy promoting the next event for the Temperate House coming later this month 

we headed back towards the rose garden (still quite a lot of roses)

had a scuffle in the fallen leaves under this plane tree 

quick walk through part of the Palm House

tub at the top of the steps

passionflower in the waterlily house 

Princess of Wales conservatory

waterlily flower cut in half on the side of the pond

nice leaf pattern in the orchid room

we walked through the rock garden 

closer look at that hedging from earlier 

it was quite sunny now 

alpine house 

big tree in the rock garden 

on the way back to the exit 

and the coleus near the exit (on the way in actually)

but looking glorious in the sun

thanks for looking -  hope to see you in the week for bonus visits and,  if the tube strike and weather will allow, London as well....

if not, see you next week